TORONTO, Ont. -You may enjoy the holiday which gives some the day off work the first Monday in August, but may not know what we are celebrating.
Simcoe Day has been named in honour of the John Graves Simcoe, the first Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada in the late 1700's.
However, it is only referred to as "Simcoe Day" in Toronto, and is simply known as the Civic holiday throughout the rest of the country.
As a result, the day - designated as holiday in 1965 - comes with several closures, but several malls, stores and tourist attractions remain open for business.
What's closed on Monday:
- Banks, government offices and post offices (no mail delivery)
- Libraries and most child-care centres
What's open on Monday:
- TTC and GO Transit will be running on a holiday schedule
- Many LBCO and Beer stores -- for individual store hours in your area, visit lcbo.com and thebeerstore.ca
- Most grocery stores, supermarkets and convenience stores, possibly at reduced hours
- Major tourist destinations, such as the CN Tower, museums, galleries, etc.
- Select
malls - Eaton Centre, Sherway Gardens and Yorkdale from 10 a.m. to 6
p.m., Square One from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Vaughan Mills from 10 a.m. to
7 p.m., Cookstown Outlet Mall from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Pacific Mall
from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Below is a list of long weekend events:
- Caribana celebrations continues through to 8 p.m. on Monday. De Caribana Lime, held at Ontario Place, is the festival's final event.
-Takes place Friday to Monday at Queen's Park, Nathan Phillips Square and Yonge-Dundas Square, featuring dance, visual art and music from the Caribbean, Latin America and Africa
-Part of Harbourfront Centre's World Routes Summer Festival, the events features Caribbean music, food and art
-Takes place throughout the weekend at Thomson Memorial Park.