Most shops and supermarkets open from about 9am to 5.30pm Monday to Saturday, though in bigger towns and cities supermarkets and malls may open as early as 7.30am and close around 9pm. Enforced Sunday closing of shops, bars and restaurants operates over much of the country, but a growing number of provinces now have limited Sunday hours, usually 9am to 5pm, particularly in touristy areas.

As a general rule, between BC and Québec there are limited Sunday opening hours; and east of Québec shops will be shut on Sunday. Many retail shops open late on Thursday and Friday evenings. In cities you usually find a pharmacist open 24 hours and there's often a convenience store like Mac's or 7-11 that's open around the clock.

Canadian Holidays

New Year's Day, January 1
Valentine's Day, February 14
National Flag of Canada Day, February 15
Heritage Day, February 21
Commonwealth Day, March 14
Saint Patrick's Day, March 17
First Day of Spring, March 20
Good Friday, March 24
Easter Day, March 27
Easter Monday, March 27
April Fool's Day, April 1
Daylight Saving Time Begins, April 3
Earth Day, April 22
Workers Mourning Day, April 28
Mother's Day, May 7
Victoria Day, May 23
Father's Day, June 19
National Aboriginal Day, June 21 First Day of Summer, June 21
Canada Day, July 1
Civic Holiday, August 1
Labour Day, September 5
First Day of Autumn, September 22
Thanksgiving Day, October 10
Daylight Saving Time Ends, October 30
Halloween, October 31
Remembrance Day, November 11
First Day of Winter, December 21
Christmas Eve, December 24
Christmas Day, December 25
Boxing Day, December 26
New Year's Eve, December 31