What’s OPEN and CLOSED Victoria Day May 19 in Ontario cities and Toronto

With warmer weather finally arriving, many Ontario residents are excited about the upcoming Victoria Day long weekend on May 19, 2025.

Victoria Day, celebrated in honour of Queen Victoria’s birthday, has been observed in Canada since at least 1845 and has always been a distinctly Canadian observance. No other country in the world, including Great Britain, celebrates the monarch’s birthday.

Here’s what’s open and closed in southern Ontario towns and cities this coming holiday Monday:

• Mississauga
• Toronto
• Brampton
• Halton
• Hamilton
• Durham Region
• Niagara Region

In Canada, the May 2-4 weekend is often considered the beginning of the summer season. It’s when people open their cottages, book camping trips, fire up their barbecues, and start planting.

It falls on the Monday between the 18th and the 24th (inclusive). This year, it falls on May 19, 2025.

Mississauga

In Mississauga, a number of places will be closed on Monday, May 19, including all non-emergency federal, provincial, regional and municipal government services (including City Hall), banks, libraries, community centres, most major grocery stores, most Beer Store locations, all LCBO locations, Erin Mills Town Centre, Dixie Outlet Mall, Heartland Town Centre and Canada Post.

A number of places will also be open, including Square One, Whole Foods Square One, select Beer Store locations (1550 Dundas St. E. and 3154 Hurontario St.), T&T Supermarket, some smaller grocery stores, such as Rabba locations, most Shoppers Drug Marts, movie theatres, and local parks and trails. Most cafes, restaurants and bars that are typically open on Mondays will also be operating (but always call ahead to be sure).

Transit users should note that MiWay will operate on a holiday schedule and some routes will not operate due to low customer demand (check schedule online). GO Transit will run on a Saturday schedule.

There will be no waste collection on Monday, May 19. Garbage will be picked up one day later than usual. Community Recycling Centres will be closed.

Brampton

In Brampton, many places will be closed on Victoria Day, including Shoppers World, all non-emergency federal, provincial, regional, and municipal services (including City Hall), most major grocery stores, libraries, community centres, banks, the Brampton Animal Shelter, all LCBO locations, Canada Post, and Brampton Transit facilities (including Lost and Found).

Residents will be able to visit Bramalea City Centre, local parks and splash pads, most restaurants, cafes and bars that are typically open on Mondays (but call ahead to confirm), some Brampton Recreation Centres (check online to be sure), most Shoppers Drug Mart and Rexall locations, some smaller grocery stores, movie theatres and select Beer Store locations (198 Queen St. E., 180 Sandalwood Pkwy. and 80 Peel Centre Dr.).

Brampton Transit will operate on a Sunday/holiday schedule, and GO Transit will run on a Saturday schedule.

There will be no waste collection on May 19 and Community Recycling Centres will be closed.

Halton – Oakville, Burlington, Milton and Halton Hills

This Victoria Day, a number of places in Halton will be closed, including banks, all non-emergency federal, provincial, regional and municipal government offices, most community centres, seniors’ centres, pools, arenas and libraries, the Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts, Mattamy National Cycling Centre, Milton Mall, Burlington Centre, Mapleview Mall, Oakville Pace, most Beer Stores, all LCBO locations and most major grocery stores.

As for what’s open, residents can visit local parks and certain outdoor recreational amenities, most Shoppers Drug Mart locations, most cafes, restaurants and bars that are typically open on Monday (call ahead), some smaller grocery stores (such as Rabba locations), select Beer Store locations (2025 Guelph Line and 5051 New St. in Burlington and 290 Hays Blvd in Oakville), Burlington’s nine splash pads, Conservation Halton Parks (Crawford Lake, Hilton Falls, Kelso, Mount Nemo, Mountsberg and Rattlesnake Point), Terra Cotta Conservation Area in Halton Hills and Toronto Premium Outlets.

Oakville Transit will operate on a holiday schedule, Burlington Transit will operate on a Sunday/holiday schedule, Milton Transit will not be running and GO Transit will run on a Saturday schedule.

Waste collection will be pushed ahead one day.

Hamilton

On Victoria Day, all City of Hamilton administrative offices will be closed, along with the Housing Services office at 350 King Street East, CF Lime Ridge, most major shopping malls, most major grocery stores, all LCBO locations, banks, libraries (closed both Sunday and Monday), Hamilton Civic Museums, all non-emergency federal, provincial and municipal government offices, Canada Post, Hamilton Animal Services (office counter and shelter), Gage Park Tropical Greenhouse, Hamilton Farmers’ Market and recreation centres and arenas.

