What’s open, what’s closed this weekend

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 28/09/2023 (721 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Saturday marked the third National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, with people across the country taking time to reflect on and honour those who suffered under the residential school system.

More than 150,000 First Nations, Métis and Inuit children attended Canada’s 140 residential schools between 1831 and 1996. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada and Winnipeg-based Centre for Truth and Reconciliation estimate more than 4,000 students died as a result of residential-school trauma and abuse.

Some businesses and government services change their hours in observation of the day, which is a statutory holiday for federal employees.

Although Manitoba has not yet enshrined the day as a provincial statutory holiday, non-essential government and civic services and offices will be closed Monday. School and child-care operations will not be impacted.

The Free Press will publish its Saturday paper as usual. There are no longer print or e-editions published on Sundays. Readers can also visit winnipegfreepress.com for the latest news and information.

Here is a selection of what’s open and closed on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation:

SHOPPING

Winnipeg malls will be open for regular hours; see their respective websites for more information.

The Forks Market is open for regular hours between 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Wa-Say Healing Centre is organizing a walk from the Oodena Celebration Circle to the Canada Life Centre beginning at 11 a.m.

Most grocery stores, including Safeway, Sobeys, Superstore and Walmart, are open for regular hours.

Manitoba Liquor Mart stores in Winnipeg are open for regular hours. For details on exceptions and rural Liquor Mart hours, visit www.LiquorMarts.ca/hours.

Beer vendors and private wine stores set their own hours for the holiday, so Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries suggests the best way to find out if the one near you will be open is to call.

ENTERTAINMENT

The Assiniboine Park Zoo is open, with regular hours from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Leaf is open, with regular hours from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and will host a sacred fire at the Indigenous Peoples garden throughout the day. Indigenous educator Cree Crowchild will share teachings and ceremonies from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.

The Canadian Museum for Human Rights is open Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and will have free admission. It is closed Monday.

The museum’s latest exhibit includes a banner created as part of the movement for women’s rights in Kurdistan and Iran. Created by Iranian Canadian artist Hajar Moradi, the banner bears the phrase “Woman, Life, Freedom,” which has become a rallying cry against the Iranian regime. It was carried in demonstrations in Toronto, where protesters added messages of solidarity in different languages, including Farsi, Kurdish, Turkish, Chinese, Hindi, Anishinaabemowin, Spanish, French and English.

The Children’s Museum is open from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with free admission. Special programming, including a Métis Paper Vest workshop, bannock and Indigenous story times will take place between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Guests are encouraged to wear an orange shirt in recognition of the impacts of residential schools.

The Manitoba Museum is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Admission is free for the galleries, planetarium and science gallery in recognition of Truth and Reconciliation day.

Specialized programming focused on the history and impacts of Indian Residential Schools and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada Calls to Action will be available throughout the day, including powwow dancers, interactive art activities and film screenings.

More information and programming hours are available online.

The Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada is open for regular hours from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Winnipeg Art Gallery is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday with a slate of specialized programming, including a new tour exploring the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s final report. Guests can explore various Indigenous artists’ work and see examples of how they interpret reconciliation through art. Senator Mary Jane McCallum will deliver a keynote address.

Admission is $18 for adults, $15 for seniors and free for youth and Indigenous people. Proceeds from the day’s admission fees will go to Sunshine House.

Movie theatres are open for regular hours.

RECYCLING AND TRASH

Recycling, garbage, and yard waste will be collected as normally scheduled for those with Saturday or Monday as their collection day.

The Brady Road landfill is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, and from 5:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday.

Brady 4R Winnipeg Depot is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, and from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday.

The Pacific and Panet 4R Winnipeg Depots are closed Saturday, open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday.

LEISURE ACTIVITIES

The Pan Am Pool (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.), Cindy Klassen Recreation Complex (2 p.m. to 6 p.m.) and Margaret Grant Pool (1 p.m. to 5 p.m.) will have reduced hours on Saturday. All other indoor recreation facilities will be closed.

Crescent Drive, Kildonan Park and Windsor Park golf courses will remain open throughout the long weekend, weather permitting.

Pools and recreation facilities will return to their normal operating schedules on Monday.

WINNIPEG TRANSIT

There are no changes to Winnipeg Transit’s regular scheduling.

For route and schedule details, visit Winnipeg Transit or contact 311.

Winnipeg Transit Customer Service Centres will be closed Monday.

LIBRARIES

All Winnipeg Public Library branches are closed on Saturday and Monday.

The Westwood, Sir William Stephenson, Pembina Trail, Henderson and Millennium libraries will be open from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

For detailed information on library hours, call 311 or visit the Winnipeg Public Library website.

CEMETERIES

Brookside, St. Vital and Transcona cemetery grounds are open Saturday and Monday. Cemetery offices will be closed on Monday.

For more information on city cemeteries, visit the municipal cemeteries branch online or contact 311.

GOVERNMENT SERVICES

All civic offices, including city hall and the Winnipeg Parking Authority, are closed Monday. Non-essential provincial and federal offices are closed Monday. Schools and child-care operations will not be impacted.

The Winnipeg Animal Services Agency will be closed on Saturday and open on Monday from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.

There is no mail delivery on Monday and Canada Post offices are closed, but post offices operated by the private sector will be open according to the hours of service of the host business.