Changes to Regional services in observance of the holiday season

Whitby, Ontario – The Regional Municipality of Durham is advising residents of impacts to Regional programs and services in observance of the holiday season.

Durham Region facilities and call centres

• All Durham Region facilities, including Regional Headquarters in Whitby and Regional front counters and call centre services, will be closed at noon on December 22 and December 29, and will be closed on December 25 and 26, 2023, and January 1, 2024.

Durham Region Transit (DRT)

• DRT will be operating on a weekend schedule on December 24, 26, 27, 28, 29 and 30.
• On December 25 and December 31, 2023, from 7 p.m. until 4 a.m. on January 1, 2024, all DRT customers can enjoy free travel across Durham Region. Fare-free service will be available on all DRT services including scheduled holiday and On Demand service.
• Routes and schedules can be found online at DurhamRegionTransit.com.
• Reminder: starting January 2, 2024, DRT is adjusting bus service. Information on January service changes can be found at: DurhamRegionTransit.com/january2024.

Health Department

• The Oshawa Oral Health Clinic will be closed at 11:30 a.m. on December 22 and 29 and will be closed all day on December 25 and 26, 2023, and January 1, 2024.
• The Sexual Health Clinics at the Oshawa Centre and Pickering Town Centre will be closed at noon on December 22 and 29, and will be closed December 23, 24, 25 and 26.
• The Breastfeeding Clinic at the Oshawa Centre, and Immunization Clinics in all locations, will be closed December 22 to 26, inclusive.
• Water bottle drop-off will be unavailable from December 22 at 10 a.m. until December 27 at 8:30 a.m., and from December 29, 2023, at 10 a.m. until January 2, 2024, at 8:30 a.m.

Provincial Offences Court Services

• Provincial courts, located in Regional Headquarters in Whitby, will be closed December 22, 2023, until January 1, 2024.
• Front counter and call centre services will be closed at noon on December 22 and 29, and will also be closed December 25 and 26, 2023 and January 1, 2024.
• The public can use our online services for payment (paytickets.ca), use our 24-hour drop box at the south entrance of Regional Headquarters to file documents, email poa.courts@durham.ca, or visit our website at durham.ca/CourtServices for information and to file electronic documents. Please note that these services will not be monitored during closure.

Social Services

• The Resource Centre at 200 John Street will be closed December 22 and 29.
  • Oshawa Ontario Works, located in C1A at 200 John Street, will remain open.
• The Children’s Services Division offices at Regional Headquarters in Whitby, including the Fee Subsidy and Children’s Developmental and Behavioural Supports programs, will be closed December 22, 25, 26 and 29, 2023, and January 1, 2024.
• The Region’s eight Directly Operated Early Learning and Child Care centres will be open December 22, and closed December 25, 2023, to January 1, 2024.
• Community Supports staff will not be available at any libraries in Durham Region from December 22 to January 2.
• Community Supports will not be at the Whitby Library from December 18, 2023, to January 9, 2024.
• The Adult Day Programs are closed the week of December 25 to 29, 2023, and January 1, 2024.
• The Uxbridge Ontario Works Office will be closed on December 29; virtual supports will be available.
• Family Services Durham programs and sites are closed at noon on December 22 and 29, and will be closed December 25 and 26, 2023, and January 1, 2024.
• Income Employment and Homelessness Supports Division staff will be on-site at the Back Door Mission and will adhere to their regular schedule.

Waste Services

• The Regional Waste Management Facilities (WMF) in Brock, Scugog and Oshawa, and the Household Special Waste Depot in Clarington, will have revised days of operation during the holiday season. For details, read our Waste Management Facilities days of operation during the holiday season Public Service Announcement (PSA).
• Oshawa and Whitby residents will have their blue box schedule changed. To learn more, read our Blue box collection schedule changes in Oshawa and Whitby due to the holiday season PSA.

Why: In observance of the winter holidays.  

Note: To report an urgent issue related to water, sewer or Regional roads, please call our after-hours emergency phone number with details at 905-576-9991.

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For media requests, please contact CorporateCommunications@durham.ca.