Easter is a very confusing holiday for most people as Good Friday and Easter Sunday are federal and provincial stat holidays in Ontario, while Easter Monday is only a federal holiday.
The dates for Easter weekend also change each year, and it can either happen in March or April. This year, Good Friday is on March 29, Easter Sunday is on March 31, and Easter Monday is on April 1.
Here’s what’s open and closed on Good Friday, Easter Sunday, and Easter Monday in Ontario this year.
What’s open
Attractions like the ROM, Ontario Science Centre, and Ripley’s Aquarium are all open on Good Friday, Easter Sunday, and Easter Monday. So are most things on Clifton Hill in Niagara Falls. Before going to an attraction it is recommended to call ahead as hours might be different than normal and some attractions are normally closed on Mondays.
All Cineplex movie theatres are open the entire weekend.
Most restaurants and fast food places, like Tim Hortons and McDonald’s, will be open on Good Friday and Easter Sunday. For independently run restaurants it’s best to call ahead to confirm their hours.
Some pharmacies and grocery stores in Ontario will be open on Good Friday and Easter Sunday, but it’s recommended to call ahead to check. All major grocery stores and pharmacies will be open on Easter Monday.
The LCBO says select LCBO Convenience Outlets might be open on Good Friday and Easter Sunday with regular hours of business where permitted by local municipalities.
What’s closed
The LCBO (with exception to the above) and Beer Store are both closed on Good Friday and Easter Sunday. Banks, libraries, and all provincial and municipal offices will be closed on Good Friday.
Canada Post will not be operating on Good Friday or Easter Monday.
All federal offices, including passport offices, will be closed on Good Friday and Easter Monday.
Most grocery stores will be closed on Good Friday and Easter Sunday.
A majority of schools in Ontario are closed on both Good Friday and Easter Monday.
Transit
Most transit across Ontario will be running on a weekend or holiday schedule on Good Friday, including the TTC and GO Transit. It should be noted that the TTC have the wrong date for Good Friday listed on their website.
When is the next stat holiday in Ontario?
The next stat holiday in Ontario is Victoria Day on May 20.
Know of something open or closed on Good Friday, Easter Sunday or Easter Monday that we missed? Let us know in the comments below or via our contact form.
