Wondering what’s closed due to COVID-19 precautions in Ottawa, the Outaouais and surrounding regions, and for how long? Or wondering whether something that’s still operating has instituted new procedures, such as attendee limits or more flexible cancellation policies? Here’s the beginning of a list that I’ll keep expanding and updating as the situation unfolds. Please check the links for each item listed for more details. And if you know of a closure I haven’t listed, please e-mail me the details—thanks.
Canada-wide closures and news
All national museums across Canada are closed as of Saturday, March 14, until further notice, including the following museums in Ottawa and Gatineau.
- Canada Agriculture and Food Museum
- Canada Aviation and Space Museum
- Canada Science and Technology Museum
- Canadian Museum of History
- Canadian Museum of Nature
- Canadian War Museum
- National Gallery of Canada
Parks Canada has suspended visitor services at all national parks, national marine conservation areas and historic sites.
All 29 Canadian Apple stores and Nike stores are closed until March 27. Urban Outfitters is closing all of its branded stores (Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie and Free People) until at least Saturday, March 28. Other stores closing temporarily include Abercrombie & Fitch, Lululemon, Aritzia, Under Armour and Lush. All Hudson’s Bay stores nationwide are closed until at least April 1.
All the stores in the Penningtons group—including Penningtons, Reitmans, Thyme Maternity, Addition Elle and RW&CO—are closed until at least Saturday, March 28.
All GoodLife Fitness and Fit4Less clubs across Canada are closed until further notice.
All Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC) stores have reduced their hours. So have Marks and SportChek.
Starting Tuesday, March 17, Tim Hortons will be offering takeout, drive-through and delivery service only. All sit-down dining areas will be closed. Starbucks is shifting to to-go service only.
On Saturday, March 14, the federal government’s travel advisory page urged all Canadians currently abroad to return home as soon as possible to avoid possible border closures. The Government of Canada is also advising Canadians to avoid all non-essential travel and all cruise ship travel.
Ontario-wide closures and news
All publicly funded elementary and secondary schools in Ontario will be closed from Saturday, March 14, until Monday, April 6.
The Government of Ontario has ordered all bars and restaurants to close (they are still allowed to provide takeout and delivery) until further notice. The same state of emergency declaration shuttered all theatres, cinemas and concert venues.
Quebec-wide closures and news
All schools, school daycares, CEGEPs, universities, and public and home daycares in Quebec will be closed from Monday, March 16, through Friday, March 27.
The Quebec government has banned all indoor gatherings of 250 people or more.
Ottawa closures and news
COVID-19 assessment centre
Ottawa’s first COVID-19 assessment centre is now open at Brewer Arena at 151 Brewer Way. That’s just south of Bronson and Sunnyside Avenues in Old Ottawa South, across Bronson from Carleton University. It is open daily and testing is available only for the following people:
- those who have recently returned from international travel and have symptoms of COVID-19
- those who have had contact with someone diagnosed with COVID-19 within the last 14 days and who have symptoms of COVID-19
City-run facilities and services
All City of Ottawa-managed cultural and recreational facilities will be closed starting Monday, March 16, until further notice. These include the following:
- recreation centres
- Ottawa Public Library branches
- community centres
- arenas
- pools
- city-run theatres (including the Meridian Theatres @ Centrepointe and the Shenkman Arts Centre)
- city-run museums
Note that City Hall and all city Client Service Centres will remain open.
OC Transpo is asking everyone (except riders with mobility challenges) to board by the rear doors. Its website also has other tips for social distancing on transit.
Other recreational, cultural and retail facilities
At the National Arts Centre, all ticketed events, free public programming, and conferences/meetings booked by external clients are cancelled until Sunday, April 5. The NAC’s onsite restaurant is closed. The public spaces and the parking garage remain open.
The Great Canadian Theatre Company (GCTC) is closed until Sunday, April 5. Its production of Daisy is scheduled to resume on Tuesday, April 7, and continue until Sunday, April 19.
The Gladstone Theatre’s production of Dancing at Lughnasa will close early, on Sunday, March 15.
At the Canadian Tire Centre, Disney on Ice has been cancelled, and the Pearl Jam concert and an appearance by the Harlem Globetrotters have been postponed. More changes are likely in the coming days.
The House of TARG pinball/live music venue in Old Ottawa South is closed until further notice.
The Mayfair Theatre and the ByTowne Cinema are closed until further notice.
