Greater Sudbury residents will see a mixed bag of closures and regular business hours on Wednesday, Sept. 30, as the city marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
Banks, federal government offices and Canada Post will be closed for the day, along with most municipal services, including Tom Davies Square, Greater Sudbury Public Library branches and citizen service centres, municipal pools and fitness facilities, and the Greater Sudbury Animal Shelter.
Because the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is not a statutory holiday under Ontario law, most private businesses are not required to close. Grocery stores, shopping malls and major retailers are expected to operate on their regular business hours. Schools, child care centres, colleges and universities will also remain open, as will restaurants, movie theatres and tourist attractions.
Retail and Municipal Service Hours
Alcohol retailers will follow a modified schedule, with the LCBO opening at noon while The Beer Store and the Wine Rack keep their usual hours.
On the municipal side, the Recycling Centre and landfill and waste transfer sites will remain open despite other city facility closures. Roadside residential waste collection normally scheduled for Sept. 30 will be shifted to Saturday, Oct. 3. GOVA transit routes will run on their regular schedule.
The city’s 311 line will be available for urgent calls only on the holiday, and the live web chat and email service will not be monitored outside normal business hours. Residents can still register service requests at any time through the customer service portal at 311.greatersudbury.ca or by emailing 311@greatersudbury.ca.
Why the Day Is Observed
The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is observed annually on Sept. 30 to honour children who never returned home from residential schools, along with survivors, their families and affected communities. The date coincides with the Indigenous-led grassroots Orange Shirt Day, which began in 2013 and was inspired by residential school survivor Phyllis Webstad, whose new orange shirt was taken from her on her first day at St. Joseph’s Mission residential school.
While most stores and workplaces will operate as usual, a number of commemorative events are planned across the Sudbury area. These include a sunrise ceremony at Lively District Secondary School, a walk and flag raising organized by the N’Swakamok Indigenous Friendship Centre ending at Memorial Park, a gathering at Bell Park hosted by the Urban Indigenous Sacred Circle and Shkagamik-Kwe Health Centre, and an awareness walk and ceremony at Wahnapitae First Nation. Atikameksheng Anishnawbek will also hold a community gathering, and Laurentian University is hosting a full-day event at its Indigenous Sharing and Learning Centre. The Sudbury Indie Cinema is offering a discounted screening tied to the day’s theme.
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