This year, the annual Civic Holiday will fall on Monday, Aug. 4 in Ontario.
While it’s common knowledge that the first Monday of August is a holiday for people in many parts of Canada, what it’s actually called depends on where you live in the country.
Ontario mostly refers to it as the Civic Holiday, but there are other names for it in the province. Some in Toronto refer to it as Simcoe Day. In Guelph, it’s sometimes called John Galt Day, while many in Ottawa refer to it as Colonel By Day.
The day is not a statutory holiday in Nova Scotia, Manitoba, Alberta, or Ontario; however, it is commonly observed by all levels of government, financial institutions and some businesses.
However, as it’s seen as a lesser holiday, not on par with Canada Day or Christmas, many businesses in the other 10 municipalities in Niagara, including St. Catharines and Welland, might elect to stay open.
Here’s what’s open and closed on Monday, Aug. 4, 2025:
Open Civic Holiday Monday:
- Canada One in Niagara Falls
- SmartCentres in Niagara Falls
- Outlet Collection at Niagara in Niagara-on-the-Lake
- The Pen Centre in St Catharines (Landmark Cinemas are open)
- Fairview Mall in St Catharines
- Briarfield Shopping Centre in St Catharines
- Seaway Mall in Welland
- Smaller grocery stores, such as Rabba grocery stores
- There are over 60 Niagara-region wineries/vineyards and most will be open. Call ahead to confirm hours before heading out.
- The Beer Store located at 6757 Lundy’s Lane in Niagara Falls will be open from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m.
- Silversmith Brewing, 1523 Niagara Stone Rd
- Counterpart Brewing, 3659 Stanley Ave, Niagara Falls
- Bench Brewing, 3991 King St, Beamsville
- Lock Street Brewing, 15 Lock St, St. Catharines
- Niagara Oast House Brewing, 2017 Niagara Stone Rd, Niagara-on-the-Lake
- The Exchange Brewery, 7 Queen St, Niagara-on-the-Lake
- Niagara Brewing, 4915-A Clifton Hill, Niagara Falls
- Blackburn Brew House, 8001 Blackburn Pkwy, Niagara Falls
- Bars and restaurants that are typically open on Mondays will likely be open, but call ahead to confirm
- Most Shoppers Drug Mart locations
- Movie theatres
- Niagara Falls family-oriented tourist attractions, including the Niagara SkyWheel, Whirlpool Jet Boat tours, Niagara City Cruises, Hologram Zoo Niagara, Ripley’s Believe it or Not, the Butterfly Conservatory, Bird Kingdom, Safari Niagara, Fallsview Indoor Waterpark, Movieland Wax Museum, the Niagara Speedway and more
- Some LCBO locations (call ahead to confirm)
Closed Civic Holiday Monday:
- All town and city halls
- Non-emergency government offices and services
- Non-emergency Niagara Region services, including administrative offices, child care centres, public health, sexual health clinics and the Provincial Offences Court
- Banks
- Canada Post (no mail pick up or delivery)
- All Niagara Beer Stores except the Lundy’s Lane locatio listed about
- Most arenas, libraries and community centres
Transit
- GO Transit will operate on a Saturday schedule
- Niagara Region Transit will offer conventional bus service in St. Catharines, Niagara Falls and Welland. There will be no service on regional routes.
- Microtransit is not available
Garbage:
- There will be no change to waste collection
- The Niagara Road 12 Landfill and Drop-off Depot in West Lincoln is closed
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