Thunder Bay Civic Holiday 2026: What Is Open and Closed Today
THUNDER BAY — Municipal offices, government service counters, libraries, banks and the city landfill are among the services closed for the Civic Holiday on Monday, Aug. 3, while transit, some recreation facilities, shopping centres and many private businesses remain open.
Ontario’s Civic Holiday is widely observed, but it is not one of the province’s nine statutory public holidays under the Employment Standards Act. That means retail, restaurant, grocery and pharmacy schedules can vary considerably between locations.
Residents should confirm individual business hours before heading out, particularly for pharmacies, smaller retailers and services operating inside another business.
Civic Holiday Services at a Glance
Open or operating Monday:
- Thunder Bay Transit on its Sunday and holiday schedule;
- Canada Games Complex from noon to 5 p.m.;
- Intercity Shopping Centre from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.;
- Select grocery, pharmacy and LCBO locations;
- City parks, trails and outdoor recreation areas;
- Emergency services and the city’s 24-hour infrastructure dispatch line; and
- Several community events, including Festa Italiana and the Monday evening concert at Waverley Park.
Closed Monday:
- Thunder Bay Public Library branches;
- ServiceOntario and Service Canada offices;
- Canada Post delivery and corporate postal outlets;
- Most bank and credit union branches;
- Thunder Bay Solid Waste and Recycling Facility;
- City recycling depots;
- Thunder Bay 55 Plus Centre and River Street Café; and
- Some Beer Store locations.
<H3>Thunder Bay Transit Running Holiday Service</H3>
Thunder Bay Transit buses are operating on the Sunday and holiday schedule.
Not every weekday route operates on holidays. The City’s posted schedules show no Sunday or holiday service on the Neebing, Mission, John, East End and Balmoral routes. Riders should check their route before travelling. Transit administration is closed for the day.
Canada Games Complex Open for Reduced Hours
The Canada Games Complex is open from noon to 5 p.m. under its 2026 Civic Holiday schedule.
Swimmers and fitness users should check the facility’s activity schedule because individual pools, classes and bookable activities may operate on separate timetables.
City parks, splash pads and trails remain options for outdoor recreation. The Muskeg Express mini-train at Centennial Park is scheduled to operate on the Civic Holiday, weather permitting.
Intercity Shopping Centre and Some Retailers Open
Intercity Shopping Centre is for the first time, open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Individual tenants, restaurants and services inside the mall may set their own hours.
Many grocery stores, pharmacies, convenience stores and restaurants are also open, often with reduced hours. For example, Metro’s River Street location lists Civic Holiday hours of 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Home Depot is open for those DIYers and other people needing supplies today.
Because the Civic Holiday is not a mandatory retail closing day in Ontario, shoppers should contact their preferred location directly rather than assume regular Monday hours.
LCBO and Beer Store Hours Vary
Select LCBO stores are open Monday. The LCBO at Arthur Street West and Neebing Avenue lists hours of 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The provincial retailer advises customers to check the store locator for other locations.
Some Beer Store locations across Ontario are open, but confirmed Thunder Bay closures include the West Gore Street store and the Thunder Bay distribution centre. Customers should verify other locations before travelling.
Government Offices and Libraries Closed
Thunder Bay’s ServiceOntario offices at James Street South and Red River Road are closed for the Civic Holiday. The Thunder Bay Service Canada Centre is also closed. Online government services remain available, although applications and payments may not be processed until the next business day.
All Thunder Bay Public Library branches are closed Monday and will reopen according to their regular Tuesday schedules.
The Thunder Bay 55 Plus Centre and River Street Café are also closed.
No Regular Canada Post Delivery
Canada Post will not provide regular mail collection or delivery Monday. Corporate post offices are closed.
Postal counters operated inside private businesses may open according to the host retailer’s schedule, although full postal services may not be available.
Most bank branches are also closed for the Civic Holiday. ATMs and online banking remain available, but some transactions may not be processed until Tuesday. The Bank of Canada lists Aug. 3 as a 2026 banking holiday.
Landfill and Recycling Depots Closed
The Thunder Bay Solid Waste and Recycling Facility on Mapleward Road is closed Monday. City recycling depots and the household hazardous waste depot are also closed for the holiday.
Residents uncertain about curbside garbage or recycling collection should check their address through the City’s Waste Wizard. Holiday adjustments can vary by collection area.
Events Continuing Across Thunder Bay
Festa Italiana continues at the Italian Cultural Centre from 1 p.m. to 11 p.m.
The Monday Evening Concert at Waverley Park runs from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., while the Dawson Diner Monday Night Cruise-In is scheduled from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., weather permitting.
Emergency Services Remain Available
Police, fire, paramedic and hospital emergency services continue operating throughout the holiday. Call 911 for emergencies.
The City of Thunder Bay’s Infrastructure and Operations Dispatch line remains available around the clock at 807-625-2195 for urgent concerns involving roads, water, sewers, traffic signals, lighting, parks and municipal infrastructure.
