Retail Businesses In Essex Can Now Open On Holidays

Hello time traveller!!
This article is 3803 days old.
The information listed below is likely outdated and has been preserved for archival purposes.

Retail businesses in the Town of Essex will soon be able to open on all holidays except Christmas Day if they wish to do so.

At its regular meeting held November 18th, Council passed By-law 1266, which allows retail businesses to open on the following eight holidays New Year’s Day, Family Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Victoria Day, Canada Day, Labour Day and Thanksgiving Day.

Allowing retail businesses to be open on specific holidays is a measure that encourages tourism, says Councillor Bill Baker.

“The Town of Essex has many outdoor, recreational, historical, and educational attractions,” says Baker. “We also have more wineries than any other municipality in the region. This new by-law gives retail businesses the flexibility they need to help develop Essex as a tourist destination.”

Businesses that choose to open on the listed holidays may operate from 9am to 6pm.

The provincial Retail Business Holidays Act exempts small stores, like convenience stores and drug stores, from the general prohibition on conducting retail business on holidays. Section 4 of the Act allows a municipal council to pass a by-law permitting all retail businesses to be open on holidays for the maintenance or development of tourism.