What’s open and closed Sept. 30 on Truth and Reconciliation Day in Pickering, Ajax, Whitby, Oshawa and Clarington

The first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is observed this year on Thursday, September 30 in Pickering, Ajax, Whitby, Oshawa and Clarington.

This newly established federal statutory holiday honours the lost children and Survivors of Canada’s residential schools, their families and communities. It’s also a day to reflect on this tragic history and its painful impact on generations of Indigenous people in Canada.

While several provinces have followed Ottawa’s lead in making Sept. 30 a statutory holiday, Ontario has not. Ontario employers can choose to give workers the day off should they choose.

Here’s what is open and closed in Durham Region on Sept. 30:

Open:

• Virtually all retail will be open, including the region’s major malls like the Oshawa Centre and Pickering Town Centre
• Most restaurants will be open but call ahead to be sure
• Grocery stores
• Shoppers Drug Marts and most other drug stores
• Breweries and cannabis stores
• Major malls
• Beer Stores
• LCBO outlets will open at noon and close at regular time
• Most tourist attractions will be open, with the exception of municipally-owned attractions such as Pickering Museum Village
• Schools

Closed:

• All bank branches
• Post offices
• City and Town Halls as well as most municipal offices and services
• Most municipal arenas and pools. Oshawa rec centres will be open by appointment
• Oshawa courthouse
• Ajax Library

Transit:

Durham Transit and GO buses and trains will run on regular hours

Waste pick-up:

Garbage and recycling will  be picked up  on schedule but regional and city waste depots will be closed to the public.