The Retail Business Holiday Act is Provincial Legislation that requires most retail businesses to be closed on most holidays in Ontario; however, municipalities may adopt by-laws allowing certain stores to open on certain holidays for specified hours.
The City of Stratford adopted a By-law allowing some retail stores to be open during Stratford's designated Tourism Season which extends from May 1st to mid-November each year.
Small retail stores may open on Victoria Day, Canada Day, Labour Day and Thanksgiving Monday in Stratford between the hours of 10:00 am and 4:00 pm provided that they have 4 employees or fewer normally employed and have less than 3,000 sq ft / 278.71 square metres for serving, selling or displaying goods or services to the public.
Large retail stores need to apply to the City for an exemption in order to open for business in Stratford on Victoria Day, Canada Day, Labour Day and Thanksgiving Monday between the hours of 10:00 am and 4:00 pm. A completed application and fee must be submitted to the Clerk's Office for consideration.
If the holiday does not fall between May and November the retail store may not open for shopping. However you should check the Legislation link below as there are some exceptions for retail stores.
Minimum fines for opening businesses on prohibited days of retail operation are $500 for the first offence, $2,000 for a second offence and $5,000 for a third or subsequent offence. Retail stores may be fined up to $50,000 or the total amount of gross sales for the holiday, whichever is greater. For information about closures, contact the Ministry of Government and Consumer Services, which administers that Act.
Enforcement of the Retail Business Holidays Act in Stratford is the responsibility of Stratford Police Services.
For more information please visit the Retail Business Holiday Act.