Residents across Durham Region should expect changes to municipal services, transit, waste collection and recreation facilities on Labour Day, Monday, Sept. 7.
The Durham Labour Day holiday will close most government offices, libraries and many recreation facilities, although several pools, outdoor spaces and other amenities will remain available.
Here’s what residents in Oshawa, Whitby, Ajax, Pickering, Clarington and elsewhere in Durham should know before heading out.
Durham Region services and transit
Durham Regional Headquarters in Whitby will be closed on Labour Day, including Regional front counters, Provincial Courts offices and several administrative services.
Ontario Works offices in Ajax, Oshawa and Uxbridge will also be closed, along with Family Services Durham locations and several Health Department clinics.
Durham Region Transit will operate on a weekend schedule.
The DRT customer service desk at 110 Westney Rd. S. in Ajax will be closed, although Specialized Services telephone support will remain available from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
GO Transit will operate on a Saturday schedule for Labour Day.
Waste collection changes
There will be no regular Monday waste collection in affected Durham communities.
Residents with Monday collection should expect their pickup to move one day later, with the holiday shift continuing through the remainder of the collection week where applicable.
Residents should check their municipality or Durham Region waste calendar before putting materials at the curb.
What’s open and closed in Oshawa?
Oshawa City Hall and Service Oshawa will be closed Monday.
Several recreation options will remain available on modified schedules.
Camp Samac Outdoor Pool and Rotary Park Outdoor Pool will both offer public swim sessions during the afternoon and evening.
Delpark Homes Centre will be open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., while Lakeview Park Beach is scheduled to have supervised swimming from 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., weather permitting.
Other City recreation facilities will be closed.
Ajax Memorial Pool remains open
Ajax Community Centre, Audley Recreation Centre and McLean Community Centre will be closed, with scheduled programs cancelled.
Ajax Memorial Pool will remain open with public and lane-swim periods scheduled throughout Labour Day.
Residents should check the Town’s current swimming schedule before visiting.
Whitby facilities mostly closed
Whitby Town Hall and municipal recreation facilities will be closed Monday.
The main exception is Port Whitby Marina, which is scheduled to operate from 7:30 a.m. until 4 p.m.
Whitby Public Library locations will also be closed for Labour Day.
Parks, trails and other outdoor spaces remain options for residents looking to spend part of the holiday outside.
Pickering facilities closed
Pickering’s Civic Complex, Chestnut Hill Developments Recreation Complex, Don Beer Arena, East Shore Community Centre and George Ashe Community Centre will be closed.
Pickering Museum Village and Pickering Public Library locations will also be closed Monday.
Orono Park Pool open in Clarington
Clarington’s Municipal Administrative Centre, Hampton Operations Depot, Animal Shelter and most recreation facilities will be closed.
One exception is Orono Park Pool, where a public swim is scheduled from noon until 5 p.m.
Shopping and other businesses
Oshawa Centre and Pickering Town Centre are expected to be closed, along with most major grocery stores.
Restaurants, cafés, movie theatres and some smaller businesses may remain open, but individual holiday hours can vary considerably.
Anyone planning to visit a private business should confirm its hours directly before travelling.
With numerous schedule changes across the region, residents are encouraged to check service information before leaving home during the Durham Labour Day holiday on Sept. 7.
