Public holidays in Canada


Public holidays in Canada, known as statutory holidays, stat holidays, or simply stats, consist of a variety of cultural, nationalistic, and religious holidays that are legislated in Canada at the federal or provincial and territorial levels. While many of these holidays are honoured and acknowledged nationwide, provincial and territorial legislation varies in regard to which are officially recognized.
There are five nationwide statutory holidays, and six additional holidays for federal employees. Each of the 13 provinces and territories observes a number of holidays in addition to the nationwide days, but each varies in regard to which are legislated as either statutory, optional, or not at all. Currently, the provinces of Alberta and Prince Edward Island have the most legislated holidays in comparison to other provinces and territories, with 12 days off.
Many public and private employers, as well as school systems, provide additional days off around the end of December, often including at least a full or half-day on December 24 or December 31, or in some cases the entire week between Christmas and New Year. While not officially legislated in any capacity, internationally notable cultural holidays such as Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day, Halloween, Mother's Day, and Father's Day are traditionally observed by Canadians as part of Canadian culture.

Statutory holidays

A statutory holiday in Canada is legislated either through the federal, or a provincial or territorial government. Most workers, public and private, are entitled to take the day off with regular pay. However, some employers may require employees to work on such a holiday, but the employee must either receive a day off in lieu of the holiday or must be paid at a premium rate – usually 1½ or twice the regular pay for their time worked that day, in addition to the holiday pay. In most provinces, when a statutory holiday falls on a normal day off, the following work day is considered a statutory holiday. Statistics Canada shows an average of 11 paid statutory holidays per year in regard to all firms and corporations operating within the province.

Nationwide statutory holidays in Canada

DateEnglish nameFrench nameRemarks
January 1New Year's DayJour de l'AnCelebrates the first day of every year in the Gregorian calendar.
Variable date between March 20 and April 23Good FridayVendredi saintCommemorates the crucifixion of Jesus, on the Friday before Easter.
In Quebec, non-federally regulated employers must give either Good Friday or Easter Monday as a statutory holiday, though some give both days.
July 1Canada DayFête du CanadaCelebrates Canada's 1867 Confederation and establishment of dominion status.
In Newfoundland and Labrador, observed as Memorial Day.
First Monday in SeptemberLabour DayFête du travailCelebrates economic and social achievements of workers.
December 25Christmas DayNoëlCelebrates the nativity of Jesus.

Statutory holidays for federal employees

In addition to the nationwide holidays listed above, the following holidays are mandated by federal legislation for federally regulated employees. All banks and post offices commemorate these holidays, and they are statutory in some provinces and territories.
DateEnglish nameFrench nameRemarks
In lieu of Good Friday, Monday after Easter DayEaster MondayLundi de PâquesVariable date between March 23 and April 26. Celebrates the resurrection of Jesus.
Not a statutory holiday in any province or territory; however, in Quebec employers must give either Good Friday or Easter Monday as a statutory holiday, though most give both days.
Banks remain open, but employees often receive a "floating" paid day off to be taken on or near the holiday.
This is not one of the nine "General Holidays" as defined by the Canada Labour Code – Part III. As such, there is no legal requirement for private sector employers in federally regulated industries to provide Easter Monday as a paid holiday to employees. However, many federal government offices will be closed on this day.
Monday before May 25Victoria Dayofficially la Fête de Victoria or Journée nationale des PatriotesCelebrates the birthday of the reigning Canadian monarch; however, the date does not change with the change of monarch, being instead fixed on the birthday of Queen Victoria, the sovereign at the time of Canadian Confederation and establishment of dominion status in 1867. Some French-Canadians celebrate instead Adam Dollard des Ormeaux a French-Canadian hero from the New France times on this day; officially National Patriots' Day in Quebec.
Statutory holiday in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan, and Yukon. A holiday in New Brunswick under the Days of Rest Act.
Not a statutory holiday in the eastern maritime provinces of Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island or in Newfoundland and Labrador.
First Monday in AugustAugust Civic HolidayPremier lundi d'aoûtStatutory holiday in British Columbia, New Brunswick, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and Saskatchewan.
Civic holiday in Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island.
Not an official statutory holiday in Ontario, but it is widely observed. Not observed in Newfoundland and Labrador, Quebec, or Yukon.
Second Monday in OctoberThanksgivingAction de grâceA day to give thanks for the things one has at the close of the harvest season.
Statutory holiday in most jurisdictions of Canada: Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan, and Yukon.
An optional holiday in the Atlantic provinces of Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. In New Brunswick, included under the Days of Rest Act.
November 11Remembrance DayJour du SouvenirCommemorates Canada's war dead. Anniversary of the armistice ending World War I in 1918.
Statutory holiday in Alberta, British Columbia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Prince Edward Island, Saskatchewan, and Yukon.
In Manitoba, an "Official day of Observance", not a statutory holiday.
In Ontario and Nova Scotia, not a statutory holiday in that employers have the option of giving Remembrance Day or an alternate day off. In Nova Scotia Remembrance Day is covered specifically by the Remembrance Day Act which prohibits employers from allowing employees to work and prohibits employees from working with exceptions for required services.
Not a statutory holiday in Quebec.
December 26Boxing DayLendemain de Noël''A holiday with mixed and uncertain origins and definitions.
Provincially, a statutory holiday in Ontario. A holiday in New Brunswick under the Days of Rest Act.
Many employers across the country observe Boxing Day as a paid day off.

