The City of Owen Sound has passed a by-law under the authority of the provincial Retail Business Holidays Act to exempt businesses in the City from the Act on the following days:

• · Labour Day;
• · Family Day;
• · Victoria Day; and
• · Canada Day.

Retail businesses in Owen Sound can now choose to open on these four Statutory Holidays.

By-law No. 2019-132, A By-law respecting retail business holiday closures in the City of Owen Sound, continues to prohibit retail businesses from opening on the remaining five Statutory Holidays prescribed under the provincial Act, unless already exempt under the Act:

• · Thanksgiving Day;
• · Christmas Day;
• · New Year’s Day;
• · Good Friday; and
• · Easter Sunday.

The City’s Economic Development & Tourism Advisory Committee examined the opportunity for retail businesses to remain open on Statutory Holidays through a public meeting and an online survey. The majority of respondents indicated that they would consider shopping on a Statutory Holiday if given the opportunity. The four Statutory Holidays permitted in the by-law received the most support in the online survey for remaining open.

source: media release