People take part in a ceremony marking National Day of Truth and Reconciliation in Ottawa in 2022. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press)
Sept. 30 is an annual federal holiday in Canada to recognize the damage caused by the residential school system, including to families and communities still affected by the lasting trauma.
Ontario and Quebec have decided not to make it a provincial holiday, the same approach they take to other holidays such as Remembrance Day.
Here’s some of what’s changing in Ottawa on Monday.
Changes
The city will close its client service centres, employment and social service offices, municipal child-care centres, Site program, dental clinics and sexual health centres Monday.
The agriculture, aviation, history, nature, science and war museums are open and offering free admission, as is the National Gallery of Canada, which opens at noon.
Seven Ottawa Public Library branches will be open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The others will be closed.
LCBOs will open at noon.
Broadly speaking, federal government employees will get Monday off. This may affect some public-facing services such as passports and service centres.
No changes
Schools are open Monday.
City waste collection will go ahead as normal, and city recreation and cultural facilities will be open.
OC Transpo and Para Transpo will run as usual
No road closures have been announced around the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation event on Parliament Hill, scheduled for Monday afternoon.
Bayshore Shopping Centre will be open as usual. None of the city’s other malls including Rideau Centre, St. Laurent, Place d’Orléans or Tanger Outlets have announced changes to their opening hours.
The Beer Store hasn’t announced any changes.
The Ottawa Art Gallery will be closed.