The City of Sault Ste. Marie advises residents of the following service and facility changes during the holiday season.
Administrative Offices: City administrative offices will be closed beginning December 24 at noon, and all day on December 25, 26, and January 1. This includes:
- Cemetery office
- GFL Memorial Gardens administrative office
- Ronald A. Irwin Civic Centre
- Sault Transit Office
- Fire Services Administration
- Public Works and Engineering Services.
For 24-hour emergency service requests, call Public Works at 705-759-5201.
Arenas:
John Rhodes Community Centre and Northern Community Centre
- John Rhodes Community Centre Arena and Northern Community Centre Arena will close at 4 p.m. on December 24 and December 31 and will be closed December 25, 26, and January 1.
GFL Memorial Gardens
- GFL Memorial Gardens will close at 4 p.m. on December 24 and will be closed December 25, 26 and January 1.
- The GFL Memorial Gardens is open on December 31 for an OHL game.
- The GFL Memorial Gardens Box Office will close at noon on December 24 and will be closed December 25, 26, and January 1. It will be open on December 31 for the OHL game.
Skating:
- Free holiday skating, sponsored by Soo Mill available. Visit ca/skating for the schedule.
Downtown skating at the Plaza:
- Christmas Eve: 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.
- Christmas Day: noon – 4 p.m.
- Boxing Day: noon – 4 p.m.
- New Year’s Eve: 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.
- New Year’s Day: noon – 4 p.m.
- Regular Hours are Monday to Friday, noon – 9 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.
The New Year’s Eve Puck Drop will take place on December 31 at 8 p.m. and midnight.
Pool and Community Centres
- John Rhodes Community Centre Pool: Visit ca or call 705-759-5419 for the holiday schedule.
- The Northern Community Centre: Closed at 4 p.m. on December 24, reopening December 27. Closed at 4 p.m. on December 31, reopening January 2.
- Northern Community Centre 55+: Closed December 22 to January 4.
- Bay Street Active Living Centre: No programming from December 22 to 28. Open for scheduled programming December 29 to January 3 and closed January 1.
Ermatinger Clergue National Historic Site: Closed December 22 to January 5. Open Saturday, January 3, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Public Library: The James L. McIntyre Centennial Library and the North Branch Library will close early on December 24, at 12:00 p.m. Both locations will be closed on December 25 and December 26. Both locations will close early at 4 p.m. on December 31.
Garbage and Recycling Collection: There will be no garbage or recycling collection on December 25 and January 1. Collection will be one day late following Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Collection will occur on Boxing Day (Friday, December 26).
Regular Garbage Day – Week of December 22 and December 29
Monday-Monday
Tuesday – Tuesday
Wednesday-Wednesday
Thursday – Friday
Friday – Saturday
Regular Recycling Collection Day – Week of December 22 and December 29
Monday – Monday
Tuesday – Tuesday
Wednesday – Wednesday
Thursday – Friday
Friday – Saturday
All garbage must be placed in the rollout cart and meet the City’s weight restrictions. Bag tags are required for excess bags and are available at various locations. Visit saultstemarie.ca/bagtags for details.
Recyclable items include cardboard, steel cans, aluminum containers, glass bottles, #1 and #2 plastics, and wrapping paper (excluding foil or cellophane).
Natural Christmas trees, towels, blankets, gently used books and magazines may be dropped off at the Clean North collection depot at the Cambrian Mall parking lot from December 26 to January 10. Styrofoam will not be accepted and should be placed with regular garbage. Cardboard and wrapping paper should be placed in recycling bins. Visit www.cleannorth.org for more information.
The Landfill site at 402 Fifth Line East will close at 3 p.m. on December 24 and will be closed on December 25, 26, and January 1.
Sault Ste. Marie Transit: The last buses depart the terminal at 5:30 p.m. on December 24. No transit service will be available on December 25, 26, and January 1. Regular service resumes December 31. No regular transit on January 1. For more information call 705-759-5438.
Parabus service: The last pick–up or return on December 24 will be at 5 p.m. Parabus service will operate on December 25 and 26. The Last pick-up or return will be on December 31 at 11:15 p.m. There will be no Parabus service on January 1.
Free downtown parking: Available December 15 to December 31, 2025, at all meters, pay and display units, and two-hour municipal parking lots. Restrictions apply, including accessible spaces without permits, no parking zones, fire routes, and private lots. 2-hour limits are in effect.
The City of Sault Ste. Marie extends its best wishes to residents for a safe and happy holiday season and thanks the community for its continued support. We look forward to serving you in 2026.