Ottawa

What's open and closed in Ottawa around New Year's Day

Here's what's open and closed in Ottawa around New Year's Day.

Everything you need to know about shopping and city services around the holiday

The Peace Tower is illuminated on New Year's Eve in 2019.
The Peace Tower is illuminated during a light show on Parliament Hill on New Year's Eve in 2019. (Patrick Doyle/The Canadian Press)

Here's what's open and closed in Ottawa around New Year's Day.

Tuesday, Dec. 31

Shopping and attractions

Many grocery stores, pharmacies and alcohol outlets close early.

The Bayshore, Place d'Orléans, Rideau Centre and St. Laurent malls each close at 5 p.m.

Aberdeen Plaza inside Lansdowne Park will be the site of midnight fireworks to ring in the new year. Free shuttles are available.

The science museum is open on regular hours. The national gallery and war and history museums are open on regular hours. The Ottawa Art Gallery is closed on both New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.

The agriculture and aviation museums have their normal Tuesday closures and the nature museum is open on regular hours.

Crowds watch a New Year's Eve fireworks show in Ottawa in 2007.
Crowds watch a New Year's Eve fireworks show called 'The Grand Finale' as it is set off on the edge of the Ottawa River below Parliament Hill in 2007. (The Canadian Press)

Services

Waste collection is on a normal schedule.

OC Transpo is on a "reduced weekday schedule" for the entire week. School routes won't be running. Transit is free after 6 p.m. on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.

Bank branches across the city are open with regular hours.

Free parking will be available at City Hall starting at 4 p.m. on Dec. 31 and running until 7 a.m. on Jan. 1.

The ByWard Market garage will offer free parking over the same time period.

The box office at Meridian Theatres will be closed until Jan. 12.

The city's sexual health clinic and dental clinics will work modified holiday hours.

All Ottawa Public Library branches normally open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. will instead open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Wednesday, Jan. 1

Businesses, attractions, banks and services are generally closed.

The national gallery is open from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. and the war and history museums are open on regular hours.

People stand outside Parliament Hill on New Year's Eve for Canada's 150th celebrations.
A crowd stands outside Parliament Hill on New Year's Eve for Canada 150 celebrations. (Michel Aspirot/CBC)

Services

Transit is free after 6 p.m. and will operate on a "reduced weekday schedule."

The city will not offer curbside or multi-residential green bin, recycling or bulky item collection on New Year's Day. Pick-up will take place the following day and collection will be delayed by one day for the rest of the week. The Trail Waste Facility will also be closed.

The Site program mobile van will operate from 5 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.

The city's sexual health clinic and dental clinics will be closed, as will all four of the city's employment and social services offices.

All branches of the Ottawa Public Library and the city's art galleries will be closed.