Canada has a decentralized government. This means that each province follows some overarching federal laws and its local ones. That’s why navigating laws and identifying Canada Holidays 2023 can be quite confusing.
In this article, we will explore the various national and provincial holidays of Canada and identify which ones your employees working in different provinces and territories are entitled to receive.
Remember that here, we are just talking about what is legally required of employers. Of course, it’s up to the employer to decide on any additional holidays they may want to observe.
What is a Statutory Holiday?
In Canada, all public holidays that are legislated at the federal or provincial level are called statutory holidays. These public holidays are a combination of national, cultural, and religious events that employees are entitled to. These aren’t just days off work, they are paid days off. And if you are being asked to work on these days, you are eligible to get paid time and a half on that day.
Holidays Observed Across Canada
Let’s start with the easy part. Here are the six federally recognized holidays that everyone in Canada can take as a paid day off. Employers are also responsible for managing and tracking paid time off.
Even though the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is a federally mandated holiday, not all provinces have approved it yet. However, it is still an official holiday recognized on the Canada Holiday 2023 list.
Holidays Observed in All of Canada
Here is a list of all the holidays observed in Canada and what dates they fall on:
- New Year’s Day - January 1
- Good Friday - Friday before Easter Sunday
- Canada Day - July 1
- Labour Day - First Monday in September
- National Day for Truth and Reconciliation - September 30
- Christmas Day - December 25
Holidays for Federally Regulated Industries in Canada
Now, it gets a little bit trickier. There are four other mandated holidays for federally regulated industries like banking or marine shipping. These are commonly referred to as bank holidays.
Generally speaking, many provinces have instituted these as their statutory holidays. Some have also made these holidays optional with a stat holiday pay for employers to decide on.
Holidays for Federally Regulated Industries:
- Victoria Day - Monday before May 25
- Thanksgiving Day - Second Monday in October
- Remembrance Day - November 11
- Boxing Day - December 26
Holidays in Alberta
On top of federal holidays, employees in Alberta are entitled to four additional local statutory holidays — Alberta Family Day, Victoria Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Remembrance Day.
Easter Monday, Heritage Day and Boxing Day are considered an optional holiday in Alberta. The employer or business owner can decide whether or not they want to honor these holidays.
Note that Alberta also considers National Day for Truth and Reconciliation optional.
Holidays Observed in Alberta
- New Year’s Day - January 1
- Alberta Family Day - Third Monday of February
- Good Friday - Friday before Easter Sunday
- Victoria Day - Last Monday before May 25
- Canada Day - July 1
- Labour Day - First Monday in September
- Thanksgiving Day - Second Monday in October
- Remembrance Day - November 11
- Christmas Day - December 25
Holidays in bold are specific to Alberta.
Holidays in British Columbia
Employees in British Columbia are entitled to five additional statutory holidays — Family Day, Victoria Day, BC Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Remembrance Day.
Once again, National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is not a statutory holiday in British Columbia.
Holidays Observed in British Columbia
- New Year’s Day - January 1
- Family Day - Third Monday of February
- Good Friday - Friday before Easter Sunday
- Victoria Day - Last Monday before May 25
- Canada Day - July 1
- BC Day - First Monday in August
- Labour Day - First Monday in September
- Thanksgiving Day - Second Monday in October
- Remembrance Day - November 11
- Christmas Day - December 25
Holidays in bold are specific to British Columbia.
Holidays in Manitoba
Meanwhile, employees in Manitoba are entitled to three additional statutory holidays — Louis Riel Day, Victoria Day, and Thanksgiving Day.
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is also considered optional in Manitoba.
Holidays Observed in Manitoba
- New Year’s Day - January 1
- Louis Riel Day - Third Monday of February
- Good Friday - Friday before Easter Sunday
- Victoria Day - Last Monday before May 25
- Canada Day - July 1
- Labour Day - First Monday in September
- Thanksgiving Day - Second Monday in October
- Christmas Day - December 25
Holidays in bold are specific to Manitoba.
Holidays in New Brunswick
In a similar vein, employees in New Brunswick are entitled to six additional statutory holidays — Family Day, Victoria Day, New Brunswick Day, Thanksgiving Day, Remembrance Day, and Boxing Day.
