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 Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...

at the

federal Federal or foederal (archaic) may refer to: Politics General *Federal monarchy, a federation of monarchies *Federation, or ''Federal state'' (federal system), a type of government characterized by both a central (federal) government and states or ...

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. Many public and private employers, as well as

school systems State schools (in England, Wales, Australia and New Zealand) or public schools (Scottish English and North American English) are generally primary or secondary schools that educate all students without charge. They are funded in whole or in pa ...

, provide additional days off around the end of December, often including at least a full or half-day on December 24 ( Christmas Eve) or December 31 ( New Year's Eve) 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 Valentine's Day, also called Saint Valentine's Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine, is celebrated annually on February 14. It originated as a Christian feast day honoring one or two early Christian martyrs named Saint Valentine and, thr ...

, St. Patrick's Day, Halloween,

Mother's Day Mother's Day is a celebration honoring the mother of the family or individual, as well as motherhood, maternal bonds, and the influence of mothers in society. It is celebrated on different days in many parts of the world, most commonly in th ...

, and

Father's Day Father's Day is a holiday of honoring fatherhood and paternal bonds, as well as the influence of fathers in society. In Catholic countries of Europe, it has been celebrated on 19 March as Saint Joseph's Day since the Middle Ages. In the Unite ...

are traditionally observed by Canadians as part of

Canadian culture The culture of Canada embodies the artistic, culinary, literary, humour, musical, political and social elements that are representative of Canadians. Throughout Canada's history, its culture has been influenced by European culture and traditi ...

Statutory holidays

A statutory holiday (also known as "stats" or "general" or "public" holiday) in Canada is legislated either through the federal government 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 (known as "time and a half") or twice (known as "double time") 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 (generally a weekend), the following workday 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

Federal statutory holidays, also observed in some provinces

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.

Death of Queen Elizabeth II

On September 19, 2022, the Canadian federal government declared a

national day of mourning A national day of mourning is a day or days marked by mourning and memorial activities observed among the majority of a country's populace. They are designated by the national government. Such days include those marking the death or funeral of ...

() to commemorate the death of Canada's head of state

Elizabeth II Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21 April 1926 – 8 September 2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until her death in 2022. She was queen regnant of 32 sovereign states during ...

Queen of Canada The monarchy of Canada is Canada's form of government embodied by the Canadian sovereign and head of state. It is at the core of Canada's constitutional Canadian federalism, federal structure and Westminster system, Westminster-style Parliamentar ...

, on the day of her state funeral. The day was a holiday for federal government employees. The provinces of British Columbia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland & Labrador, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island also enacted provincial equivalents for the federal holiday. The provinces of Alberta, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Quebec did not enact any holiday.

Other common holidays

Provincial and territorial holidays

Provinces and territories generally adopt the same holidays as the federal government with some variations. Only the provincial statutory holidays are shaded:

Alberta

Five nationwide statutory holidays, four provincial holidays as well as three "optional holidays". Provincial statutory * Alberta

Family Day Family Day is a public holiday in the countries of Angola, Israel, South Africa, Uruguay, Vanuatu, and Vietnam; in the Australian Capital Territory; in the Canadian provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario, Saskatchewan and soon New Brunswic ...

– third Monday in February *

Victoria Day Victoria Day (french: Fête de la Reine, lit=Celebration of the Queen) is a federal Canadian public holiday celebrated on the last Monday preceding May 25. Initially in honour of Queen Victoria's birthday, it has since been celebrated as the offi ...

– last Monday before May 25 *

Thanksgiving Thanksgiving is a national holiday celebrated on various dates in the United States, Canada, Grenada, Saint Lucia, Liberia, and unofficially in countries like Brazil and Philippines. It is also observed in the Netherlander town of Leiden ...

– second Monday in October *

Remembrance Day Remembrance Day (also known as Poppy Day owing to the tradition of wearing a remembrance poppy) is a memorial day observed in Commonwealth member states since the end of the First World War to honour armed forces members who have died in t ...

