Open vs. Closed on March 15, 2020 in Montreal

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With COVID19 on everyone’s minds, Friday marked a big change in the city with most schools, sporting arenas, and venues shutting down. If you’re curious what’s still open and what isn’t, here’s a list of things that are still open as of today. Most of the closures will last for two weeks, with things reopening on March 27-29, in most cases. Anything attracting more than 250 people should be closed until April 10. This could change, depending on how the disease progresses.

Open

Grocery Stores — Yup, all the grocery stores are still open but some things have been cleared out, to be restocked as they get restocked. Frozen vegetables, pasta sauce, toilet paper, disinfecting products, flour, sugar, chicken… these were gone at my local Metro this morning.

Pharmacies — Yup, still open. Much like the grocery stores, some products will be notably absent.

Retail stores — You can still shop both big box stores and small independent stores. Costco in particular seems to have become quite a lively place. They do have the best toilet paper, but do you really need to buy 10 packages. You’re not travelling to Mars. Leave some for everyone else.

Public Transit — Keep on keeping on with the STM. Buses, commuter trains, and the metro run on schedule. The claim is for more frequent cleaning… wash your hands anyway.

Movie theatres — We can still opt for the multiplex over Amazon Prime. However, there is reduced capacity in each theatre by 50% to encourage social distancing.

McCord Museum — And you can still go to this museum to get a dose of indigenous culture because the exhibitions remain open.

Closed

Schools — from daycare to university, Legault shut the schools down. This includes places like the Thomas More Institute. Some have online classes, some don’t.

Montreal libraries, including the BANQ and the Jewish Public Library are closed. But online services are available.

Arenas and Cultural Centres — Closed

Pools — Closed

YMCAs –– Closed until March 29.

The Olympic Stadium, the Botanical Garden and the Planetarium — Closed

The Montreal Science Centre, Pointe a Calliere, the Musee des Beaux Arts (Museum of Fine Arts), the MAC — closed until March 30

Quebec court proceedings — suspended unless it is urgent.

Theatre/Events — According to the government delcaration to cancel events with over 250 people, a number of events are cancelled at the Segal Centre and The Centaur Theatre. Shows of all kinds at Place des Arts are either postponed or cancelled. Activities at the SAT are suspended.

Music — MTELUS, Club Soda have rescheduled or postponed events. Expect similar closures for the Corona Theatre, L’Astral, and others.

Festivals cancelled: Art Matters, Cabane Panache, Expo Mange Sante, National Women’s Show.

Hospitals — visits are suspended or restricted. For example, see here for the Jewish General. Visits to senior’s residences, long term care facilities, and hospitals is banned.

Apple stores — closed.

Via Rail –– No train between Montreal and Halifax, or Toronto and Vancouver until March 27.

The Montreal Casino — closed

Events cancelled include The World Figure Skating Championships, Evenko shows, performances by the Orchestre symphonique, NHL games, Major league soccer games, and the national basketball association.

The St. Patrick’s Day parade is postponed