What's open and closed over Christmas, New Year holidays
Here's a partial list of what's open and closed over the holidays.
Provincial government offices, such as Revenue Quebec, will be closed from Dec. 24 to 28 and Dec. 31 to Jan. 4.
There will be no mail delivery or
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collection by Canada Post on Dec. 25, Dec. 26 and Jan. 1.
Due to the surge in COVID-19
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cases, the Quebec government has ordered all non-essential businesses in the province to close from Dec. 25 to Jan. 10. Essential businesses permitted to stay open include food retailers, banks, hardware stores, convenience stores, pet stores, gas stations and pharmacies. Only traffic areas can be opened in shopping centres, to ensure access to businesses that are not affected by the closures.
Municipal offices will be closed from Dec. 24 to Jan. 4, inclusively.
Municipal courts: The counter at 775 Gosford St. will be closed from Dec. 24 to Jan. 4, inclusively, and the counter at 303 Notre-dame St. E. will be open only on Dec. 29 and 30 during that period. No applications for stays of execution will be heard between Dec. 24 and Jan. 4, inclusively. Only cases of individuals in custody will be processed in court during this period. For more details, call 514-872-2964.
The collection schedule for garbage, bulky items, recyclables and composting will change during the holiday season. Check with your borough.
Natural Christmas trees will be collected in January in the 19 boroughs.
The city's ecocentres will be closed from Dec. 24 to Jan. 4, inclusively.
All parking restrictions and automated parking payment machines remain in effect. However, metered parking downtown and around Plaza St-hubert remains free on weekends and after 6 p.m. until Dec. 31.
Montreal boroughs set their own schedule for sports centres, pools, arenas and cultural centres that are still open during the pandemic. Libraries are offering contactless loans. Check your local borough's website for more details.
La Grande Bibliothèque will be closed from Dec. 24 to Dec. 26 and from Dec. 31 to Jan. 2. Available services are affected by the pandemic.
The Biodome and Rio Tinto Alcan Planetarium are closed due to the pandemic. The outdoor areas of the Botanical Garden are accessible for walking and cross-country skiing.
All applications emailed to the city of Montreal's housing department, municipal court and property assessment department during the holidays will be accepted, but will be processed starting Jan. 5.
STM buses will run on a modified schedule on Dec. 25, Dec. 26, Jan. 1 and Jan. 2. Check the changes specific to your route at stm.info. Hours of service for the STM'S Transport Adapté will be extended from Dec. 24 to Jan. 2. It will be possible to travel until 4 a.m. (scheduled time of arrival at destination). Rides must be requested at least 24 hours before the scheduled trip.
Exo's trains, buses and adapted transit services will be free on Dec. 24, Dec. 25, Dec. 31 and Jan. 1. Train and bus lines will all run on Saturday schedules on Dec. 25-26 and Jan. 1-2, meaning no service on the Mascouche, Candiac and St-hilaire lines. The Deux-montagnes/bois-franc rail shuttle closes for good after Dec. 31. All Exo buses will also operate on a reduced schedule on Dec. 24 and from Dec. 28 to Dec. 31, inclusively. Service will be reduced to 65 to 75 per cent of normal hours.
The Société de transport de Laval will operate on a Saturday schedule on Dec. 24, Dec. 26, Dec. 31 and Jan. 2, and a reduced Sunday schedule on Dec. 25 and Jan. 1. Bus rides will be free on Dec. 24 and Dec. 31.
The Réseau de transport de Longueuil will operate on a Saturday schedule on Dec. 24, Dec. 26, Dec. 31 and Jan. 2 and a Sunday schedule on Dec. 25 and Jan. 1. Service will be free for children 11 and younger from Dec. 24 to Dec. 26, and Dec. 31 to Jan. 2. Free access applies to groups of no more than five children, who must be accompanied by an adult. Regular trips on adapted transit are cancelled from Dec. 24 to Jan. 2, inclusively, so clients will have to request a ride during this period. Adapted transit service will operate on Saturday hours during this period.
Most bank branches will be closed on Dec. 25, Dec. 26 and Jan. 1. Check with your bank for its holiday schedule.
The Société des alcools du Québec says to check hours for individual locations on Saq.com.
Société québécoise du cannabis locations will be closed Dec. 25 and Jan. 1, and open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Dec. 24, Dec. 31 and Jan. 2. They will be open from 1 to 5 p.m. on Dec. 26.
Montreal's public Atwater, Jean-talon and Maisonneuve markets will be closed on Dec. 25, Dec. 26, Jan. 1 and Jan. 2. Hours will be 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Dec. 24, Dec. 27, Dec. 31 and Jan. 3.