What's open and closed in Ottawa for Remembrance Day - Action News
Home WebMail Friday, November 22, 2024, 12:55 AM | Calgary | -11.5°C | Regions Advertise Login | Our platform is in maintenance mode. Some URLs may not be available. |
Ottawa

What's open and closed in Ottawa for Remembrance Day

Remembrance Day, which is held every Nov. 11 to honour people who have served and are serving in the military, falls on a Monday this year. Here's some of what's happeningin Ottawa.

Morning business closures by law, road closures around war memorial

Members of the Central Band of the Canadian Armed Forces take part in a ceremony at the National War Memorial on Remembrance Day in Ottawa.
Members of the Central Band of the Canadian Armed Forces take part in a ceremony at the National War Memorial on Remembrance Day 2023 in Ottawa. (Blair Gable/Reuters)

Remembrance Day, which is held every Nov. 11 to honour those who have served and are serving in the military, falls on a Monday this year.

It's a national holiday, but OntarioandQuebechave not made it a provincial holiday.

Here's some of what's happeningin Ottawa.

Ceremonies

The2024 National Remembrance Day Ceremony begins around 10:30 a.m. at the National War Memorial on Elgin Street in downtown Ottawa.

It ends at 11:30 a.m. with a veteran march past.

Road closures around the war memorial last from 7 a.m. until 2 p.m. and include:

  • Elgin Street north of LaurierAvenue W.
  • Wellington Street east of Bank Street,
  • Metcalfe Street north of Albert Street
  • Queen Street east of O'Connor Street.
  • The Queen Elizabeth Driveway north of Somerset Street,

There are alsorolling road closures between Nicholas and Elgin streets and between Laurier Avenue W. and Wellington and Rideau streets to help participants get to and from the ceremony.

Middle-age military veterans march during a memorial ceremony on an autumn day.
Veterans march during the 2023 national Remembrance Day ceremony at the National War Memorial in Ottawa. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press)

The city invites people to check theRoyal Canadian Legion's website for smaller neighbourhood ceremonies.

Overhead, expect flypastsof both fighter jets and vintage military aircraft to mark the Royal Canadian Air Force's 100th anniversary between roughly 10:50 a.m. and noon.

Shopping and attractions

A city bylaw requires many businesses to close from 8 a.m. until12:30 p.m. on Nov. 11.

Exceptions include smaller grocery stores andpharmacies, convenience stores, restaurants, hair salonsand gas stations, though they may choose toclose.

The Canadian War Museum is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free, but an advance ticket is mandatory.

The aviation, history and nature museums are also open. The National Gallery of Canada is open with free admissionfrom noon to 5 p.m.

The agriculture and science museums are closed, as are the Ottawa Art Gallery and Diefenbunker.

Services

Green bin, recycling and garbage collection is unchanged the week of Remembrance Day.

All Ottawa Public Library branches and municipal child-care centresare closed.

City recreation facilities are open.

A crowd at an outdoor Remembrance Day ceremony in a cemetery. Some of the people are saluting.
Part of the crowd during a 2023 Remembrance Day ceremony at the National Military Cemetery in Ottawa. (Spencer Colby/The Canadian Press)

Ottawa Public Health

  • The Site program office and supervised consumption services at 179 Clarence St. areclosed. The Site mobile van operates from 5 p.m.to 11:30 p.m.
  • The Sexual Health Clinic and satellite clinics will be closed, as are dental clinics.

Banks

Monday is a bank holiday and many branches are closed. There may be access to some ATMs.

Other services

  • City Hall andclient service centres at Ben Franklin Place and255 Centrum Blvd. are closed.
  • The provincial court at 100 Constellation Dr. is alsoclosed.
  • The city's 311 contact centre isopen for urgent matters.

Getting around

Parking

All City of Ottawa parking regulations and restrictions apply.

Transit

  • OC Transpooperates on a regularschedule, with detours around road closures. When safe, buses and trains will pause for two minutes of silence at 11 a.m.
  • Veterans in uniform or wearing medals can ride OC Transpo, Para Transpo andSocit de transport de l'Outaouaisfor free until Nov. 12, along with a companion. O-Train riders are asked to use video chat on ticket machines for their free ride.
  • OC Transpo's Rideau Centre customer service centreopens at 12:30 p.m.
  • The OC Transpo lost and found at Heartwood House isclosed.
  • Para Transporegular bookings are honoured.