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Canadian Holidays

Canadian Holidays

Various public & national holidays observed in Canada


sitesworld.comDateEnglish nameFrench NameRemarks
January 1New Year's Day Jour de l'An Celebrates the first day of every year in the Gregorian calendar.
Friday before Easter DayGood Friday Vendredi saint Commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus. In Quebec, non-federally regulated employers must give either Good Friday or Easter Monday as a statutory holiday, though some give both days.
July 1 (July 2 when July 1 is a Sunday)Canada Day Fête du Canada Celebrates Canada's 1867 Confederation and establishment of dominion status.

In Newfoundland and Labrador, observed as Memorial Day.

First Monday in SeptemberLabour Day Fête du travail Celebrates economic and social achievements of workers.
December 25Christmas Day Noël Celebrates the Nativity of Jesus.sitesworld.com

In addition to the nationwide holidays listed above, the following holidays are mandated by federal legislation for federally regulated employees. All banks commemorate these holidays, and they are statutory in some provinces and territories.

sitesworld.comDateEnglish NameFrench NameRemarks
In lieu of Good Friday (Stat Holiday), Monday after Easter DayEaster Monday Lundi de Pâques 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 (legally they cannot close for more than three consecutive days except in emergencies[ ]), 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 on or before May 24Victoria Day Fête de la Reine ou Journée nationale des Patriotes Celebrates 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.

Statutory holiday in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Ontario, Quebec (coincides with National Patriots' Day), 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.

Second Monday in OctoberThanksgiving Action de grâce A 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 Day Jour du Souvenir Commemorates 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.

Not a statutory holiday in Quebec.

December 26Boxing Day Lendemain de Noël A secular 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.

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sitesworld.comDateEnglish NameFrench NameRemarks
Third Monday in February (BC 2nd Monday in February)Family Day Fête de la famille Statutory holiday in Alberta, Ontario, and Saskatchewan.

British Columbia celebrated its first Family Day in (on the 2nd Monday in February).

Celebrated as Louis Riel Day (statutory holiday) in Manitoba.

Celebrated as "Islander Day" in Prince Edward Island.

Not observed elsewhere.

First Monday in AugustAugust Civic Holiday Premier lundi d'août Statutory holiday in British Columbia (British Columbia Day), New Brunswick (New Brunswick Day), Northwest Territories (Civic Holiday), Nunavut (Civic Holiday), and Saskatchewan (Saskatchewan Day).

Civic holiday (may be a paid vacation day depending on employer) in Alberta (Heritage Day), Manitoba (Civic Holiday), Ontario (John Galt Day + Simcoe Day + others), Nova Scotia (Natal Day), Prince Edward Island (Federal Civic Holiday).

Not observed in Newfoundland and Labrador, Quebec, or Yukon.

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Alberta

  • sitesworld.com5 nationwide statutory holidays, 4 provincial holidays as well as 3 "optional holidays".
Provincial statutory
  • sitesworld.comAlberta Family Day – third Monday in February
  • Victoria Day – the Monday preceding May 25
  • Thanksgiving second Monday in October
  • Remembrance Day – November 11
Optional
  • sitesworld.comEaster Monday – optional Holiday, variable date
  • Heritage Day – optional holiday, first Monday of August
  • Boxing Day – optional Holiday, December 26.

British Columbia

  • sitesworld.com5 nationwide and 5 provincial statutory holidays.
Provincial statutory
  • sitesworld.comFamily Day – second Monday of February
  • Victoria Day – last Monday before or on May 24
  • British Columbia Day – first Monday of August
  • Thanksgiving – second Monday of October
  • Remembrance Day – November 11

Manitoba

  • sitesworld.com5 nationwide and 3 provincial statutory holidays, as well as 2 optional holidays. Remembrance Day and Boxing Day are not statutory holidays.
Provincial statutory
  • sitesworld.comLouis Riel Day – third Monday in February
  • Victoria Day – last Monday before May 25
  • Thanksgiving – second Monday in October
Optional
  • sitesworld.comCivic Holiday – first Monday in August; not a statutory holiday.
  • Remembrance Day – an "Official day of Observance", not a statutory holiday.

