Open and Closed in Ottawa for Easter Weekend

Mar 31, 2021

Lindt by Gamachephoto, from the OttawaStart Flickr Group.

Here’s what’s open and closed on Easter Weekend 2021 in Ottawa.

Good Friday is on April 2, 2021. It’s a statutory holiday in Canada so just about all businesses are closed.
Saturday is business as usual, notwithstanding any temporary changes due to COVID-19.
Easter Sunday is April 4, with most businesses shut down for the day.
Monday, April 5 is a holiday for most government employees and schools. Some private sector employees also have the day off.

To add to this list (or make a correction) please email feedback@ottawastart.com.

Need groceries?

In Ottawa, most grocery stores are closed on Friday and Sunday, but open on Monday.
If you need some last minute groceries, some pharmacies like Shoppers Drug Mart are open on the holidays and most have a decent food section.
Ottawa’s highly competitive bagel market is always ready to serve. Open every day: The Bagelshop on Wellington Street West, from 8am-6pm. Meanwhile, Kettleman’s Bagels never closes.

You can find healthcare services open during the Easter holidays by checking holidayhours.ca

Beer Stores and LCBO stores are closed on Friday and Sunday.
Over in Quebec, SAQ outlets are open on Friday and Saturday, some are open on Sunday, and most are open on Monday.
Several local brew pubs are open this weekend and sell beer in bottles/cans that you can take home with you. Some examples include Big Rig on Iris, Lowertown Brewery (ByWard Market), Overflow Brewery on Kaladar, and Clocktower.

Many restaurants are open all weekend.
The Rideau Centre is closed on Friday and Sunday, and open Saturday and Monday 10am-6pm.
The Walmart in Smith Falls is open on Friday from 8am-5pm, closed on Easter Sunday, and open again on Monday 8am-10pm.
Check with your bank to see what branches may be open.

Garbage & recycling: No garbage collection on Friday or Monday. Good Friday’s pick-up will take place on Saturday, and Easter Monday’s pick-up will take place on Tuesday. The collection of green bin, garbage and recycling materials will be delayed by one day for the week after Easter.
Hydro Ottawa’s time-of-use rates are off-peak all-day on the weekends. Easter is not considered a holiday by the Ontario Energy Board for the purposes of electricity billing, so usual rates will apply on Monday.
OC Transpo will operate a Sunday schedule for bus service on Good Friday, with some Connexion routes reduced. Line 1 will run 8am-11pm, and line 2 buses will run 7:30am-11pm. On Easter Monday, buses will use a reduced weekday schedule; Line 1 will run 5am-1am and line 2 buses 5:45am-midnight.
- Note: CF Rideau Centre will be closed for electrical maintenance work from 7 pm on Thursday, April 1 until 7 am Saturday, April 3. During this time, customers will not be able to walk through the mall to access Rideau or Mackenzie King stations. Visit octranspo.com or refer to onsite signage for information about pedestrian routes during the mall closure.
In Gatineau, STO is operating a Saturday schedule on Good Friday and Easter Monday.
Here is a press release from the City of Ottawa outlining other service changes.

*To add to this list (or make a correction) please contact us

Not an April Fool’s joke, it seems. Environment Canada’s forecast for Thursday, April 1:

Periods of rain ending this evening then mainly cloudy with snow beginning after midnight.
Snowfall amount 2 to 4 cm.

(Emphasis ours)

Cold comfort, but Ian Black is figuring we’ll get the lesser end of the snowfall range.

That’s one way to interpret this message.

This photo of a board on Wellington was posted to Ottawa Reddit last week by u/Meduxnekeag. I’d say the warning has fallen on deaf ears.

On April 1, Jonathan Bruderlein, the resident farmer and owner/operator of Ottawa Farm Fresh, will share his two decades of experience in organic farming with a free “Farmer to Gardener” webinar to help everyone’s spring gardens get off to the best start possible. More info…
Spring Tune-Up From Home: A free interactive workshop where Bike Ottawa will help you get your bike out of storage and ready for Spring riding! (April 3). More info…
The 33z play Dolly Parton: a virtual benefit concert and live auction. Some of Ottawa’s most loved singers will join this ensemble for their thrilling versions of Tennessee tunes, made unforgettable by the Queen of country music herself. A live auction filled with enticing packages from generous local businesses and experiences will make for a memorable night. Hosted by TD Ottawa Jazz Festival. More info… ($$)

Thanks for reading!

Devyn Barrie

Editor