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is not considered a statutory holiday in New Brunswick.
Holidays Observed in New Brunswick
- New Year’s Day - January 1
- Family Day - Third Monday of February
- Good Friday - Friday before Easter Sunday
- Victoria Day - Last Monday before May 25
- Canada Day - July 1
- New Brunswick Day - First Monday in August
- Labour Day - First Monday in September
- Thanksgiving Day - Second Monday in October
- Remembrance Day - November 11
- Christmas Day - December 25
- Boxing Day - December 26
Holidays in bold are specific to New Brunswick.
Holidays in Newfoundland and Labrador
Employees in Newfoundland and Labrador only receive Remembrance Day in addition to the federal holidays. That said, local authorities may mandate other designated paid days off.
Similarly, National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is not a statutory holiday in Newfoundland and Labrador.
It is also important to note that Newfoundland and Labrador observe Memorial Day on July 1 instead of Canada Day.
Holidays Observed in Newfoundland and Labrador
- New Year’s Day - January 1
- Good Friday - Friday before Easter Sunday
- Memorial Day - July 1
- Labour Day - First Monday in September
- Remembrance Day - November 11
- Christmas Day - December 25
Holidays in bold are specific to Newfoundland and Labrador.
Holidays in Nova Scotia
Employees in Nova Scotia are entitled to Nova Scotia Heritage Day as a part of the additional statutory holiday in the province.
The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is, however, not a statutory holiday in Nova Scotia.
Holidays Observed in Nova Scotia
- New Year’s Day - January 1
- Nova Scotia Heritage Day - Third Monday of February
- Good Friday - Friday before Easter Sunday
- Canada Day - July 1
- Labour Day - First Monday in September
- Christmas Day - December 25
Holidays in bold are specific to Nova Scotia.
Holidays in Ontario
Employees in Ontario are entitled to four additional statutory holidays — Family Day, Victoria Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Boxing Day.
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is not a statutory holiday in Ontario.
Holidays Observed in Ontario
- New Year’s Day - January 1
- Family Day - Third Monday of February
- Good Friday - Friday before Easter Sunday
- Victoria Day - Last Monday before May 25
- Canada Day - July 1
- Labour Day - First Monday in September
- Thanksgiving Day - Second Monday in October
- Christmas Day - December 25
- Boxing Day - December 26
Holidays in bold are specific to Ontario.
Holidays in Prince Edward Island
Employees in Prince Edward Island are entitled to two additional statutory holidays — Islander Day and Remembrance Day.
P.E.I is one of the provinces in Canada that recognize and celebrate the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
Holidays Observed in Prince Edward Island
- New Year’s Day - January 1
- Islander Day - Third Monday of February
- Good Friday - Friday before Easter Sunday
- Canada Day - July 1
- Labour Day - First Monday in September
- National Day for Truth and Reconciliation - September 30
- Remembrance Day - November 11
- Christmas Day - December 25
Holidays in bold are specific to Prince Edward Island.
Holidays in Quebec
On top of federal holidays, employees in Quebec are entitled to three additional statutory holidays — National Patriots’ Day, Quebec National Holiday, and Thanksgiving Day.
Yet again, National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is not a statutory holiday in Quebec.
Holidays Observed in Quebec
- New Year’s Day - January 1
- Good Friday or Easter Monday (decided by employer) - Friday before Easter Sunday or Monday after Easter
- National Patriots’ Day - Last Monday before May 25
- Quebec National Holiday - June 24
- Canada Day - July 1
- Labour Day - First Monday in September
- Thanksgiving - Second Monday in October
- Christmas Day - December 25
Holidays in bold are specific to Quebec.
In Quebec, employers can choose to give either Good Friday or Easter Monday off.
Holidays in Saskatchewan
Employees in Saskatchewan are entitled to five additional statutory holidays — Family Day, Victoria Day, Saskatchewan Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Remembrance Day.
Similar to the majority of provinces mentioned above, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is not a statutory holiday in Saskatchewan.
