Easter weekend in Ottawa brings a mix of closures and openings across shops, city services, transit, and recreation. Whether you’re planning to shop, visit cultural spots, or use city services, here’s everything you need to know for Good Friday (March 29), Easter Sunday (March 31), and Easter Monday (April 1), 2024.
Good Friday, March 29
Shopping
- Major malls—Bayshore, Place d’Orléans, Rideau Centre, St. Laurent, and Tanger Outlets—will be closed.
- Most grocery stores will also be shut. However, some smaller or neighborhood groceries may open. Make sure to confirm with your local store.
- LCBO and Beer Store locations will not be open.
City Services
- Curbside waste collection for most areas will move to Saturday, except multi-unit garbage pickup which proceeds as usual.
- City offices at City Hall, Ben Franklin Place, 580 Terry Fox Dr., 255 Centrum Blvd., and the provincial court at 100 Constellation Dr. will be closed.
- All Ottawa Public Library branches will be closed.
- The city’s 311 contact centre remains open for urgent inquiries.
- Trail Road Waste Facility will operate from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. only.
- Child-care centres and dental clinics run by the city are closed.
- Sexual Health Clinic and satellite clinics will not be open.
- The Site program at 179 Clarence St. is closed, but its outreach van runs from 5 to 11:30 p.m.
Parking & Transit
- All city parking rules apply as usual.
- OC Transpo will run on a Sunday schedule.
- The Blackburn Hamlet on-demand transit pilot continues to operate.
- OC Transpo’s Rideau Centre customer service is closed.
- Para Transpo regular trips are cancelled; riders should call 613-560-5000 or use My Para Transpo for bookings.
Recreation
- City pools, arenas, and fitness centres will have reduced hours—contact facilities directly for details.
- The Ottawa Art Gallery remains open.
- The National Gallery of Canada, plus museums of agriculture, aviation, history, nature, science, and war are all open.
Easter Sunday, March 31
Shopping
- Malls including Bayshore, Place d’Orléans, Rideau Centre, St. Laurent, and Tanger Outlets remain closed.
- Most grocery stores are closed but some smaller neighbourhood stores may open—check locally.
- LCBO and Beer Store locations remain closed.
City Services
- All Ottawa Public Library branches continue to be closed.
Parking & Transit
- Regular city parking regulations are in force.
- OC Transpo runs on a normal Sunday timetable.
- Blackburn Hamlet’s on-demand pilot project continues its service.
- OC Transpo customer service at Rideau Centre is closed.
- Unlike Good Friday, Para Transpo trips on Sunday are not automatically cancelled, but customers should cancel if their trip isn’t needed.
Recreation
- Pools, arenas and fitness centres operate on modified schedules; check with them directly.
- Both the Ottawa Art Gallery and Shenkman Arts Centre are open.
- National Gallery of Canada and other museums remain open.
Easter Monday, April 1
Shopping
- Bayshore, Place d’Orléans, Rideau Centre, St. Laurent, and Tanger Outlets malls will be open.
- Most grocery stores reopen their doors as well.
- Beer Stores are open; select LCBO locations open too.
City Services
- Curbside waste collection generally shifts to Tuesday, delaying pickup by one day except multi-unit garbage collection which stays on schedule.
- City offices at City Hall, Ben Franklin Place, 580 Terry Fox Dr., 255 Centrum Blvd., and the provincial court remain closed.
- Libraries stay closed again on Monday.
- The 311 contact line is available for urgent issues.
- Trail Road Waste Facility operates from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Child-care centres and dental clinics are closed for the day.
- Sexual Health Clinic and satellite clinics stay shut.
- Site program at 179 Clarence St. remains closed while the outreach van operates from evening until late night.
Parking & Transit
- Parking regulations apply as usual.
- OC Transpo runs on a “reduced weekday” schedule Monday.
- Para Transpo trips are again cancelled; riders should book if needed.
Recreation
- Facilities like pools, arenas, and fitness centres operate on limited hours—contact them for specific info.
- Ottawa Art Gallery and Shenkman Arts Centre are closed Monday.
- The National Gallery of Canada and other museums stay open.
Whether you’re planning to shop or use public services during the Easter weekend in Ottawa, now you have the full picture of what’s open and what’s not. For any last-minute plans or questions about specific places or transit options, it’s best to check with the individual stores or city service providers directly.
Enjoy your Easter weekend safely!