– November 11 Optional * Easter Monday – optional holiday, variable date between March 23 and April 26 * Heritage Day – optional holiday, first Monday of August * National Day for Truth and Reconciliation – optional holiday, September 30 * Boxing Day – optional holiday, December 26

British Columbia

Five nationwide and five provincial statutory holidays. Provincial statutory * Family Day – third Monday of February * Victoria Day – last Monday before May 25 * British Columbia Day – first Monday of August * Thanksgiving – second Monday of October * Remembrance Day – November 11

Manitoba

Five nationwide and three provincial statutory holidays, as well as two optional holidays. Remembrance Day and Boxing Day are not statutory holidays. Provincial statutory * Louis Riel Day – third Monday in February * Victoria Day – last Monday before May 25 * Thanksgiving – second Monday in October Optional * Terry Fox Day (Civic Holiday) – first Monday in August; not a statutory holiday. * Remembrance Day – an "official day of observance", not a statutory holiday.

New Brunswick

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 * Family Day – third Monday in February (since 2018) * New Brunswick Day – first Monday in August * Remembrance Day – November 11 Optional * Victoria Day * Thanksgiving * Boxing Day

Newfoundland and Labrador

* Five nationwide and one provincial statutory holiday. Thanksgiving is not a statutory holiday. Canada Day is not a statutory holiday as July 1 is

Memorial Day Memorial Day (originally known as Decoration Day) is a federal holiday in the United States for mourning the U.S. military personnel who have fought and died while serving in the United States armed forces. It is observed on the last Monda ...

. Provincial statutory * Memorial Day (July 1) * Armistice Day (Remembrance Day) (November 11) Optional *

Saint Patrick's Day Saint Patrick's Day, or the Feast of Saint Patrick ( ga, Lá Fhéile Pádraig, lit=the Day of the Festival of Patrick), is a cultural and religious celebration held on 17 March, the traditional death date of Saint Patrick (), the foremost patr ...

(March 17) *

Saint George's Day Saint George's Day is the feast day of Saint George, celebrated by Christian churches, countries, and cities of which he is the patron saint, including Bulgaria, England, Georgia, Portugal, Romania, Cáceres, Alcoy, Aragon and Catalonia. Sai ...

(April 23) * Victoria Day *

Discovery Day Discovery Day is the name of several holidays commemorating the discovery of land, gold, and other significant national discoveries. The Bahamas The Bahamas Discovery Day was a public holiday on October 12, that celebrated the arrival of Christoph ...

or June Holiday (June 24) * Orangemen's Day (July 12) * Thanksgiving * Boxing Day (December 26) 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 The Royal St. John's Regatta is North America's oldest annual sporting event with documented proof of 1816 boat races. There is credible contention that St. John's regattas were held even earlier than 1816, likely in the 18th century. The races o ...

, which is observed as a civic holiday in St. John's on the first Wednesday in August (or, in case of poor weather, the next suitable day thereafter).

Harbour Grace Harbour Grace is a town in Conception Bay on the Avalon Peninsula in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. With roots dating back to the 16th century, it is one of the oldest towns in North America. It is located about northwest of ...

and

Labrador City Labrador City is a town in western Labrador (part of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador), near the Quebec border. With a population of 7,412 as of 2021, it is the second-largest population centre in Labrador, behind Happy Valley-Go ...

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 * Victoria Day – Monday preceding May 25 * National Aboriginal Day – June 21 * Civic Holiday – first Monday in August * Remembrance Day – November 11 * Thanksgiving – second Monday of October

Nova Scotia

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 * Heritage Day – This holiday is held on the third Monday of February since 2015, and celebrates notable people, events and locations from the province's history. In 2015, Heritage Day celebrated

Black Nova Scotian Black Nova Scotians (also known as African Nova Scotians and Afro-Nova Scotians) are Black Canadians whose ancestors primarily date back to the Colonial history of the United States, Colonial United States as Slavery in the United States, slaves ...

civil rights activist and businesswoman

Viola Desmond Viola Irene Desmond (July 6, 1914 – February 7, 1965) was a Canadian civil and women's rights activist and businesswoman of Black Nova Scotian descent. In 1946, she challenged racial segregation at a cinema in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia by refu ...

