Many services and public facilities are closed or have reduced hours on Wednesday, Sept. 30, for the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
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Wednesday, Sept. 30 is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, observed as a statutory holiday in B.C., with many businesses and public services operating on modified schedules in Metro Vancouver.
The day honours the children who never returned home and survivors of residential schools, along with their families and communities, according to Canadian Heritage.
Most public schools in B.C. are closed for the day, including K–12 public schools, which are treated as a statutory day of remembrance.
Shopping malls in the Vancouver region are operating with set holiday hours, including CF Pacific Centre (11 a.m. to 7 p.m.), Park Royal (11 a.m. to 7 p.m.) and Metropolis at Metrotown (11 a.m. to 7 p.m.). International Village is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., while Capilano Mall runs from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and the Amazing Brentwood operates from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Other mall schedules include Coquitlam Centre (11 a.m. to 6 p.m.), Guildford Town Centre (11 a.m. to 7 p.m.), Tsawwassen Mills (11 a.m. to 7 p.m.) and McArthurGlen Designer Outlet (10 a.m. to 9 p.m.). In Richmond, Richmond Centre is listed for 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Lansdowne Centre runs 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Lougheed Mall operates 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Central City runs 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Willowbrook Shopping Centre operates 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; City Square is listed for noon to 5 p.m.
For entertainment and cultural attractions, several locations are scheduled to open for the holiday. Cineplex and Landmark movie theatres are listed as open, and Science World is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Among other major attractions with holiday hours, Vancouver Aquarium runs 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., VanDusen Botanical Garden is listed for 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and H.R. MacMillan Space Centre operates 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Museum of Vancouver and Vancouver Maritime Museum are both listed for 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., while Vancouver Art Gallery is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Outdoor sightseeing spots also have published hours: Capilano Suspension Bridge is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Granville Island Public Market runs 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Grocery shopping options include major chains listed as open, such as Safeway, Save-On-Foods, IGA, Superstore, Walmart and Whole Foods. Costco is also listed as open, along with reduced-hour service at BC Liquor Stores from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Pharmacies are expected to operate, with Safeway, Save-On-Foods, London Drugs, Pharmasave and Shoppers Drug Mart listed as open.
Public transit will run, but commuters are directed to plan around holiday service patterns. TransLink buses, SeaBus and SkyTrain services are scheduled on a Sunday/holiday schedule, and holiday fares will be in effect.
The holiday fare structure is expected to make travel more straightforward for riders crossing zones: commuters will only need a 1-Zone fare to travel across all zones. However, the West Coast Express will not be running.
TransLink customer-facing offices are closed for the holiday. The TransLink Customer Service Centre, the Access Transit Customer Care Office, and the Lost Property Office will be closed on Sept. 30.
Hours for community centres will vary by location, and residents are advised to check Truth and Reconciliation Day hours online for their specific community centre.
Several other services are expected to be closed, including government offices such as Canada Post and City Hall, banks and ICBC. Public libraries will be closed on the holiday, with an exception noted for the Carnegie Branch, which does not close.
For residents planning around the holiday, the available public information emphasizes confirming hours for facilities that vary by community and service category, particularly community centres and any government or library locations with branch-specific schedules.
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