What's open and closed: Holiday info you need to know

Sault Ste. Marie has a number of service changes for the holiday season. Please note the following:

Administrative Offices: Closed Dec. 25, 26 and Jan. 1. This includes the cemetery office, Ronald A. Irwin Civic Centre, GFL Memorial Gardens office, Sault Transit office, Fire Services Administration and Public Works and Engineering Services. For 24-hour emergency service requests, call Public Works at 705-759-5201.

Arenas: City operated arenas are closed Dec. 25, 26, and Jan. 1. Free holiday skating, sponsored by Algoma Steel, is available. Visit saultstemarie.ca/skating for the schedule.

Downtown Plaza: Open for skating Christmas Eve 10 a.m. – 10 p.m., Christmas Day, noon – 4 p.m., Boxing Day, noon – 4 p.m., New Years Eve 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. and New Years Day noon – 4 p.m. Regular Hours Monday to Friday noon – 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.

GFL Memorial Gardens: Administrative and Box Office is closed Dec. 25 and 26. Open for the Greyhound Game Dec. 31, closed Jan. 1. The arena is open for scheduled programming. The arena will close at 4 p.m. on Dec. 24 and 31 and will be closed Jan. 1. For a complete list of hours, visit www.gflgardens.ca.

John Rhodes Community Centre Pool: For a holiday schedule, visit johnrhodespool.ca or call 705-759-5419.

Northern Community Centre: Closed Dec. 24 at 4 p.m. and reopens Dec. 27. Open Dec. 31 until 4 p.m. and closed Jan. 1.

Ermatinger Clergue National Historic Site: Closed Dec. 25 to Jan. 3.

Bay Street Active Living Centre & Northern Community Centre Seniors 55+: Closed Dec. 25 to Jan. 2.

Public Library: The James L. McIntyre Centennial Library and the North Branch Library will be closed Dec. 24 to Dec. 26. On Dec. 31 the James L. McIntyre Centennial Library will be open from 1 – 5 p.m. and the North Branch will be closed.

Garbage and Recycling Collection: There is no garbage or recycling collection Dec. 25 and Jan. 1. Collection for both garbage and recycling will be one day late following Christmas Day and New Year's Day. There will be garbage and recycling collection on Boxing Day – Tuesday, Dec. 26.

All garbage must be in the roll out cart and meet the city’s weight restrictions. Bag tags must be adhered to any bags beyond the roll out cart capacity. Bag tags can be purchased at various locations throughout the city. Visit saultstemarie.ca/bagtags for more information. Cardboard, steel cans, aluminum containers, glass bottles, #1 and #2 plastics and all wrapping paper that is not foil or cellophane can be recycled. Natural Christmas trees, towels, blankets, gently used books, magazines, DVDs, Cds and cassettes can dropped off at the Clean North collection depot at the Cambrian Mall parking lot Dec. 26 to Jan. 13. No Styrofoam will be collected. All Styrofoam can be placed with regular garbage pick up. No cardboard/paper, wrapping paper or boxboard will be collected. Residents are encouraged to use their recycling bins for cardboard and paper. Visit www.cleannorth.org for more information.

The landfill site located at 402 Fifth Line East will be closed December 25, 26 and January 1.

Sault Ste. Marie Transit: Last buses depart the terminal December 24 at 5:15 p.m. Transit will not operate Dec. 25 and 26. Regular weekend service will run Dec. 31 with On Demand starting at 7:15 p.m. No regular transit Jan. 1. The transit office will be closed Dec. 25, 26 and Jan. 1. For more information call 705-759-5438.

Parabus service – last pick up or return Dec. 24 will be at 5 p.m. Parabus will operate Dec. 25 and 26. Last pick up or return Dec. 31 at 11:15 p.m. No Parabus service on Jan. 1.

Free downtown parking: Dec. 18 to Dec. 29, 2023, available at all meters, pay and display units, and two-hour municipal parking lots in the downtown area. The exemption does not include parking in accessible spaces without a permit, any identified no parking areas, fire routes and private lots. Motorists should respect two-hour limits. The operations schedule is available online at saultstemarie.ca.