What’s open and what’s closed on Canada Day

Here's a look at what will be open and closed on Canada Day:

BUSINESSES

Canada Day is a designated retail closing day in Nova Scotia, which means you can expect most stores and businesses to be shut down on Thursday.

This includes grocery stores, NSLCs and malls.

Many pharmacies will be open, however they may have reduced hours of operation on July 1.

Expect banks to be closed Thursday.

Several other businesses may be closed or have reduced operating hours on Canada Day. It's best to call ahead or check a business's website or social media for specific details.

TRANSPORTATION

Halifax Transit buses will be operating on a holiday schedule.

The Alderney Ferry will run on an amended schedule Thursday, which will include 15-minute service between 10:15 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. 

There Woodside Ferry will not be running on Canada Day. 

On-street parking will be free.

SERVICES

Canada Post will not be collecting or delivering mail on July 1.

All Halifax Public Libraries branches will be closed. 

If Thursday is your curbside collection day, you'll need to put your garbage and organics out for pickup on the following Saturday, July 3.

If you are scheduled for your recyclables to be collected on July 1, that will take place for some areas of the municipality such as Dartmouth (central downtown) and Bedford on Saturday, July 3, but if you live in the Clayton Park, Rockingham and Lower Sackville areas, it will happen on Thursday, July 8. The new collection schedule can be found online.  

The Otter Lake Waste Management Facility, the Halifax recycling facility and municipal composting facilities will be closed Thursday but will be open for regular hours on Friday and Saturday.

The 311 Contact Centre will be operating on regular hours from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on July 1.

The two Customer Service Centres that provide in-person access to municipal services and payments will be closed on Thursday, but will reopen for regular business hours on Friday.

RECREATION

Municipal beaches will be open for the summer season on July 1.

Municipal splashpads and pools are open, however the Halifax Common Pool remains closed at this time

The Bedford Outdoor Pool and Halifax Common splash pad will open July 1. 

Due to ongoing renovation work, the Cole Harbour outdoor pool and splash pad won't open until mid-July.

You can borrow equipment at the Emera Oval from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., weather and surface conditions permitting

Lifeguards return to provincial beaches on Thursday.