The Rideau Centre, Bayshore Shopping Centre and Place d’Orleans are shortening their hours.
Bridgehead coffee shops are closed until further notice.
Daycare centres and non-public schools
Many daycare programs, including those run by all four school boards (English and French, public and Catholic), are closed until April 5.
OMS Montessori schools are closed until April 14.
Ashbury College is closed until April 5, as is Elmwood School. At Lycée Claudel, classes have been suspended and the school will announce the length of the closure on Monday, March 16.
Events
All Ottawa Senators games are cancelled until the end of the current NHL season.
All Ottawa 67s games are cancelled until the end of the current OHL season.
The Ottawa Farmers’ Market at Lansdowne will be open on Sunday, March 15, and will then close until further notice.
The Ottawa Coffee Fest at Lansdowne has been postponed.
The Ottawa Trivia League is temporarily suspending all league games across the city, beginning Monday, March 16, until further notice.
The Signatures Originals Spring Craft Sale, originally scheduled for April 2 to 5 at the EY Centre, has been postponed.
Post-secondary institutions
At Algonquin College, all classes are suspended from Monday, March 16, through Sunday, March 22. After that, classes will be offered by alternative means (mainly online). During the week when classes are suspended, many sites on campus—including the library, food services and health services—will remain open.
At both Carleton University and the University of Ottawa (uOttawa), classes will be cancelled on March 16 and 17. Starting March 18, all classes will be offered online only until the end of term. Both universities’ facilities—including residences, libraries, sports centres and health services—remain open.
Classes at La Cité Collegiale are cancelled from Monday, March 16, through Friday, March 20. University facilities remain open, but only Tim Hortons will be providing food services.
Outaouais closures and news
Gatineau’s first COVID-19 testing centre is now open. It is at 135 St. Raymond Boulevard, near the Hull hospital. Walk-ins are not allowed; call 1-877-644-4545 to get pre-assessed by a nurse before going to the centre.
The City of Gatineau has closed all city-run arenas, libraries, community centres, pools, recreation centres and performance halls, as well as facilities at Lac Beauchamp and the Lac Leamy outdoor centre, until further notice. City Hall remains open.
The Casino du Lac-Leamy is closed until further notice.
Gatineau Park is open, but the Visitor’s Centre is closed until further notice.
Nordik Spa-Nature is closed until further notice, as is La Fab Arts Centre in Chelsea.
Camp Fortune and Edelweiss are closed until further notice.
Café Le Hibou in Wakefield is closed indefinitely.
Eastern Ontario, Laurentians, and other closures and news
The Arnprior and District Museum is closed until further notice.
The Mississippi Valley Textile Museum in Almonte will be closed from Monday, March 16, until Sunday, April 5.
The City of Brockville has shuttered a number of city-owned facilities, including the Brockville Arts Centre, Brockville Museum, Brockville Library, Brockville Youth Arena and Brockville Memorial Centre.
The Aquatarium in Brockville is closed until further notice.
All events at the Regina Rosen Auditorium of the Grand Theatre in Kingston have been cancelled until further notice.
Kingston Frontenacs hockey games are cancelled until further notice.
The Festival Hall Centre for the Performing Arts in Pembroke has postponed the Festival of Stars showcase for Kiwanis Music Festival students, originally scheduled for March 26.
The St. Lawrence Acoustic Stage in Morrisburg has postponed the April 18 show by The Good Lovelies.
Studio Theatre Perth has postponed several scheduled movie screenings; check the theatre’s website for updated information.
In Kemptville/North Grenville, most municipal facilities—including arenas, the municipal theatre and libraries—are closed until April 5, but the municipal offices remain open.
The Seaway News‘s list of cancellations and closures in and around Cornwall includes the closure of the Civic Centre complex and the Aquatic Centre until further notice.
The Wonderful World of Whisky Show at the NAV Canada Centre in Cornwall, originally scheduled for March 26 to 28, has been cancelled.
Tremblant is closed until further notice.
The Milton J. Rubenstein Museum of Science & Technology in Syracuse will be closed until at least April 1.
2 comments
….Child daycare closed in Quebec but not in Ottawa….why?
Good question. I did a bit more digging and found out that many Ottawa daycare programs are indeed closing, but it seems to be up to each individual daycare or network. https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/school-boards-to-decide-whether-daycare-centres-that-operate-in-ontario-schools-will-remain-open