The Thanksgiving long weekend is expected to be more subdued than usual as public health officials urge Londoners, and all Ontarians, to keep celebrations small due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Middlesex London Medical Officer of Health Dr. Chris Mackie and Premier Doug Ford advised people earlier this week to only spend the Thanksgiving holiday with those in their own household. While admitting it will be tough, Ford said it's a necessary sacrifice to "stop the spread of COVID-19."
The smaller gatherings may cut down on the number of errands to be run beforehand. But for anyone who still has last minute items to get there are a number of closures to be aware of.
Below is a list of what is open and what is closed on Thanksgiving Monday:
CLOSED:
Government offices (municipal, provincial, and federal) Canada Post (no mail delivery) Schools Malls (including White Oaks Mall, Masonville Place, and Westmount Shopping Centre) Banks LCBO Grocery stores Costco Wholesale London Public Library branches Most drug stores (Shoppers Drug Mart locations at 1224 Commissioners Rd.W., 510 Hamilton Rd. and in Sherwood Forest Mall at 1225 Wonderland Rd. N will be open from 10 a.m.- 6 p.m.)
OPEN:
Labatt Retail Store on Horton St. – 11a.m.- 6 p.m. Select drive-thru Beer Store locations (414 Wharncliffe Road S 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.) Fanshawe Pioneer Village – 10 a.m – 4 p.m. (final day regular public programming season) Fanshawe Conservation Area (for campsite availability call 1-866-668-2267) Movie theatres and most restaurants London COVID-19 Assessment Centres (Oakridge 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Carling Heights 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.) The LTC will be running on a holiday schedule, normal service returns on Tuesday.
The statutory holiday is expected to be cloudy and possibly rainy with a daytime high of 18, according to Environment Canada.