Ottawa's long weekend has a lot going on
Ottawa's August civic holiday weekend is never just a quiet three-day break — this year it overlaps with Ironman Canada-Ottawa, one of the city's biggest annual sporting events, plus the usual Colonel By Day closures that come with any Ontario civic holiday. If you're planning to run errands, drive across town, or just get to work Monday, it's worth knowing what to expect before you head out.
What is Colonel By Day, exactly?
Colonel By Day is Ottawa's local name for the province-wide August civic holiday, held on the first Monday of the month. It honours Colonel John By, the British Royal Engineer who founded Bytown — the settlement that would eventually become Ottawa — while overseeing construction of the Rideau Canal in the 1820s. Like other Ontario municipalities that put their own spin on the civic holiday, Ottawa uses the day to nod to its own origin story rather than just calling it a generic long weekend.
Practically speaking, that means most city offices, banks, and many retailers follow standard holiday hours: closed or reduced hours, with LCBO and grocery stores typically running on modified Sunday-style schedules. Federal government buildings, which employ a huge chunk of the city's workforce, are also closed. OC Transpo runs on a holiday schedule, so double-check your route timing if you're relying on the bus or O-Train.
Ironman Canada-Ottawa takes over the south end
Adding to the long weekend logistics is Ironman Canada-Ottawa, the full and half-distance triathlon that draws athletes from across the country to swim, bike, and run through the city. The race is centred around Mooney's Bay, with the swim leg happening in the Rideau River there before athletes head out onto extended bike and run courses.
If you live near the race route or need to drive through the south end on race day, expect rolling road closures and detours as the event moves through. Cyclists and drivers should plan extra time, and it's worth checking the city's traffic advisories before setting out, since closures shift throughout the morning and into the afternoon as different waves of athletes pass through.
Tips for navigating the weekend
For Ottawa residents trying to get around during both events, a little planning goes a long way:
- Check store hours before you go. Don't assume your usual grocery run or bank visit will work on Colonel By Day — call ahead or check online listings.
- Avoid the Mooney's Bay area if you're not watching the race. Traffic will be heaviest in the morning during the swim-to-bike transition.
- Give yourself extra travel time on Monday if your commute crosses any part of the race route, even after the main event wraps up, since cleanup and road reopening can lag behind the last finishers.
- Cheer on the athletes if you can. Ironman weekend brings a genuine buzz to that part of the city, with spectators lining stretches of the course.
The bottom line
Between a civic holiday built around Ottawa's own founding story and a major international triathlon rolling through the south end, this long weekend is busier than it looks on the calendar. A bit of advance planning around store hours and road closures will save you the headache of finding out the hard way.
Source: Ottawa Citizen
