Be prepared and do your shopping before Victoria Day. That’s the message Ontario is conveying to shoppers and also to merchants. Under the Retail Business Holidays Act (RBHA), most stores will be closed on Victoria Day, Monday, May 19. This holiday is one of nine days in the year when most stores must be closed.

Exempt from the act are book or magazine stores under 2,400 square feet with a maximum of three employees, pharmacies under 7,500 square feet, flower shops and gas stations. Stores may also be open on this holiday if exempted under specific municipal bylaws for tourism purposes.

There are fines for opening businesses on these prohibited days: $500 for the first offence; $2,000 for a second offence; $5,000 for a third or subsequent offence.

Retail outlets may be fined up to $50,000 or the total amount of gross sales for the holiday, whichever is greater.

 The RBHA is administered by the Ministry of Government and Consumer Services and enforced by local police services in all municipalities except for the City of Toronto. Under the Stronger City of Toronto for a Stronger Ontario Act, 2006, the city now has its own closing requirements under a bylaw.

Quick Facts

• There are nine days every year in which most stores must be closed.

They are: New Year’s Day, Family Day (Third Monday of February), Good Friday, Easter Sunday, Victoria Day, Canada Day, Labour Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

Find out about tourism designations or local hours of retail operation from the municipal clerk’s office in your municipality.

Learn which types of retail operations are exempt from the act by calling the ministry at 416-326-8800 or toll-free at 1-800-889-9768.