Celebrate Canada Day by shopping?
Many Canadians spent yesterday, July 1, at a barbecue or with family or friends (or both) in celebration of Canada Day. Some people had to delay their festivities until today, however, because they had to work. I’m not talking about emergency workers, policemen, or gas station attendants but people who work in the retail sector.
That’s right: many local malls were open on Sunday for Canada Day. According to the federal Holidays Act, when Canada Day falls on a Sunday, the next day is designated Canada Day, which means business may be open on July 1. The problem is few people seemed to be aware of this fact: most treated yesterday as Canada Day and it was celebrated as such, and not many seemed to know that Monday was the national holiday.
I work in the retail sector part time and as a result, I worked yesterday. I was surprised by the number of people who were out shopping and not celebrating, or relaxing at home (though granted, their plans may have been later in the day). Many customers expressed sympathy that I had to work “on Canada Day”. My reply to them was to inform them that the number of customers shopping proved to the mall that it is certainly worthwhile to be open. In response, a couple of customers sheepishly tried to explain why they were out shopping but the point is people like to shop and if the stores are open, they will shop.
I can’t deny I wish we could go back to the days where stores were closed on Sundays.
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