Windsor-Essex residents are wearing orange and reflecting on a painful chapter of Canadian history Friday.
There are also some employees who will not be working, so they can reflect on the second National Day of Truth and Reconciliation. With that, there are some alterations to services in Windsor-Essex on Friday.
The National Day of Truth and Reconciliation is a statutory holiday for federal employees and many who work in federally-regulated industries. The day is not statutory, however, in the province of Ontario.
Federal offices and some provincial and municipal offices are closed on Friday. Be sure to check with your municipality to avoid a wasted trip. Service Ontario branches, though, are open Friday as usual.
There is no Canada Post delivery, and most financial institutions are closed.
All four publicly-funded school boards serving Windsor-Essex are holding normal class schedules Friday. The University of Windsor is having classes but observing Orange Shirt Day. Classes are also taking place as usual at St. Clair College.
Devonshire Mall, Tecumseh Mall, and Windsor Crossing outlet mall in LaSalle are operating under regular hours, along with most grocery and big-box stores. The Beer Store and all LCBO outlets are also operating Friday as normal.
In the City of Windsor, commercial and residential garbage and recycling pickup will take place as scheduled. The public drop-off and hazardous waste disposal site is also open.
All of Windsor's community centres and arenas are open Friday with the exception of the Forest Glade Community Centre. All of the city's indoor pools and the Windsor International Aquatic and Training Centre are also open.
The Homelessness and Housing Help Hub (H-4) at Windsor Water World will operate on regular hours Friday.
The Windsor Public Library is closed Friday with all branches open as usual on Saturday. The same goes for all branches of the Essex County Library.
Transit Windsor buses are running on a normal weekday schedule. Parking enforcement will continue Friday, but payment offices will be closed.