Hamilton Adjusts Services and Business Hours for Thanksgiving

Residents of Hamilton, Ontario, will face changes to public services, transportation, shopping and recreational facilities over the Thanksgiving weekend, with many operations closed Monday, Oct. 12, 2026. According to CBC News, holiday schedules will affect waste collection, public transit, libraries, municipal offices and several local businesses.

The City of Hamilton will suspend regular garbage, green bin, recycling and yard waste collection on Monday. Pickup will resume with a one-day delay for the remainder of the week, while community recycling centers and transfer stations will remain closed for the holiday.

Public transportation will also operate on a modified schedule. The Hamilton Street Railway (HSR) will follow its Sunday schedule on Monday, with the last buses departing downtown at midnight. Routes 12 Wentworth and 42 Mohawk East will not operate that day.

According to the published schedule, all DARTS subscription trips will be canceled Monday, except those for dialysis. Passengers requiring other trips must make advance bookings for holiday travel.

Most major grocery stores, Walmart and Costco will close Monday. Some independent grocery stores and convenience stores may remain open, depending on their individual operating hours.

All Hamilton locations of the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) and the Beer Store will also be closed Monday.

Hamilton Public Library branches will close Sunday and Monday. The bookmobile, extended-access services and study halls will also be unavailable Monday, according to the holiday schedule.

Recreation centers, arenas and senior centers will close for the holiday. The Hamilton Farmers' Market will follow its regular hours, while all municipal civic museums and the tropical greenhouse at Gage Park will be closed Monday.

Westfield Heritage Village will remain open from noon to 4 p.m. on both Sunday and Monday, offering one of the listed exceptions to the holiday closures.

Several municipal administrative offices will suspend operations Monday, including Hamilton's municipal services centers at city hall, the housing services office at 350 King St. E., the municipal parking system office and public health administration offices.

The city's animal services office and shelter will also close Monday. Alcohol, drug and gambling services will not be offered that day, and the child and adolescent service walk-in clinic will be closed.

The holiday schedule affects a broad range of public-facing services, while waste collection will follow a delayed timetable throughout the rest of the week. Residents should account for the announced closures when planning transportation, shopping and access to municipal facilities over the long weekend.