Durham Region residents in Oshawa, Pickering, Ajax, Whitby, and Clarington are reminded that Thanksgiving Day falls on Monday, October 13, 2025, and a number of businesses, public services, and recreational facilities will have modified hours or remain closed for the holiday.
Thanksgiving has been celebrated in Canada since 1879, and in 1957 it was officially proclaimed by Governor General Vincent Massey to be observed annually on the second Monday in October. As families across the region gather to celebrate the harvest holiday, residents are encouraged to plan ahead for altered schedules in essential services, transportation, and shopping.
A number of restaurants, cafés, and bars that typically operate on Mondays will remain open on Thanksgiving Day. Residents are advised to contact individual businesses in advance to confirm hours. Movie theatres across Durham, including Cineplex locations in Bowmanville, Oshawa, Ajax, and Pickering, as well as Landmark Cinemas in Whitby, will also welcome guests during regular showtimes.
Select Shoppers Drug Mart locations, convenience stores, and the Oshawa Zoo will be open to the public. Additionally, the Pickering Casino Resort, Ajax Casino, and Blue Heron Casino in Scugog will operate as usual. Outdoor recreational spaces, including major parks and trails such as the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail and the Oak Ridges Moraine, will be accessible throughout the day.
Several local craft breweries will also remain open, including All or Nothing Brewhouse in Oshawa and Old Flame in Port Perry. Town Brewery in Whitby will keep both its main and Pumphouse waterfront locations open, with special events planned to mark the end of the season.
Some recreation facilities will offer holiday hours. Harmon Arena in Oshawa will be open as usual, Delpark Homes Centre will operate from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the McLean Community Centre in Ajax will be open from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Most other recreational facilities in Durham will remain closed.
A number of essential services and retail locations will be closed on Thanksgiving Day, including all banks, federal, provincial and municipal government offices (including town and city halls), Canada Post offices and mail services, libraries, and most major grocery stores. Pickering Town Centre, Oshawa Centre, and all LCBO and Beer Store locations will be closed, though some exterior-facing restaurants at the malls may remain open. Walmart locations, art galleries, museums, Service Oshawa, and the Humane Society of Durham Region will also be closed for the day.
Public transit will operate on reduced schedules. Durham Region Transit and Pulse will run on a holiday schedule, while GO Transit will operate on a Saturday schedule.
Residents are encouraged to take note of these adjustments to avoid disruptions to their holiday plans.
For further information and updates, residents can visit their respective municipal websites or transit authorities.