Boxing Day Openings In New Brunswick

Boxing Day, observed on December 26, is a federal holiday in Canada. It is a provincial holiday for public employees and schools. In New Brunswick, most retail and grocery stores are closed on Boxing Day. Transit services also do not operate on this day. While some shopping centres remain open on Christmas Eve, most services are closed on Boxing Day.

Grocery stores

Most grocery stores in New Brunswick will be closed on Boxing Day, which falls on December 26, the day after Christmas. This includes Sobeys, Walmart, and Atlantic Superstore. However, some Shoppers Drug Mart locations will be open.

On Christmas Eve, which fell on a Sunday, Sobeys locations closed at 5 pm, Walmart was open with varying hours depending on the location, and the Atlantic Superstore was open until 5 pm. N.B. Liquor stores closed at 6 pm, and Shoppers Drug Mart locations closed early at different times. The Saint John City Market was open until 3 pm, and the Moncton Market operated with regular hours. The Fredericton Boyce Farmers' Market was open from 7 am to 1 pm. The Regent Mall in Fredericton was open until 5 pm, the CF Champlain mall in Dieppe was open until 5 pm, and McAllister Place in Saint John was open until 5 pm.

On Christmas Day, which was on a Monday, Sobeys, Walmart, and Atlantic Superstore were closed, along with N.B. Liquor and Shoppers Drug Mart. The Regent Mall, CF Champlain mall, and McAllister Place mall were also closed, as were the Saint John City Market and Resurgo Place.

Retail stores

In New Brunswick, Boxing Day falls on the 26th of December and is a provincial public sector holiday. It is not a statutory holiday, but in practice, many businesses are closed. In some communities, particularly in New Brunswick, stores are not open on Boxing Day, and the post-Christmas sales start on December 27.

On Boxing Day in 2023, most retail and grocery stores in New Brunswick were closed. Walmart was open, with hours depending on the location. Some Shoppers Drug Mart locations were also open, depending on the branch.

In 2022, the same pattern was observed, with Walmart open at varying hours depending on location, and some Shoppers Drug Mart locations open. Sobeys, Atlantic Superstore, N.B. Liquor, and Shoppers Drug Mart were all closed.

Arenas

Boxing Day is a statutory holiday in New Brunswick, meaning that most businesses and services are closed. This includes all city arenas, with no exceptions.

On Christmas Eve, the Saint John city arenas closed at 3 p.m., and the Fredericton arenas and pool closed at 3 p.m. as well. On Boxing Day, the Saint John city arenas are closed, and the Fredericton arenas are also closed.

However, there is a free Boxing Day skate at the Hilton Belyea and Charles Gorman arenas from 1 to 3 p.m. So, if you're looking to get your skate on, those are your best options!

In addition to the arenas, most retail and grocery stores are closed on Boxing Day, and transit services are not operating.

Public transport

In 2019, Saint John Transit did not operate on Boxing Day. In 2023, Fredericton Transit did not run on Boxing Day, and Codiac Tranpo in Moncton stopped service early, depending on the route.

Malls

For example, the Brunswick Square Mall in New Brunswick offers a range of shopping, dining, and entertainment options. While their website does not specify their Boxing Day hours, they do advertise themselves as a "destination for all ages," suggesting that they may be open during holidays.

It is always a good idea to check the mall's website or social media for the most up-to-date information regarding their holiday hours. Alternatively, you can contact the mall directly to inquire about their Boxing Day plans.

Frequently asked questions