Courtesy of altiusdirectory.com

It’s hard to believe that it’s already September and that the summer is gone. Considering the weather that we had, most of us are still waiting for summer to arrive and unfortunately that ship has sailed. There is always a lot of confusion about what is open and closed on Labour Day weekend. Saturday, September 5^th and Sunday, September 6^th are just regular weekend days and regular weekend hours of operation will apply. Monday, September 7^th is an entirely different story because Labour Day is a legal statutory holiday and that means lots of closures. The TTC and GO Transit will be running on a holiday schedule.

What will be closed on Labour Day?

• Government offices
• There will be no mail delivery because the post office is closed
• LCBO
• Beer Stores
• Most supermarkets – notable exceptions are Bruno’s and some No Frills stores
• Libraries
• Most businesses
• Malls in Toronto, except for the Eaton Centre
• Most stores

What is open on Labour Day?

• Yonge Street from Richmond Street north to Grosvenor
• The Eaton Centre
• Queen’s Quay
• Yorkville – stores will decide individually to open or close
• Vaughan Mills will be open from 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
• Pacific Mall will be open from 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM

What is there to do on Labour Day?

• Visit the CNE.
• Attend the Labour Day Parade. It starts at 9:30 AM at Queen and University and proceeds down Queen to Dufferin and then south to the Dufferin Gate at the CNE.
• Take in Brazilian Day at Yonge-Dundas Square from 2:00 PM – 7:30 PM. It promises to be a great event and it’s FREE.
• Enjoy the Hispanic Fiesta at Mel Lastman Square.
• Learn all about Dogs with Jobs at PawsWay, located at 245 Queens Quay West.

Courtesy of tysonwilliams.com

The Canadian National Exhibition is known by several nicknames – the CNE and the EX – but by what ever name you call it, Torontonians come out in record numbers each and every year to attend the Grand Dame of attractions. The Ex has been around for over 130 years. In that time it has become the largest annual fair in Canada and the fourth largest in North America. Last year over 1.3 million attended. Once again the CNE returns to Exhibition Place, located at 100 Princes’ Boulevard, from August 21^st – September 7^th, marking the end of summer and Labour Day.

This year the Ex is featuring over 500 attractions, a large carnival midway, international entertainment, shopping, great food, and agricultural exhibits. The main attractions are just spectacular:

• Celebrate the Olympic Spirit: A Tribute to the Winter Games
• Movie Magic: Aerial Acrobatics & Ice Skating Show starring Elvis Stojko
• E - Evolution…Emergence…Energy: Nighttime Light Show
• Canadian International Air Show
• FLOWRIDER Mobile Wave
• Daily CNE Mardi Gras Parade
• President’s Choice SuperDogs Show
• The Original Wheel of Thrills

If you buy your tickets by August 21^st you can save up to 31%. You can purchase tickets online however you must have access to a printer to print out your barcoded ticket.

Leave the car at home and take the TTC or GO Transit. Take the subway to Union Station and then the #509 steetcar westbound to Exhibition Place. Or, take the subway to Dufferin Station and then the #29 bus south to Dufferin Gates. Or, take the subway to the Dundas West Station and then #193 Exhbition Rocket. Or take the Lakeshore GO Train to Exhibition Station.