Canada Day Shopping Guide
Planning Canada Day? Check Ontario grocery store hours for Costco, Metro, and more
Most Ontario grocery stores will be closed on Canada Day, Wednesday July 1, 2026. The province's *Retail Business Holidays Act* (RBHA) requires most large retailers to shut their doors on Canada Day — and breaking that rule can mean fines up to $50,000, according to Ontario.ca.
The good news: if you live near downtown Toronto, Ottawa's ByWard Market, or Niagara Falls, a handful of locations from Loblaws, Farm Boy, and Metro will be open with reduced hours. Shoppers in suburban areas like Mississauga, Brampton, and London should plan ahead — virtually every major grocer near them will be dark for the day, according to Brampton Guardian.
Costco, No Frills, FreshCo All Staying Shut
Some chains are closing every single Ontario location. Costco will shut all its warehouses, business centres, and home delivery operations on July 1, according to Inside Ottawa Valley. No Frills and FreshCo are also closed province-wide. FreshCo's closure follows Sobeys' standard corporate holiday policy for Ontario stores.
Metro is also closing most locations. However, its College Park store in Toronto and select Ottawa locations will stay open. Farm Boy is largely closed too, with only three spots open: 777 Bay Street and Queens Quay in Toronto, and the Rideau Centre in Ottawa, according to Inside Ottawa Valley.
Toronto's 'Tourist Loophole' Keeps a Few Doors Open
Certain parts of Ontario are exempt from the RBHA. Municipalities can pass bylaws to opt out if they are designated tourist areas. This is why stores in downtown Toronto, Ottawa's ByWard Market, and Niagara Falls can open while suburban stores cannot. The window for those open stores is typically 10 AM to 4 PM, according to Inside Ottawa Valley.
Loblaws is one of the few chains using that loophole. Its Carlton Street and St. Clair West and East locations in Toronto will be open from 7 AM to 10 PM, according to Brampton Guardian. These exceptions are limited to stores in officially designated tourist zones — not just any urban neighbourhood.
Ontario Just Changed Its Holiday Laws — But Not for Canada Day
The Ontario government passed Bill 97 in April 2026, removing Family Day and Victoria Day from the mandatory closure list under the RBHA. Premier Doug Ford pushed for the change, saying it would add "close to a million working hours" to the economy. But Canada Day, Good Friday, and Christmas were left on the protected list — meaning stores still must close.
The change is the biggest shake-up to Ontario retail hours since Sunday shopping was allowed in 1992. Critics, including UFCW Canada — a major grocery workers' union — called the broader holiday push "greedy" and "anti-family." MPP John Fraser put it bluntly: "It's called Canada Day for a reason... it's not 'let's go shopping day.'"
Stock Up on June 30 — Stores Expect a Rush
Because Canada Day 2026 falls on a Wednesday, there is no long weekend. That makes midweek grocery demand unusually high. Retailers expect a 3 to 5 percent jump in total weekly sales volume compared to a normal week, driven by shoppers stocking up on June 30 and again on July 2, according to Inside Ottawa Valley.
One extra factor this year: the FIFA World Cup 2026 is running through Canada Day. Ontario has extended alcohol service hours to 4 AM for World Cup matches. That has pushed more shoppers toward the few open urban grocery stores and licensed Beer Store locations. Before you make the trip anywhere, check the store's own holiday hours page — hours can vary by location even within the same chain.
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