A closed sign hangs in a retail store window. File photo courtesy of © Can Stock Photo / keversA closed sign hangs in a retail store window. File photo courtesy of © Can Stock Photo / kevers
London

Thanksgiving Monday closures in London

Londoners are marking their second pandemic Thanksgiving this weekend.

The ongoing fourth wave of COVID-19, driven by the Delta variant, has the Middlesex London Health Unit encouraging residents to celebrate responsibly. That includes keeping gatherings small and outdoors.

To help people identify which activities would be safer than others, the health unit has again released its colour-coded celebration safety list. The safest options are coloured green, while least safe options are coloured red. Among the safer plans for Thanksgiving is limiting the traditional dinner to members of your own household, while inviting others to join virtually. Keeping gatherings to those who are fully vaccinated is also deemed safer. Sharing food or drinks or participating in a gathering where physical distancing can’t be maintained is considered higher risk.

Under the province's current COVID-19 safety restrictions, outdoor gatherings are capped at 100 people, while indoor gatherings are limited to 25 people.

Whether planning a dinner with extended family or keeping the day low key, there are 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 The Beer Store Grocery stores Costco Wholesale London Public Library branches

OPEN:

Many drug stores with reduced hours (Rexall location in London open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. London Shoppers Drug Mart locations at 1224 Commissioners Rd.W., 510 Hamilton Rd. and in Sherwood Forest Mall at 1225 Wonderland Rd. N open from 10 a.m.- 6 p.m.) Labatt Retail Store on Horton St. – 11a.m.- 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 Carling COVID-19 Assessment Centre 9:20 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. The LTC will be running on a holiday schedule, normal service returns on Tuesday.

Following several cloudy days in a row, the statutory holiday is expected to bring some sunshine. Environment Canada is calling for a partly sunny Thanksgiving Monday with a daytime high of 23.

Read More Local Stories