New Brunswick

  • sitesworld.com5 nationwide and 5 provincial statutory holidays. Although prescribed as public holidays, Victoria Day, Thanksgiving, and Boxing Day are not paid public holidays.
Provincial statutory
  • sitesworld.comNew Brunswick Day – first Monday in August
  • Remembrance Day – November 11
Optional
  • sitesworld.comVictoria Day
  • Thanksgiving
  • Boxing Day

Newfoundland and Labrador

  • sitesworld.com5 nationwide and 1 provincial statutory holiday. Thanksgiving is not a statutory holiday. Canada Day is not a statutory holiday as July 1 is Memorial Day.
Provincial statutory
  • sitesworld.comMemorial Day (July 1)
  • Armistice Day (November 11)
Optional
  • sitesworld.comSaint Patrick's Day (March 17)
  • Saint George's Day (April 23)
  • Discovery Day (June 24)
  • Orangemen's Day (July 12)

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 (or, in case of poor weather, the next suitable day thereafter). 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

  • sitesworld.com5 nationwide holidays and 5 territorial statutory holidays.
Territorial statutory
  • sitesworld.comVictoria Day
  • National Aboriginal Day – June 21
  • Civic Holiday – First Monday in August
  • Remembrance Day
  • Thanksgiving

Nova Scotia

  • sitesworld.com5 nationwide holidays plus Remembrance Day. Victoria Day, Thanksgiving, and Boxing Day are not statutory holidays. 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
  • sitesworld.comRemembrance Day – This holiday is governed separately from all other public holidays in Nova Scotia. 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
  • sitesworld.comNatal Day – first Monday in August; not a statutory holiday but a common day off in Halifax only.
  • Davis Day - second week in June (June 11) for remembering coal miners that died in the coal mines

Nunavut

  • sitesworld.com5 nationwide and 4 territorial statutory holidays. Boxing Day is not a statutory holiday.
Territorial statutory
  • sitesworld.comVictoria Day
  • Civic Holiday – first Monday in August.
  • Thanksgiving
  • Remembrance Day
Optional
  • sitesworld.comNunavut Day – July 9, originated as a paid holiday for Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated and regional Inuit associations. It became a ½ 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. Not a statutory holiday.

Ontario

  • sitesworld.com5 nationwide and 4 provincial statutory holidays plus one common municipal holiday.
Provincial statutory
  • sitesworld.comFamily Day – third Monday in February.
  • Victoria Day – on the Monday before May 25
  • Thanksgiving
  • Boxing Day
Optional
  • sitesworld.comAugust Civic Public Holiday – first Monday in August. This is not a statutory holiday, and, as such, only federal employers are required to give the day off.[ ]
  • Remembrance Day – This is also not a Paid Public (Stat) Holiday and as such provincially regulated employers are not required to treat this as a holiday.

Prince Edward Island

  • sitesworld.com5 nationwide and 7 provincial statutory holidays (Gold Cup Parade Day may be substituted for Civic Holiday for some workers).
Provincial statutory
  • sitesworld.comIslander Day – third Monday in February (originally second).
  • Easter Monday
  • Victoria Day[ disputed – discuss ]
  • Civic Holiday – first Monday in August (Federal government only)
  • Thanksgiving Day
  • Remembrance Day
  • Boxing Day
Optional
  • sitesworld.comGold Cup Parade Day celebrated mainly 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, which is a bank and contract holiday for some Civil Servants (others get the first Monday of August as a Civic Holiday).

Quebec

  • sitesworld.com5 nationwide and 3 provincial statutory holidays. Remembrance Day and Boxing Day are not statutory holidays, and there is no Civic Holiday in August. Many of the specific details of employment law are quite different in Quebec.
  • Employers must give either Good Friday or Easter Monday as a statutory holiday, though some give both days.
Provincial statutory
  • sitesworld.comNational Patriots' Day (French: Journée nationale des patriotes ) coincides with Victoria Day.
  • National Holiday of Quebec (French: Fête nationale du Québec ) on June 24 coincides with the Midsummer (St. John the Baptist Day).
  • Thanksgiving (French: L'Action de grâce )
Optional
  • sitesworld.comConstruction Holiday (French: Vacances de la construction ) takes place during the last two weeks of July — while it applies officially only to the construction industry, many other Quebecers arrange to take their vacations during these two weeks.

Saskatchewan

  • sitesworld.com5 nationwide and 5 provincial statutory holidays.
Provincial statutory
  • sitesworld.comFamily Day – third Monday in February
  • Victoria Day
  • Saskatchewan Day – first Monday in August. Celebration of Saskatchewan history and culture similar to Canada Day.
  • Thanksgiving
  • Remembrance Day

Yukon

  • sitesworld.com5 nationwide and 4 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
  • sitesworld.comVictoria Day
  • Discovery Day – third Monday in August
  • Thanksgiving
  • Remembrance Day
Optional
  • sitesworld.comHeritage 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.

Other observances

  • sitesworld.comValentine's Day, February 14
  • National Flag of Canada Day, February 15
  • Commonwealth Day, the second Monday in March. This has been observed as a holiday in some Commonwealth countries.
  • Saint Patrick's Day, March 17
  • Earth Day, April 22
  • Mother's Day, 2nd Sunday of May
  • Father's Day, 3rd 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 Aboriginal Day, 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 Family Week, week before Thanksgiving
  • Halloween, October 31
  • National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, December 6