Holidays Observed in Saskatchewan
- New Year’s Day - January 1
- Family Day - Third Monday of February
- Good Friday - Friday before Easter Sunday
- Victoria Day - Last Monday before May 25
- Canada Day - July 1
- Saskatchewan Day - First Monday in August
- Labour Day - First Monday in September
- Thanksgiving Day - Second Monday in October
- Remembrance Day - November 11
- Christmas Day - December 25
Holidays in bold are specific to Saskatchewan.
Holidays in the Northwest Territories
Employees in the Northwest Territories are entitled to five additional statutory holidays — Victoria Day, National Indigenous Peoples Day, 1st Monday in August, Thanksgiving Day, and Remembrance Day.
Similar to Prince Edward Island, the Northwest Territories recognize and celebrate the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
Holidays Observed in the Northwest Territories
- New Year’s Day - January 1
- Good Friday - Friday before Easter Sunday
- Victoria Day - Last Monday before May 25
- National Indigenous Peoples Day - June 21
- Canada Day - July 1
- 1st Monday in August - First Monday in August
- Labour Day - First Monday in September
- National Day for Truth and Reconciliation - September 30
- Thanksgiving Day - Second Monday in October
- Remembrance Day - November 11
- Christmas Day - December 25
Holidays in bold are specific to the Northwest Territories.
Holidays in Nunavut
Employees in Nunavut are entitled to five additional statutory holidays — Victoria Day, Nunavut Day, 1st Monday in August, Thanksgiving Day, and Remembrance Day.
Once again, National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is not a statutory holiday in Nunavut.
Holidays Observed in the Nunavut
- New Year’s Day - January 1
- Good Friday - Friday before Easter Sunday
- Victoria Day - Last Monday before May 25
- Canada Day - July 1
- Nunavut Day - July 9
- 1st Monday in August - First Monday in August
- Labour Day - First Monday in September
- Thanksgiving Day - Second Monday in October
- Remembrance Day - November 11
- Christmas Day - December 25
Holidays in bold are specific to Nunavut.
Holidays in the Yukon
Last but not least, employees in the Yukon are entitled to five additional statutory holidays — Victoria Day, National Indigenous Peoples Day, Discovery Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Remembrance Day.
Similar to Prince Edward Island and the Northwest Territories, Yukon is a territory that recognizes and celebrates the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
Holidays Observed in the Yukon
- New Year’s Day - January 1
- Good Friday - Friday before Easter Sunday
- Victoria Day - Last Monday before May 25
- National Indigenous Peoples Day - June 21
- Canada Day - July 1
- Discovery Day - Third Monday in August
- Labour Day - First Monday in September
- National Day for Truth and Reconciliation - September 30
- Thanksgiving Day - Second Monday in October
- Remembrance Day - November 11
- Christmas Day - December 25
Holidays in bold are specific to the Yukon.
What If My Business Is Open on a Holiday in Canada?
Some businesses need to stay open during holidays to keep up with customer demands. When this is the case, employers and business owners must follow federal and provincial regulations on overtime pay. If your business stays open on any statutory holidays in Canada, then general holiday pay for most employees is equal to at least one-twentieth of their monthly wages.
Working during an official holiday is optional for all employees in Canada. Holidays are meant for employees to spend the day celebrating. When employees do work, they can expect to receive 1.5 or 2 times the pay for hours worked on official holidays.
What If a Holiday Falls on a Saturday or Sunday?
A lot of the holidays in Canada are scheduled to avoid this. For example, Victoria Day is celebrated on the last Monday before May 25th and Thanksgiving is on the second Monday in October.
However, some of the stricter commemorative dates, such as Canada Day and Remembrance Day, may fall on Saturday or Sunday. In this case, the Federal or Provincial Government will provide a day off in lieu — normally, the Monday after the official holiday.
Hassle-Free Holidays with Borderless
From public holidays to civic holidays at Borderless, you can ensure compliance despite the province or country your business operates.
Whether you need to pay your Canadian staff or create an inclusive holiday policy, our all-in-one platform provides everything you need to meet your payroll and global compliance needs.
Speak with our team today and start hiring in 170+ countries hassle-free!
Disclaimer: Borderless does not provide legal services or legal advice to anyone. This includes customers, contractors, employees, partners, and the general public. We are not lawyers or paralegals. Please read our full disclaimer here.
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