Public holidays in Canada, known as “statutory holidays”, are legislated at the federal, provincial and territorial levels. Many of these holidays are observed nationwide, but each province and territory in Canada has its own holidays as well.
Statutory holidays are New Year’s Day, Good Friday (Easter), Canada Day, Labour Day and Christmas Day, which are celebrated nationwide and are paid days off for all employees. Federal employees also get Easter Monday, Victoria Day, Thanksgiving and Boxing Day off, but non-federal employees also get these holidays off as well (however it is not required).
National and provincial statutory holidays in Canada
| Holiday | Day Observed | Observance |
|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | January 1 | Nationwide |
| Islander Day | Third Monday in February | PE |
| Family Day | Third Monday in February (2nd in BC) | BC, AB, SK, ON |
| Louis Riel Day | Third Monday in February | MB |
| St. Patrick’s Day | March 17 | NL |
| Good Friday | Friday before Easter Sunday | Nationwide except QC |
| Easter Monday | Monday after Easter Sunday | QC |
| St. George’s Day | April 23 | NL |
| Victoria Day National Patriotes Day in QC | Monday preceding May 25th | Nationwide except NB, NS, PE, NL |
| National Aboriginal Day | June 21 | NT |
| Féte Nationale St. Jean Baptiste Day | June 24 | QC |
| Discovery Day | June 24 | NL |
| Canada Day Memorial Day in NFL | July 1 | Nationwide |
| Nunavut Day | July 9 | NT |
| Civic Holiday | First Monday in August | AB, BC, SK, ON, NB, NU |
| Labour Day | First Monday of September | Nationwide |
| Thanksgiving | Second Monday in October | Nationwide except NB, NS, PE, NL |
| Remembrance Day | November 11 | Nationwide except ON, QC, NS, NL |
| Christmas Day | December 25 | Nationwide |
| Boxing Day | December 26 | ON |
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