The busy holiday season means stores and other public places will be crowded and loud, making it a difficult experience for those with sensory sensitivity.
Luckily, there are places across Canada that have implemented sensory-friendly hours for visitors and shoppers, with dimmed lights, minimal sounds, and less crowded spaces.
This is a practice to accommodate those who may have certain sensitive or sensory processing needs.
If you’re curious about some places across the country that have sensory-friendly hours and accommodations during the holidays, we’ve compiled a list of spots that offer a more relaxing and calming visitor experience.
Niloo/Shutterstock
In June, Walmart said that all its 403 stores in Canada will now offer sensory-friendly shopping hours with a “less stimulating environment” from opening to 10 am every Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday “where possible.”
In a release, the retailer highlighted that “approximately 33% of people experience sensory sensitivity or overload, with more than 25 diagnoses or differences contributing to it.”
Walmart said that during its sensory-friendly shopping hours, it will accommodate customers by decreasing the sound in stores, not playing music or radio advertisements, using static, low-sensory images on TV walls, and pausing announcements and paging except for emergencies.
Sheila Fitzgerald/Shutterstock
In 2019, Empire’s family of brands, which includes Sobeys, Safeway, IGA, Thrifty Foods, Foodland and FreshCo stores, introduced the calmer shopping experience to 450 of its locations across the country.
Drazen Zigic/Shutterstock
Looking to catch a holiday movie?
Cineplex and Landmark Cinemas have sensory-friendly screenings for customers.
At Cineplex, the showings take place every four to six weeks on Saturday mornings. All tickets are priced at the child admission rate and are available the Tuesday before the screening date. Find out more here.
Landmark also has specific sensory-friendly hours, which you can learn more about here.
Both theatre chains’ sensory-friendly showings feature raised house lights and lowered volume.
Sensory Santa visits
Tsuguliev/Shutterstock
Some malls are offering “quiet Santa” hours for kids who would like a calmer experience. Here are a few locations across Canada that have calm Santa sessions.
Popular sites across Canada
Here are a few museums and sites that offer sensory-friendly hours and accommodations across some major Canadian cities.
Vancouver
- Science World: Mornings, where possible, from 8 am to 11 am. Science World’s sensory-friendly winter dates are December 14 and February 8.
- Vancouver Aquarium: Mornings, where possible, from 9:30 am to noon. During the holidays, the Vancouver Aquarium will offer sensory-friendly hours on December 15.
- Museum of Vancouver: Hosts low sensory Sundays on every last Sunday of the month.
Calgary
- Telus Spark Science Centre: The centre doesn’t have designated sensory hours but does offer “sensory backpacks” filled with resources for self-regulation and tactile input and attention-focusing tools.
- Calgary Zoo: The zoo doesn’t have allocated sensory-friendly hours but makes sensory bags available to all guests who may feel overwhelmed during their visit, and includes fidget and tactile items, and over-the-ear noise-cancelling headphones.
Edmonton
- Alberta Aviation Museum: This Edmonton museum offers sensory nights as well as sensory items including sunglasses, ear defenders, and fidgets available to accommodate families and individuals.
- Telus World of Science: Hosts sensory-friendly hours on select mornings from 9 am to noon.
Montreal
Toronto
- Royal Ontario Museum (ROM): The ROM doesn’t have specific sensory-friendly hours but does have a special guide for those with special sensory needs and also has a specific quiet area for visitors.
- Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada: On the first Sunday of every month, visitors can enjoy a quiet, sensory-friendly time at the aquarium.
- Rogers Centre: A sensory room is available to use at all Rogers Centre events allowing visitors to enjoy a calmer and quieter experience at the stadium.
Did we miss any other places with sensory-friendly hours or accommodations during the holidays? Let us know in the comments, and we’ll keep adding to the list.