Family Day 2024 in Oshawa, Pickering, Ajax, Whitby and Clarington: What’s open and closed

Family Day falls on Monday, February 19, 2024 in Oshawa, Pickering, Ajax, Whitby, Clarington and Durham Region. Family Day is not a national statutory holiday, but it is observed in Ontario as one.

There are still plenty of things to do, with a special focus on family.

Family Day events include Winterfest in Ajax, the WonderLearn Festival in Clarington; free swimming at Audley Recreation Centre (Ajax), Chestnut Hill Recreation Complex (Pickering), Diane Hamre Recreation Centre (Newcastle) and Iroquois Park and Whitby Community Centre (Whitby). There is also free skating at Chestnut Hill in Pickering and at Iroquois Park, Luthor Vipond and McKinney in Whitby, as well as numerous outdoor ice rinks, weather permitting.

The rec centres that are open in Durham on Family Day will have plenty of other activities for the whole family, including face painting, free Zumba, balloon artists and other family options. Check your town’s socials for all the details.

Indoor activities include tours of the Canadian Automotive Museum in Oshawa, while outdoor fun can be had (snowshoeing, anyone?) at places like Eniskilling Conservation Area in Clarington.

What’s Open:

• Most Shoppers Drug Mart locations
• Most restaurants that are usually open on Mondays will be open but call ahead to be sure
• Canada Post (mail pick-up and delivery will not be affected by the holiday)
• Federal government offices (most services can be delivered online; offices are open by-appointment-only)
• Most recreation centres, including Delpark and South Oshawa (Oshawa), Audley and Ajax Community Centre (Ajax), Chestnut Hill (Pickering), Diane Hamre (Clarington), and Luthor Vipond, McKinney and Iroquois Park (Whitby).
• Some cannabis stores, but call ahead to be sure
• Some breweries will be open, including All or Nothing in Oshawa (11-4), Town Brewery in Whitby, Old Flame in Port Perry and Tilted Glass in Bowmanville (1-8), but call ahead to your favourite to be certain
• Audley library branch in Ajax

Closed:

• Major malls like Pickering Town Centre and Oshawa Centre, though restaurants with outdoor entrances may be open
• Most major grocery stores
• LCBO
• Beer Store
• Banks
• City Halls and provincial government offices
• Most libraries

Transit

• Durham Region Transit will operate on a weekend schedule
• GO Transit will operate on a Saturday schedule

Garbage:

• No garbage pick-up (all waste collection will be one day later than usual)
• Waste depots will be closed Monday