Hi Pat,
The stores were open today, but banks/post office closed and statutory holiday so most peeps had the day off. Heading to the US is a custom as the dollar is at times good and the deals better. Haven't been to the US in eons as not having car/driving places me at a disadvantage. Shopping-wise I do pretty well here LOL. I had friends who lived in Windsor and they used to cross border to Detroit like every wknd for a "fun time" as their own city was considered dull and boring. Re Patriots Day, no idea who we're supposed to be honouring, perhaps Quebec's founders of French origin, holiday name was changed as a construct to avoid honouring Queen Victoria. Political situation here is well, interesting.