This Wednesday, Nov. 11 is Remembrance Day, where Canadians across the country are encouraged to commemorate those who have served and died in the Canadian military.
Here’s what you need to know about what’s open, closed and how to pay your respects in the national capital.
Ceremonies
The National Remembrance Day Ceremony will take place at the National War Memorial starting at around 10:30 a.m. with the veterans’ march. It is scheduled to end at 11:30 a.m. with a veterans’ march-off.
As part of the ceremony, there will be a 21-gun salute at about 11 a.m. fired from the east side of Parliament Hill. In the sky, expect four CF-18 Hornets to fly past at about 11:05 a.m., and a Black Hawk helicopter to fly past at about 11:30 a.m.
The following road closures will be in effect around the National War Memorial from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesday.
- Queen Elizabeth Driveway, between Somerset Street and Laurier Avenue West
- Elgin Street, from Laurier Avenue to Wellington Street
- Wellington Street, from Bank Street to Rideau Street/Sussex Avenue
- Daly Avenue, between Colonel By Drive and Nicholas Street
- Nicholas Street, between Daly Avenue and Laurier Avenue
OC Transpo routes 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19 and 20 will be detoured between 6:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. due to road closures on Rideau and Elgin streets.
Beechwood Cemetery, home to the National Military Cemetery of Canada, will also hold a Remembrance Day ceremony starting at 10:30 a.m. Military aircraft will also fly over the cemetery as part of its flypast route.
Royal Canadian Legion branches will also host Remembrance Day ceremonies across the city. The city encourages residents to visit the Legion’s website to find more about the smaller ceremonies happening in your area.
Retail closures
A City of Ottawa bylaw requires most retail businesses to close from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Remembrance Day, though it deals only with fixed, enclosed premises.
The closure requirement doesn’t apply to services including hotels and motels; restaurants; recreational facilities and fitness centres; doctors’, dentists’, optometrists’ offices; medical centres; funeral homes; hair salons and spas; pet groomers; vehicle repair shops; repair services for computers, furnaces, air conditioners, pools; payday loan services; realtors; dry cleaners; and vendors at outdoor markets.
Though, these services could still choose to close their doors.
City services
The City of Ottawa’s 311 line will be open for urgent matters only. Client service centres across the city will be closed on Wednesday.
Garbage, green bin and recycling collection will operate business as usual on Wednesday.
All community, recreation and cultural facilities will be open. City-operated museums, galleries and the Shenkman Arts Centre will be closed.
The Site mobile van will operate from 5 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. Other health services, including the sexual health clinic, dental clinics and satellite clinics, will be closed.
Employment and social services as well as municipal childcare centres will be closed on Wednesday.
All branches of the Ottawa Public Library will be closed on Wednesday.
Getting around
OC Transpo and Para Transpo will maintain regular transit service on Remembrance Day, with the expected detours around the National War Memorial.
Where it is safe, OC Transpo will pause service to observe two minutes of silence at 11:11 a.m., with buses encouraged to pull over to the side of the road and trains held at station platforms.
Veterans wearing their medals, uniforms or presenting ID can ride OC Transpo for free during National Veterans’ Week, up until Nov. 12.
All parking restrictions will be in effect on Wednesday. If driving downtown, the city encourages people to give themselves extra time while the road closures are in effect.
