Labour Day lands on Monday, Sept. 7 this year, and it’s one of the few holidays Canada can actually take credit for inventing. It grew out of an 1872 printers’ strike in Toronto and became an official national holiday in July 1894, signed into law by Prime Minister John Sparrow David Thompson, a Halifax boy, born here in 1845. So the last long weekend of summer is partly our doing. You’re welcome.
Here’s what’s running and what’s locked up.
A note on accuracy
Businesses change their minds, hours get adjusted at the last minute, and weather closes things without warning. Treat this as a starting point, not gospel. Call ahead before you make the drive. If you spot something wrong or out of date, email news@haligonia.ca and we’ll fix it. Haligonia is not responsible for a wasted trip.
Need food?
The big chains are closed. Labour Day is one of eight designated retail closing days in Nova Scotia, so Sobeys, Atlantic Superstore, Walmart and Costco all have their doors shut. It’s the law, not a choice.
The smaller markets are your friends:
- Gateway Meat Market, Main St., Dartmouth
- Dave’s Fruit & Vegetable Market, 322 Main St., Dartmouth
- Luke’s Small Goods, 2393 Agricola St., Halifax
- Kingswood Market, 1210 Hammonds Plains Rd., Hammonds Plains
- Avery’s Farm Market: Beaver Bank, Lower Sackville and Kearney Lake Rd.
- Noggins Corner Farm Market, 50 Gary Martin Dr., Bedford
Better plan: do it on the weekend. The Halifax Seaport Farmers’ Market runs Saturday 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Sunday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Alderney Landing Market is Saturday 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Most drugstores are open if you’re in a pinch, though often on shorter hours.
Holiday hours may differ. We recommend calling ahead to confirm before heading out.
Need a drink?
Every NSLC location is closed. Agency stores are open, and most private wine and beer shops and craft brewery taprooms will be serving. Think Bishop’s Cellar, Harvest Wines & Spirits, Rockhead, Propeller, Nine Locks and the Moosehead cold beer store. Hours vary, so check before you drive.
Want to go shopping?
Don’t bother. Halifax Shopping Centre, Mic Mac Mall, Sunnyside Mall, Bedford Place Mall, Scotia Square and Park Lane are all closed. Movie theatres, restaurants, patios, gas stations and convenience stores are the exceptions. Those are open and, frankly, expecting you.
Getting around
Halifax Transit buses and the Alderney ferry are on a holiday schedule. First boat leaves Alderney Ferry Terminal at 7:30 a.m., last one leaves the Halifax Ferry Terminal at 11:45 p.m. No Woodside ferry. Route-by-route holiday schedules are on the Halifax Transit site, and service disruptions are posted at halifax.ca/htdisruptions.
The silver lining: paid on-street parking is free Monday. Still obey the signs, and don’t block intersections or sidewalks.
Garbage and recycling
No garbage, organics or recycling collection Monday. If Monday is your day, your pickup moves up to Saturday, Sept. 5. Have it curbside before 7 a.m., contained and secured from wildlife.
- Otter Lake Waste Management Facility and the Materials Recovery Facility: closed Monday, open regular hours Saturday, Sept. 5.
- Household Special Waste Depot, Bayers Lake: closed Saturday, Sept. 5. Reopens Saturday, Sept. 12, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Mobile Household Special Waste Depot: Saturday, Sept. 5, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Eastern Shore Community Centre, 67 Park Rd., Musquodoboit Harbour.
City services
All Halifax Public Libraries branches are closed. The 311 contact centre is closed for non-urgent requests, but urgent issues can still be reported by phone or at contactus@311.halifax.ca. In-person customer service centres are closed too. Everything is back to normal Tuesday, Sept. 8.
Most municipally operated recreation facilities are closed, including the Sackville Sports Stadium. Still going Monday:
- Halifax Common Pool: 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
- Emera Oval: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., with equipment lending if the weather and surface cooperate.
- Splash pads: Bayers-Westwood, George Dixon, Isleville Street, Cole Harbour, Shirley’s, Westmount, Sackville and BLT.
All beaches and the Bedford and Cole Harbour outdoor pools are done for the season.
Banks, mail and government
Labour Day is a federal statutory holiday as well as a provincial one, so this is the full shutdown. Banks are closed. Canada Post is not delivering and post offices are closed. Service Canada, provincial government offices and the courts are closed. Normal service resumes Tuesday.