Other common holidays

DateEnglish nameFrench nameRemarks
Third Monday in February

Statutory holiday under various names in Alberta, Ontario, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia.
British Columbia previously celebrated Family Day on the second Monday in February between 2013 and 2018. However, British Columbia celebrates Family Day on the third Monday in February from 2019 onward.
New Brunswick began observing Family Day on the third Monday in February in 2018.
Not observed elsewhere.
One full week during the month of March

Week-long closure of public schools across all provinces and territories. Often used as an opportunity for families with schoolchildren to go on vacation.
Although March break usually never coincides with the Easter weekend, Prince Edward Island schools are considering merging it with the Easter holiday as of 2018.

Provincial and territorial holidays

Provinces and territories generally adopt the same holidays as the federal government with some variations:

Alberta

Five nationwide statutory holidays, four provincial holidays as well as three "optional holidays".
Provincial statutory
Optional
Five nationwide and five provincial statutory holidays.
Provincial statutory
Five nationwide and three provincial statutory holidays, as well as two optional holidays. Remembrance Day and Boxing Day are not statutory holidays.
Provincial statutory
Optional
Five nationwide and five provincial statutory holidays. Although prescribed as public holidays, Victoria Day, Thanksgiving, and Boxing Day are not paid public holidays.
Provincial statutory
Optional
Provincial statutory
Optional
These have not been observed as statutory holidays since 1992. They are, however, observed by the provincial government. Unlike most other provinces, there is no province-wide holiday on the first Monday in August. It may be seen as redundant due to the Royal St. John's Regatta, which is observed as a civic holiday in St. John's on the first Wednesday in August. Harbour Grace and Labrador City have a similar holiday for their regatta in late July. All other municipalities are entitled to designate one day a year as a civic holiday, however many do not take advantage of this.

Northwest Territories

Five nationwide holidays and five territorial statutory holidays.
Territorial statutory
Five nationwide holidays plus two provincial holidays. Victoria Day, Thanksgiving, and Boxing Day are not statutory holidays but most businesses and retail are closed Boxing Day. Most statutory holidays can be substituted for a mutually agreeable alternative paid day off in lieu or employers can require employees to work at a premium rate of pay. Several types of employment, including workplaces covered by a collective agreement, are exempt from provincial rules governing statutory holidays.
Provincial statutory
Optional
Five nationwide and four territorial statutory holidays. Boxing Day is not a statutory holiday.
Territorial statutory
Optional
Five nationwide and four provincial statutory holidays plus one common municipal holiday. Martin Luther King Jr. Day is officially recognized only in Toronto and Ottawa, though not as a paid holiday.
Provincial statutory
Optional
Five nationwide and two provincial statutory holidays.
Provincial statutory
Optional
In Quebec, there are five nationwide and three provincial statutory holidays. Remembrance Day and Boxing Day are not statutory holidays, and there is no civic holiday in August. Many details of employment law are different in Quebec. The official statutory holidays are:
Optional
Five nationwide and five provincial statutory holidays.
Provincial statutory
Five nationwide and four territorial statutory holidays. In addition, Easter Monday, Boxing Day, and Heritage Day are statutory for public service workers. Many employers give their employees days off that may not be statutory holidays in the particular province, particularly Boxing Day.
Territorial statutory
Optional
Some municipalities also have local statutory holidays. For instance, the morning of the Stampede Parade is often given as a half-day holiday in the city of Calgary. In Ontario, the August Civic Holiday is not defined provincially, but by each municipality.

Civic holidays

In Canada, there are two definitions of the term "civic holiday":

Legal definition

By law, a civic holiday is defined as any holiday which is legally recognized and for which employers are obliged to offer holiday pay.

August Civic Holiday

In parts of Canada, the term "Civic Holiday" is a generic name referring to the annual holiday on the first Monday of August. However, this definition is far from uniform nationwide as Quebec, Newfoundland, and Yukon do not recognize it at all. Five other provinces do not oblige employers to offer holiday pay on this day, thus not making it a civic holiday in the legal sense. No universal name is recognized for this holiday – the official name varies between the provinces and even between municipalities within Ontario. In Manitoba, Saskatchewan, British Columbia, New Brunswick, Nunavut and the Northwest Territories, it is a statutory holiday.
The Civic Holiday is meant to replace a city's birthday, also known as Natal Day. Instead of each city and town having a separate birthday celebration and day off, the August Civic Holiday is observed. For example, the Halifax Regional Municipality is made up of the former cities of Halifax and Dartmouth and the town of Bedford. Each of these places used to hold civic birthday celebrations on different days. Many people lived in one jurisdiction but worked in another. This meant significant confusion arose as to which day a person would be excused from work.
This holiday is commonly referred to as "August Long Weekend" but this is not a government term.

Proposed holidays

The other leading candidate for a new holiday is a weekend in February to celebrate the anniversary of the Canadian flag, or more likely a general "Heritage Day". February 15 is already designated as Flag Day, but this is simply a day of commemoration, not a statutory holiday.
In the province of Nova Scotia, which has relatively few days off, a bill has been introduced for a new holiday for the third Monday in February, to start in 2015.
In November 2014, Bill C-597 passed second reading in the House of Commons by a margin of 258 to 2. If the bill becomes law, Remembrance Day would become a federal holiday in Canada.
In 2001, members of the 14th Legislative Assembly passed the National Aboriginal Day Act making the Northwest Territories the first jurisdiction in Canada to recognize this day as a formal statutory holiday.

Holidays occurring on non-work days

For federally regulated workers, if a holiday occurs on a day that is normally not worked, then "...another day off with pay will be provided".
When New Year's Day, Canada Day, Remembrance Day, Christmas Day or Boxing Day falls on a Saturday or Sunday which a federally regulated worker would not normally work, they are entitled to a holiday with pay on the working day immediately before or after the holiday. If one of the other holidays falls on a weekend, then the employer must add a holiday with pay to their employees’ annual vacation or give them a paid day off at another mutually convenient time.

Other observances