. * Remembrance Day – November 11; this holiday has been governed separately from all other public holidays in Nova Scotia since 1981: it is illegal for any person to offer any goods or real property for sale on this date, or to accept or offer employment in exchange for gain or reward. There are special exemptions for workers who are employed in certain categories but an alternative day off with pay must be offered in lieu. Optional * Natal Day – first Monday in August; not a statutory holiday but a common day off in Halifax Regional Municipality.

Nunavut

Five nationwide and four territorial statutory holidays. Boxing Day is not a statutory holiday. Territorial statutory * Victoria Day – Monday preceding May 25 * Civic Holiday – first Monday in August * Thanksgiving – second Monday in October * Remembrance Day – November 11 Optional * Nunavut Day – July 9, originated as a paid holiday for

Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated (NTI; , ) is the legal representative of the Inuit of Nunavut for the purposes of native treaty rights and treaty negotiation. The presidents of NTI, Makivik Corporation, Nunatsiavut, and the Inuvialuit Regional Corp ...

and regional

Inuit Inuit (; iu, ᐃᓄᐃᑦ 'the people', singular: Inuk, , dual: Inuuk, ) are a group of culturally similar indigenous peoples inhabiting the Arctic and subarctic regions of Greenland, Labrador, Quebec, Nunavut, the Northwest Territories ...

associations. It became a half-day holiday for government employees in 1999 and a full day in 2001. Most employers give the day off with the notable exceptions being the federal government and

the North West Company The North West Company is a multinational Canadian grocery and retail company which operates stores in Canada's western provinces and northern territories, as well as the US states of Alaska, Hawaii, and several other countries and US terri ...

. Not a statutory holiday.

Ontario

Five nationwide and four provincial statutory holidays plus one common municipal holiday. Martin Luther King Jr. Day is officially recognized only in

Toronto Toronto ( ; or ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Ontario. With a recorded population of 2,794,356 in 2021, it is the most populous city in Canada and the fourth most populous city in North America. The city is the anch ...

and Ottawa, though not as a paid holiday. Provincial statutory * Family Day – third Monday in February * Victoria Day – Monday preceding May 25 * Thanksgiving Day – second Monday of October * Boxing Day – December 26 Optional * Civic Holiday – first Monday in August; not a statutory holiday. * Remembrance Day – November 11; not a statutory holiday.

Prince Edward Island

Five nationwide and three provincial statutory holidays. Provincial statutory * Islander Day – third Monday in February (originally second) * Truth and Reconciliation Day – September 30 * Remembrance Day – November 11 In addition, Gold Cup Parade Day is celebrated in the capital city of Charlottetown on the third Friday in August, marking the end of the Provincial Exhibition and the Gold Cup and Saucer race at the Charlottetown Driving Park. The day is observed as a holiday by some businesses in the central and eastern areas of the province.

Quebec

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: * January 1 (New Year’s Day) * Good Friday or Easter Monday at the employer’s choice * Monday preceding May 25 ( National Patriots' Day) * June 24 (

Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day (french: Fête de la Saint-Jean-Baptiste, la Saint-Jean, Fête nationale du Québec), also known in English as ''St John the Baptist Day'', is a holiday celebrated on June 24 in the Canadian province of Quebec and by Fren ...

) * July 1. If this date falls on a Sunday: July 2 ( Canada Day) * First Monday in September ( Labour Day) * Second Monday in October (

Thanksgiving Day Thanksgiving is a national holiday celebrated on various dates in the United States, Canada, Grenada, Saint Lucia, Liberia, and unofficially in countries like Brazil and Philippines. It is also observed in the Netherlander town of Leiden and ...

