Statutory holidays in Canada give people an occasional extra day off from work or school. These public, or “statutory holidays” (also known as “stat” holidays are important to rest, take time for yourself, spend time with family, or do other tasks. For newcomers, it’s good to know the calendar of events and dates to plan for them.
What is a Statutory Holiday in Canada?
Canadians observe many public holidays to observe cultural, national, and religious holidays. Some of these days are national holidays. However, there are also holidays that only some provinces observe. Most employees receive a day off from work on a ‘stat holiday’ and still receive their regular pay. Most government institutions, banks, and stores close on stat holidays. There is also no mail service.
In most provinces, when a statutory holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the vacation day usually falls on the following workday.
Statutory Holidays and Long Weekends
Statutory holidays in Canada such as Family Day, Victoria Day, Canada Day, and Thanksgiving mean long weekends when people plan special activities. For Family Day in February, many people plan weekend getaways to ski resorts or enjoy other outdoor activities such as skating or tobogganing. Family Day is also a great chance to attend many of Canada’s winter festivals.
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Victoria Day, honours Queen Victoria, and Canadians celebrate this holiday in May. This holiday hints at the arrival of summer in Canada. People look forward to barbeques with friends and family, watching fireworks displays, or heading to a cottage or campground. Canadians celebrate Canada Day on July 1. So the holiday can fall on any day of the week. For example, if July 1 falls on a Saturday or Sunday, people will take the proceeding Friday or the following Monday as the holiday. Or, if July 1 falls on a Thursday, many people will take another vacation day on Friday to enjoy an extra-long weekend! Canadians look forward to big parties, parades, concerts, fireworks and so much more in cities and towns all across Canada!
Labour Day is another long weekend in September. This holiday is bittersweet for Canadians. It marks the unofficial end of summer and the return to school for kids. During this “stat” holiday in Canada, people will take in fall festivals, hike along nature trails, or sneak in one last visit to the beach!
National Statutory Holidays in Canada
| STATUTORY HOLIDAY | DATE |
|---|---|
| New Year’s Day: Celebrates the first day of the calendar year | January 1 |
| Good Friday: Commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus | Occurs on the Friday before Easter and usually falls between March 23 and April 26 |
| Canada Day: Celebrates the day Canada formed as a country in 1867 and its birthday | July 1 |
| Labour Day: Recognizes the economic and social gains of workers | First Monday in September |
| Christmas Day: Celebrates the birth of Jesus | December 25 |
Provincial Holidays
In addition to the national holidays, there are other provincial statutory holidays. Most provinces recognize these holidays, but not all.
| PROVINCIAL STATUTORY HOLIDAYS | DATE |
|---|---|
| Family Day: Promotes spending time with family Observed in: Alberta, British Columbia, New Brunswick, Ontario, Saskatchewan This holiday is called: Louis Riel Day in Manitoba Islander Day in Prince Edward Island Heritage Day in Nova Scotia | Third Monday in February |
| Easter Monday: Celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Provinces that observe this holiday: Alberta, New Brunswick, Quebec, Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut | Occurs on the Monday after Easter and Usually falls between March 23 and April 26 |
| Victoria Day: Celebrates the birthday of Queen Victoria Nova Scotia is the only province that does not observe this holiday | Last Monday in May |
| Civic Monday: Celebrates local culture, history and achievement | First Monday in August |
| National Day for Truth and Reconciliation: Honours the survivors of Canada’s residential school system (holiday is observed in British Columbia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, the Northwest Territories, the Yukon, and Nunavut). | September 30 |
| Thanksgiving | Second Monday in October |
| Remembrance Day: Honours veterans who served during World War I and II | November 11 |
| Boxing Day: This is a holiday unique to Canada. Some refer to it as the second day of Christmas or St. Stephen’s Day | December 26 |
Learn More about Public Holidays in:
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