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.
Generally 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 |
- 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.
- St. Jean Baptiste day in Quebec is regulated by National Holiday Act.
- Remembrance Day in Manitoba is regulated by the Remembrance Day Act.
- Remembrance Day in Nova Scotia is regulated by Separate Act.
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