Toronto

Where to observe Remembrance Day across the GTHA, and what’s open and closed

By
Joanna Lavoie

Published: 

A woman places her poppy on a wreath during a Remembrance Day ceremony at the Queen's Park Veteran's Memorial in Toronto on Thursday, Nov. 11, 2010. (Nathan Denette / THE CANADIAN PRESS)

Several ceremonies and special observances will be held throughout the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area on Remembrance Day.

Unless otherwise indicated, most services of remembrance will begin just before 11 a.m. Attendees are, however, asked to arrive by 10:45 a.m.

Federal agencies and offices will be closed on Nov. 11, however most retailers and services will be open in Ontario, with some modified hours, as it is not a public holiday in the province.

Here’s when and where ceremonies will take place throughout the region:

Toronto

  • Prospect Cemetery, 1450 St. Clair Ave. W., starts at 8 a.m.
  • The Toronto Zoo, 2000 Meadowvale Rd., theatre opens at 9:45 a.m. for early admission
  • Fort York Historical Site, 100 Garrison Rd., starts at 10:30 a.m. followed by a reception inside the Blue Barracks
  • Queen’s Park, 111 Wellesley St. W., starts at 10:45 am.
  • Old City Hall Cenotaph, 60 Queen St. W.
  • East York Civic Centre (Memorial Gardens), 850 Coxwell Ave.
  • Etobicoke Civic Centre Cenotaph, 399 The West Mall
  • North York Cenotaph at York Cemetery, 160 Beecroft Rd.
  • Scarborough War Memorial, 2190 Kingston Rd.
  • York Civic Centre Cenotaph, 2700 Eglinton Ave. W.
Remembrance Day 2013/96.jpg Veterans observe two minutes of silence at the cenotaph during the Remembrance Day service in Toronto on Monday, Nov. 11, 2013. (Chris Young / THE CANADIAN PRESS)

Several downtown streets will be closed on Nov. 11, starting at around 10 a.m., to accommodate the Remembrance Day ceremonies at Toronto City Hall and Queen’s Park.

They include Queen Street West between York and Bay streets, with local traffic access to City Hall underground parking, and Bay Street from Dundas Street West to Richmond Street West, with local traffic access only from Dundas Street. Wellesley Street West will also be closed between Queen’s Park Crescent East and Queen’s Park Crescent West.

Toronto police are advising motorists that there may be delays in the area and asking them to consider alternate routes.

Peel

  • Meadowvale Cemetery Chapel​, 7732 Mavis Rd., Brampton, starts at 7:55 a.m.
  • Ken Whillans Square, Ceno​​taph, 2 Wellington St. W.​, Brampton, starts at 10:30 a.m.
  • Vimy Park, 29 Stavebank Rd, Mississauga, starts at 10:45 a.m.

York

  • York Region Administrative Centre, Great Hall, 17250 Yonge St., Newmarket, starts at 10:25 a.m.
  • Woodbridge Cenotaph (Woodbridge Memorial Tower), 80 Wallace St., starts at 10:30 am. Refreshment to follow at Woodbridge Pool and Memorial Arena, 5020 Hwy 7
  • Flato Markham Theatre, 171 Town Centre Blvd., doors open at 10:30 a.m., service starts at 10:50 a.m.
  • Crosby Memorial Arena Cenotaph, 210 Main St., Unionville, participants are asked to gather outside 170 Main St., near the Old Fire Hall Confectionary, at 10:45 a.m.
  • War Memorial Peace Park, 14659 Yonge St, Aurora, parade starts at 10:20 a.m. followed by ceremony at 10:40 a.m.

Hamilton

  • Hamilton Warplane Heritage Museum, 9280 Airport Rd, Mount Hope, starts at 10:30 a.m.
  • Veterans’ Place at Gore Park, 1 Hughson St. S., Hamilton, starts at 10:45 a.m.
  • Cenotaph Park, 324 Hwy 8, Stoney Creek, starts at 10:45 a.m.
Poppies - North Bay Two poppies are shown on a Remembrance Day wreath at a ceremony held in North Bay, Ont., on November 11, 2025. (Eric Taschner/CTV News Northern Ontario)

Niagara

  • Wreath-laying ceremony at City Hall, 50 Church St., St. Catherines, starts at 10 a.m.
  • Chippawa Park, 128 Fitch St, Welland, starting at 10 a.m.
  • Memorial Park Cenotaph, 6 St. Paul St. W., St. Catharines, starts at 10:45 am.
  • Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Cenotaph at Fairview Cemetery, 4501 Stanley Ave., Niagara Falls, starts at 10:45 a.m.

Halton

  • Naval Ships Memorial Monument, Spencer Smith Park, 1400 Lakeshore Rd., Burlington, starts at 9 a.m.
  • Veteran Square, north side of Burlington City Hall, 426 Brant St.

Durham

  • Memorial Park, 110 Simcoe St. S., Oshawa, parade starts at 10:25 am followed by ceremony at 10:45 a.m.
  • Pickering Cenotaph, 1 The Esplanade, starts at 10:45 a.m.

What’s open and closed on Nov. 11

As Remembrance Day is a federal statutory holiday, those who work for the government of Canada get the day off with pay.

All federally regulated services, offices, agencies, and Crown Corporations, including Canada Post, Canada Revenue Agency, Service Canada, and Passport offices, will be closed on Nov. 11.

Most banks/financial institutions will also be shut for the day.

open and closed sign-1.9902377 open and closed sign

Shopping malls, businesses, stores, grocery stores, restaurants, schools, and attractions will, however, be open in Ontario on Remembrance Day as its is not a public holiday in the province. Some hours may vary due to the observance.

Public transit

The Toronto Transit Commission will also be observing Remembrance Day by pausing all service for 2 minutes of silence on Nov. 11 at 11 a.m. All active members of the Canadian Armed Forces members and veterans and peacekeepers, with military ID, ribbons, or service medals, ride for free.

While vets and Canadian Armed Forces members ride for free on GO Transit all year, they can bring along a companion for free on Remembrance Day. Immediate family members of veterans who have died also being offered a free ride on Nov. 11 but must carry service papers or an ID card.