Things to do
Monday: the Halifax-Dartmouth and District Labour Council holds its annual Labour Day rally at 11 a.m. outside the Nova Scotia Labour Board (Summit Place, 1601 Lower Water St.), followed by a march to Peace and Friendship Park on Hollis Street for food, drinks, entertainment, a bouncy castle and face painting.
Sunday: a free public concert at Sullivan’s Pond Park in Dartmouth as part of the Dartmouth Sunshine Series, with the Mellotones on the bandshell stage from 2:30 p.m.
All weekend: Monday is the last day of the Canada Strong Pass, which means free admission to Parks Canada sites, including the Halifax Citadel, right through Sept. 7. Last chance.
One more thing
HRCE students went back on Thursday, Sept. 3, so Labour Day is a day off in week one this year. Enjoy it, kids.
And if you’re out celebrating, follow all municipal and provincial burning restrictions. Details at halifax.ca/fireworks.
Know something we missed?
If your business, market, brewery or community group is open on Labour Day and isn’t on this list, tell us and we’ll add you. Send your hours to news@haligonia.ca and we’ll keep this post updated through the long weekend.
Have a safe and enjoyable long weekend.
HRM release:
Reproduced below in full, as issued by the Halifax Regional Municipality.
The Halifax Regional Municipality is advising residents of the following municipal program and service level adjustments for Labour Day on Monday, Sept. 7.
Solid waste collection and facility hours
There will be no garbage, organics or recyclables collection services on Monday, Sept. 7.
Curbside collection normally scheduled for Monday, Sept. 7, will instead occur on Saturday, Sept. 5. Residents are asked to place materials curbside prior to 7 a.m. on collection day to guarantee pickup, ensuring items are contained and secured from wildlife.
The Otter Lake Waste Management Facility and Materials Recovery Facility will be closed on Monday, Sept. 7, but will be open on Saturday, Sept. 5, for regular hours of operation.
The Household Special Waste Depot in Bayers Lake will be closed on Saturday, Sept. 5, but will be open on Saturday, Sept. 12 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
A mobile Household Special Waste Depot will be held on Saturday, Sept. 5, at the Eastern Shore Community Centre (67 Park Road, Musquodoboit Harbour) from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Residents can find more information on solid waste facility holiday hours on our website. Residents can also sign up for weekly collection reminders and service alerts, as well as print a calendar customized to their address, on our website.
Halifax Transit bus and ferry services
Halifax Transit buses and Alderney Ferry service will be operating on holiday schedules on Monday, Sept. 7. Woodside Ferry service will not be operating.
The first trip for Alderney Ferry service will depart Alderney Ferry Terminal at 7:30 a.m. and its last trip will depart Halifax Ferry Terminal at 11:45 p.m.
Detailed holiday schedules by individual bus and ferry route can be found on our website.
For information on Halifax Transit service disruptions, residents can visit: halifax.ca/htdisruptions
Recreation facilities, programs and services
The Halifax Common Pool will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. The Bayers-Westwood, George Dixon, Isleville Street, Cole Harbour, Shirley’s, Westmount, Sackville and BLT splash pads will also be open. All beaches, the Bedford and Cole Harbour outdoor pools are closed for the season.
The Emera Oval will be open on Monday, Sept. 7 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Equipment lending will be available if weather and surface conditions permit. Please check our website for information.
The Sackville Sports Stadium will be closed on Monday, Sept. 7.
Many municipally operated recreation facilities will be closed on Monday, Sept. 7. Please call your local recreation centre for further information.
Customer Contact Centres
The 311 Contact Centre will be closed to non-urgent requests on Monday, Sept. 7. However, urgent calls can still be reported. Regular operations will resume on Tuesday, Sept. 8.
In-person Customer Service Centres will be closed on Monday, Sept. 7. Customer Service Centres will reopen with regular hours on Tuesday, Sept. 8.
Residents may contact 311 by phone, or by email at: contactus@311.halifax.ca
Further information on Customer Contact Centres can be found on our website.
Parking
Paid on-street parking will be free on Monday, Sept. 7. Residents are reminded to abide by all other posted signage and ensure they are not blocking intersections or sidewalks.
Civic Events
Residents are encouraged to attend the free public concert on Sunday, Sept. 6, at Sullivan’s Pond Park as part of the Dartmouth Sunshine Series.
For more information, visit our website.
Fire safety
Residents are reminded to follow all municipal and provincial burning restrictions and celebrate responsibly throughout the long weekend.
Learn more at: halifax.ca/fireworks
Have a safe and enjoyable long weekend.