As for what’s open, residents can check out movie theatres, most Shoppers Drug Mart locations, restaurants that are typically open on Mondays (call ahead to be sure), most convenience stores, most garden centres, select Beer Store locations (282 Parkdale Ave. N; 75 Centennial Pkwy N; 959 Fennell Ave. E.; 1111 Barton St. E; 150 Barton St. E and 1408 Upper James St.), local parks, trails and conservation areas, including Christie Lake, Crooks’ Hollow, Devil’s Punchbowl, Dundas Valley, Fletcher Creek, Spencer Gorge and others, Westfield Heritage Centre, some breweries and more.

HSR Buses will operate on a Sunday service level, with the last trips leaving downtown at approximately 12 a.m. GO Transit will run on a Saturday schedule.

Waste collection will be pushed ahead one day and Community Recycling Centres will be closed.

Durham – Oshawa, Whitby, Ajax, Pickering, Clarington

On May 19, all LCBO locations will be closed, along with most Beer Store locations, Oshawa Centre, Pickering Town Centre, all non-emergency federal, provincial, regional and municipal offices, banks, most recreational centres, libraries, Canada Post and most major grocery stores.

A lot of places will be open, including movie theatres, most pharmacies, most cafes, restaurants and bars that are typically open on Mondays (call ahead to be sure), most garden centres, the Oshawa Civic Recreation Complex, select Beer Stores (200 Ritson Rd N, Oshawa, 75 Kingston Rd. E. Ajax and 3950 Brock St N in Whitby), the Wine Rack location in Port Perry at Scugog Street, most cannabis stores (call ahead), most breweries, parks, trails and conservation areas.

There will be no garbage pickup on Monday. Regional waste centres will also be closed on Monday.

Durham Region Transit (DRT) and Pulse buses will run on a holiday schedule and GO Transit will run on a Saturday schedule.

Niagara Region – Niagara Falls, Niagara-on-the-Lake, St. Catharines, Welland

A number of places will close on Victoria Day, including all non-emergency federal, provincial, regional and municipal services (including all city and town halls), most major grocery stores, The Pen Centre in St Catharines, Fairview Mall in St Catharines, Pendale Plaza in St. Catharines, Seaway Mall in Welland, most community centres and arenas, most libraries, City of Niagara Falls museums and administrative offices, Canada Post and all LCBO and Beer Store locations.

Because Niagara Falls and NOTL are both tourist destinations, a number of places will be open. On May 19, residents and visitors can check out Canada One in Niagara Falls, the Outlet Collection at Niagara in Niagara-on-the-Lake, some smaller grocery stores, such as Rabba grocery stores, wineries and breweries (call ahead to confirm), most restaurants (call ahead), most pharmacies, movie theatres and most Niagara Falls-area family-oriented tourist attractions, including Niagara City Cruises, WildPlay Whirlpool Adventure Course, Botanical Gardens, the Butterfly Conservatory, Bird Kingdom, Niagara SkyWheel, Dinosaur Adventure Golf, Ripley’s Museum and more.

There will be no garbage pick-up on Monday, May 19 (all waste collection for the week will be one day later than usual) and Community Recycling Centres will be closed.

Toronto

A number of places will be closed in Canada’s biggest city on Victoria Day, including banks, all LCBO locations, most Beer Store locations, libraries, all non-emergency federal, provincial and municipal services, most major grocery stores, the St. Lawrence Market, CF Shops at Don Mills, CF Sherway Gardens, CF Fairview Mall, Dufferin Mall, Scarborough Town Centre, Yorkdale and Gerrard Square.

Since Toronto is home to many tourist attractions, many places will be open, including the Eaton Centre, Whole Foods Yorkville, Summerhill Market, Eataly, AGO, Gardiner Museum, Ripley’s Aquarium, Toronto Zoo, Canada’s Wonderland, ROM, CN Tower, Casa Loma, Riverdale Farm, Allan Gardens, Aga Khan Museum, Hockey Hall of Fame, Arcadia Earth and select Beer Stores (check specific locations for hours).

Most cafes, restaurants and bars that are open on Mondays will be operational, but call ahead to confirm.

The TTC will offer holiday service and GO Transit will run on a Saturday schedule

There will be no change to waste collection.