Hillcrest Mall Celebrates Statutory Holiday Exemption
Holiday trading laws can be a major challenge for shopping centers eager to open and serve their customers on statutory holidays. Happily, Ontario’s Hillcrest Mall can now celebrate with open doors on Family Day and statutory holidays going forward.
The center has been deemed a tourist destination, earning it an exemption to the Retail Holiday Business Act in the Regional Municipality of York. The Act declares that retailers must remain close for statutory holidays unless they’re granted an exemption.
Hillcrest Mall successfully argued that it had established itself as a gathering place that binds local communities together, and that shopping is an integral part of the visitor experience in the Richmond Hill area.
Center marketing director Toni Holley was pleased to share the news. “We are delighted to join other shopping centres in this exemption and, in turn, assist with bolstering tourism and economic activity to the area,” said Holley. “Richmond Hill is a multicultural community with diverse needs and catering to all shoppers is important to us.”
Thanks to this decision, the center can now remain open not only on the upcoming Family Day holiday, but also Good Friday, Victoria Day, Canada Day, Labour Day, Thanksgiving Day and New Year’s Day.
