Here’s what’s open and closed on Family Day in Hamilton

Family Day in Hamilton and the rest of Ontario this year falls on Monday, Feb. 16, 2026.

While not a federal holiday, the third Monday in February is a regional statutory holiday in most provinces — though some use their own names, as they celebrate the day for different reasons.

Family Day is also observed in Alberta, British Columbia, New Brunswick, and Saskatchewan. Meanwhile, Manitoba recognizes the holiday as Louis Riel Day, Nova Scotia celebrates Heritage Day, and Islander Day is observed on Prince Edward Island.

During the Ontario provincial election in 2007, the Liberal Party’s Dalton McGuinty promised that, if re-elected premier, he would establish a provincial holiday in February. McGuinty made good on his promise.

However, Family Day does not necessarily add to the number of holidays Ontarians receive because employers can substitute any non-statutory holidays that employees may already receive in lieu of this day. Many employers have substituted the popular Civic Holiday, which falls on the first Monday in August.

Here’s what is open and closed in Hamilton on Family Day 2026.

Open

• Canada Post
• Most convenience and drug stores
• Federal government offices
• Hamilton Civic Museums:
  • Family Day with the Gages: An Early Upper Canadian Family at the Battlefield House Museum and Park
  • Dundurn National Historic Site: Family Day at Dundurn
  • Family Day at the Hamilton Military Museum
  • Fieldcote Memorial Park and Museum: Family Day – Pine Cone Café
  • Family Day at the Steam Museum
  • Family Day Drama at Whitehern
• Some recreation centres will be open, including Bennetto Recreation Centre, Bernie Morelli Recreation Centre, Sir Wilfrid Laurier Recreation Centre, Stoney Creek Recreation Centre, Valley Park Recreation Centre and Westmount Recreation Centre
• Select arenas and centres will be open for a Family Day public skates and swims (details can be found here)
• Restaurants, cafes and bars that are typically open on Mondays (but call ahead to be sure)
• Royal Botanical Gardens
• The Tropical Greenhouse at Gage Park

Closed

• Banks
• All Beer Store locations
• All LCBO locations
• City of Hamilton administrative offices
• Hamilton Farmer’s Market
• Most major grocery stores
• Libraries
• Many major malls, including CF Lime Ridge
• Municipal parking enforcement
• Ontario works
• Provincial government offices
• Service Ontario
• Animal Services

Mail delivery

Mail delivery will not be impacted, as it falls under federal services

Transit

• Hamilton Street Railway buses will operate at a Sunday service level, with the last trips from downtown at approximately midnight.
• No service on Route 12 Wentworth and 42 Mohawk East.
• Trans-Cab service will align with HSR Sunday schedules.
• DARTS will be operating on holiday service hours. All subscription trips on DARTS, with the exception of dialysis trips, are cancelled for the holiday
• GO Transit will run on a Saturday schedule.

Waste and recycling

• There will be no garbage or recycling pick up on Feb. 16. Waste will be collected one day later.
• Community Recycling Centres are closed.