) * December 25 (Christmas Day). Optional * Construction Holiday (french: Vacances de la construction) takes place during the last two weeks of July and also the last two weeks of December for Christmas holidays. While it applies officially only to the construction industry, many other Quebecers arrange to take their vacations during these two weeks.

Saskatchewan

Five nationwide and five provincial statutory holidays. Provincial statutory * Family Day – third Monday in February * Victoria Day – Monday preceding May 25 * Saskatchewan Day – first Monday in August. Celebration of Saskatchewan history and culture similar to Canada Day. * Thanksgiving Day – second Monday in October * Remembrance Day – November 11

Yukon

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 * Victoria Day – Monday preceding May 25 * Discovery Day – third Monday in August * Thanksgiving Day – second Monday in October * Remembrance Day – November 11 * National Aboriginal Day – June 21 since 2017 Optional * Heritage Day – Friday before the last Sunday in February – optional for non-public service workers

Municipal holidays

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 (in the Yukon, a civic holiday is celebrated instead on the third Monday of August as

). Five other provinces (Ontario, Alberta, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island) 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 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 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 The national flag of Canada (french: le Drapeau national du Canada), often simply referred to as the Canadian flag or, unofficially, as the Maple Leaf or ' (; ), consists of a red field with a white square at its centre in the ratio of , in ...

, 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 April 2014, a private member's bill to make Remembrance Day a legal holiday and give it the same status as Canada Day was introduced to the

House of Commons The House of Commons is the name for the elected lower house of the bicameral parliaments of the United Kingdom and Canada. In both of these countries, the Commons holds much more legislative power than the nominally upper house of parliament. T ...

. Bill C-597 passed second reading in the

by a margin of 258 to 2; however, it did not become law. In 2001, members of the 14th Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories passed the ''

National Aboriginal Day National Aboriginal Day (informally National Indigenous Peoples Day) is a day recognizing and celebrating the cultures and contributions of the First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Indigenous peoples of Canada. The day was first celebrated in 199 ...

Act'', making it 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

* Raoul Wallenberg Day, January 17 * Groundhog Day, February 2 *

, February 14 * National Flag of Canada Day, February 15 * International Women's Day, March 8 * Commonwealth Day, the second Monday in March. This has been observed as a holiday in some Commonwealth countries. *

, March 17 *

April Fool's Day April Fools' Day or All Fools' Day is an annual custom on 1 April consisting of practical jokes and hoaxes. Jokesters often expose their actions by shouting "April Fools!" at the recipient. Mass media can be involved in these pranks, which ma ...

, April 1 * Tartan Day, April 6 * Earth Day, April 22 *

Victory in Europe Day Victory in Europe Day is the day celebrating the formal acceptance by the Allies of World War II of Germany's unconditional surrender of its armed forces on Tuesday, 8 May 1945, marking the official end of World War II in Europe in the Easte ...

, May 8 *

, second Sunday of May *

, third Sunday of June * Loyalist Day, June 19, celebrating Canada's Loyalist heritage, particularly in Ontario and New Brunswick (also the day Upper Canada was created, now Ontario) *

National Indigenous Peoples Day National Aboriginal Day (informally National Indigenous Peoples Day) is a day recognizing and celebrating the cultures and contributions of the First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Indigenous peoples of Canada. The day was first celebrated in 199 ...

, June 21 as part of the ''Celebrate Canada'' series * Canadian Multiculturalism Day, June 27 as part of the ''Celebrate Canada'' series * National Peacekeepers' Day, August 9 observed on the closest Sunday * National Grandparents' Day, second Sunday in September *

National Family Week National Family Week originated in Canada and takes place the week before Thanksgiving every year. It was proclaimed an official week by the government of Canada in 1985. National Family Week is celebrated throughout the country with special events ...

, week before Thanksgiving * Halloween, October 31 * National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, December 6

Notes

References

External links

Statutory Holidays in British Columbia

iCal Calendars found for ‘Canada’iCalShare

Overview of Canadian statutory holidays
{{DEFAULTSORT:Public Holidays In Canada

Holidays