Provincial and Stat Holidays in Canada

Canada's provinces and territories celebrate a number of common general or "statutory" holidays at the national level - holidays in which all employees are entitled for the day off with pay. However, many of the provinces differ in their designation of other holidays as they relate to the individual region.

Canada Payroll ServiceGenerally speaking, the common statutory holidays are New Year's Day, Good Friday (Easter), Canada Day, Labour Day and Christmas Day. Additional holidays such as Easter Monday, Victoria Day, Thanksgiving, Boxing Day and the new National Day for Truth and Reconciliation are also a paid requirement for federal employees, though the provinces may also provide some of these days off as part of common practice (not by Federal regulation).

Further, some of the provinces celebrate holidays on the same day as their Canadian counterparts, but designate the holiday name and purpose differently. For example, the third Monday in February is celebrated by half of the provinces, but goes by at least three different names.

Use the table below to review the national and provincial stat holidays that are observed for each of the thirteen Canadian provinces and territories.

Holiday 2024 2023 2022 Day Observed Region Observed
New Year's Day Mon., January 1 Sun., January 1 Sat., January 1 January 1 Nationwide
Islander Day Mon., February 19 Mon., February 20 Mon., February 21 3rd Monday in February PE
Family Day Mon., February 19 Mon., February 20 Mon., February 21 3rd Monday in February AB, BC1, MB, NB, ON, SK
Heritage Day Mon., February 19
(Feb. 23 in YK)
Mon., February 20
(Feb. 21 in YK)
Mon., February 21
(Feb. 25 in YK)
3rd Monday in February
(third Friday in Feb. in YK)
NS, YK
Louis Riel Day  Mon., February 19 Mon., February 20 Mon., February 21 3rd Monday in February MB
St. Patrick's Day  Sun., March 17 Fri., March 17 Thu., March 17 March 17 NL
Good Friday Fri., March 29 Fri., April 7 Fri., April 15 The Friday before Easter Sunday Nationwide, except QC
Easter Monday Mon, April 1 Mon, April 10 Mon, April 18 The Monday after Easter Sunday QC
St. George's Day   Mon, April 22 Mon, April 24 Mon, April 25 Monday closest to April 23 NL
Victoria Day
(National Patriots Day in QC)
Mon, May 20 Mon, May 22 Mon, May 23 The Monday preceding May 25th Nationwide, except NB, NL, NS, PE
National Indigenous Peoples Day Fri., June 21 Wed., June 21 Tue., June 21 June 21 NT
Féte Nationale
(St. Jean Baptiste Day)
Mon., June 24 Sat., June 24 Fri., June 24 June 242 QC
Discovery Day (NL) Mon., June 24 Mon., June 26 Fri., June 24 Nearest Monday to June 24 NL
Canada Day (Memorial Day in NL) Mon., July 1 Sat., July 1 Fri., July 1 July 1 Nationwide
Nunavut Day Tue., July 9 Sun., July 9 Sat., July 9 July 9 NU
Civic Holiday Mon., August 5 Mon., August 7 Mon., August 1 The First Monday in August AB, BC, NB, NU, ON, SK
Discovery Day (YK) Mon., August 19 Mon., August 14 Mon., August 15 The Third Monday in August YK
Labour Day Mon., September 2 Mon., September 4 Mon., September 5 The First Monday in September Nationwide
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Mon., September 30 Sat. September 30 Fri., September 30 September 30 Nationwide
Thanksgiving Day Mon., October 14 Mon., October 9 Mon., October 10 The Second Monday in October Nationwide, except NB, NL, NS, PE
Remembrance Day Mon., November 11 Sat., November 11 Fri., November 11 November 113 Nationwide, except NL, NS4, ON, QC
Christmas Day Wed., December 25 Mon., December 25 Sun., December 25 December 25 Nationwide
Boxing Day Thu., December 26 Tue., December 26 Mon., December 26 December 26 ON
  1. BC recognizes the third Monday in February as a provincial statutory holiday called Family Day. Family Day is not necessarily granted in the case of people employed in the retail industry. In this case it is the employer's decision to grant the day off. If the day off is not granted then the employer must grant another day off in place of Family Day.
  2. St. Jean Baptiste day in Quebec is regulated by National Holiday Act.
  3. Remembrance Day in Manitoba is regulated by the Remembrance Day Act.
  4. Remembrance Day in Nova Scotia is regulated by Separate Act.

 


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