COLUMN: Canada comes with mixed bag of holidays

When I began researching my column about Victoria Day, I discovered a whole treasure trove of information on public holidays in Canada, some of it new to me.

Did you know that we have different categories of holidays in this country? I never really realized the complexity inherent in our system of public holidays.

Perhaps I should start with a list of those holidays which are celebrated nationwide and are considered federal holidays. They include New Year's Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Victoria Day, Canada Day, Civic Holiday, Labour Day, Truth and Reconciliation Day, Thanksgiving Day, Remembrance Day, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day.

Not all federal holidays are statutory. There are five nationwide statutory holidays and six additional holidays observed by federal employees. 

I should also mention that along with provincial and federally regulated holidays, many provinces have what they term "optional" celebrations, which, while recognized by governments, are not legislated and certainly are not recognized as a right or a paid holiday under law.

Each of the 13 provinces and territories observes several holidays in addition to the nationwide days, but they can vary as to how they are legislated — either statutory, optional or not observed at all.

Many public and private employers, as well as local school systems, provide additional days off around the end of December, often including at least a full-day or half-day on Christmas Eve or New Year's Eve or, in some cases, the entire week between Christmas and New Year’s.

While not officially legislated in any capacity, internationally notable cultural holidays such as Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day, Halloween, Mother's Day and Father's Day are traditionally observed by Canadians.

Let us examine further the individual provinces and their celebrations.

Alberta celebrates the five nationwide statutory holidays, four provincial holidays (Family Day, Victoria Day, Thanksgiving and Remembrance Day), as well as four optional holidays: Easter Monday, Heritage Day, National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, and Boxing Day on Dec. 26.

British Columbia celebrates the five nationwide holidays, plus six provincial statutory holidays: Family Day in February, Victoria Day, British Columbia Day in August, National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Thanksgiving and Remembrance Day.

If you are in Manitoba, you celebrate five nationwide holidays and three provincial statutory holidays (Louis Riel Day in February, Victoria Day, and Thanksgiving), as well as two optional holidays, Terry Fox Day in August (not a statutory holiday) and Remembrance Day (official day of observance, but not a statutory holiday). Boxing Day is not statutory holidays in Manitoba.

New Brunswick observes the five nationwide holidays, and three provincial statutory holidays: Family Day, New Brunswick Day, Remembrance Day. The three optional holidays — Victoria Day, Thanksgiving and Boxing Day — are holidays, but not paid public holidays.

Newfoundland and Labrador celebrates five nationwide holidays and two provincial statutory holidays, Memorial Day and Armistice/Remembrance Day. In Newfoundland, Thanksgiving is not a statutory holiday, and neither is Canada Day, which is celebrated as Memorial Day.

Several optional holidays are observed: St. Patrick's Day, Saint George's Day, Victoria Day, Discovery Day (June), Orangemen's Day (July), Thanksgiving, and Boxing Day, which have not been observed as statutory holidays since 1992. There is no provincewide holiday on the first Monday in August. All other municipalities are entitled to designate one day a year as a civic holiday, however many do not take advantage of this.

The Northwest Territories observes five nationwide holidays and five territorial statutory holidays: Victoria Day, National Aboriginal Day, Civic Holiday, Remembrance Day, and Thanksgiving.

In Nova Scotia, five nationwide holidays are celebrated, plus two provincial holidays: Heritage Day in February and Remembrance Day. Since 1981, it has been illegal for any person to offer any goods or real property for sale on Remembrance Day, or to accept or offer employment in exchange for gain or reward.

Victoria Day, Thanksgiving and Boxing Day are not statutory holidays, but most businesses and retail are closed Boxing Day. They celebrate one optional holiday called Natal Day (our Civic Holiday), which is not a statutory holiday, but a common day off in Halifax Regional Municipality.

Nunavut celebrates five nationwide holidays and four territorial statutory holidays. Boxing Day is not a statutory holiday.

The territory celebrates one optional day, Nunavut Day on July 9, which originated as a paid holiday for Nunavut ‘Tunngavik’ Incorporated and regional Inuit associations. It became a half-day holiday for government employees in 1999 and a full day in 2001. Most employers give the day off with the notable exceptions being the federal government and the Northwest Company. It is not a statutory holiday.

Here in Ontario, we celebrate five nationwide holidays and four provincial statutory holidays: Family Day, Victoria Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Boxing Day. Martin Luther King Jr. Day was officially recognized in Toronto in 2018, though not as a paid holiday. We also celebrate two optional holidays, the Civic Holiday and Remembrance Day.

Prince Edward Island observes five nationwide holidays and three provincial statutory holidays: Islander Day in February, Truth and Reconciliation Day in September, and Remembrance Day. In addition, Gold Cup Parade Day is celebrated in August and by some businesses in the central and eastern areas of the province.

Quebec celebrates five nationwide holidays and three provincial statutory holidays. Remembrance Day and Boxing Day are not statutory holidays, and there is no Civic Holiday in August. The official statutory holidays are New Year’s Day, Good Friday or Easter Monday at the employer’s choice, National Patriots' Day, Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day, Canada Day, Labour Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.

Quebec celebrates one optional holiday, Construction Day (Vacances de la construction), in the last two weeks of July, and the last two weeks of December for Christmas holidays. While it applies officially only to the construction industry, many other Quebec residents arrange to take their vacations during these two weeks.

Saskatchewan observes five nationwide holidays and five provincial statutory holidays: Family Day, Victoria Day, Saskatchewan Day (our Civic Day), Thanksgiving Day, and Remembrance Day.

Finally, Yukon observes five nationwide holidays and five territorial statutory holidays: Victoria Day, Discovery Day in August, Thanksgiving, Remembrance Day, and National Aboriginal Day in June. In addition, Easter Monday, Boxing Day and Heritage Day are statutory for public service workers. Many employers give their employees days off that may not be statutory holidays, particularly Boxing Day. They also observe one optional holiday, Heritage Day in February, which is optional for non-public-service workers.

Across the country, there are several other observances that are celebrated, but not officially recognized by the various levels of government. They include: Raoul Wallenberg Day on Jan. 17, Groundhog Day on Feb. 2, Valentine's Day on Feb. 14, National Flag of Canada Day on Feb. 15, International Women's Day on March 8, Commonwealth Day on second Monday in March and observed as a holiday in some Commonwealth countries, St. Patrick's Day on March 17, April Fool's Day on April 1, Tartan Day on April 6, Earth Day on April 22, Victory in Europe Day on May 8, Mother's Day on the second Sunday of May, Father's Day on the third Sunday of June, Loyalist Day on June 19, National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21, Canadian Multiculturalism Day on June 27, National Peacekeepers' Day on Aug. 9 observed on the closest Sunday, National Grandparents' Day on the second Sunday in September, National Family Week the week before Thanksgiving, Halloween on Oct. 31, and National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women on Dec. 6.

Newmarket resident Richard MacLeod, also known as the History Hound, has been an area historian for more than 40 years. 

Sources: Canadian Holidays- JJ’s Complete Guide to Canada (website); Canadian statutory holiday rules - Statutoryholidays.com (website); Employment Standards Act, 2000. Government of Ontario. (website); Retail Business Holidays Act - Government of Ontario (website); Bryden, Joan - Royal assent given to bill creating national day for truth and reconciliation. Winnipeg Free Press (website); Martens, Kathleen (September 27, 2022). Only 1 province and 2 territories have Sept. 30 as paid holiday for all workers APTN News (website); Indigenous business leader disappointed National Day for Truth and Reconciliation not a provincial holiday. CBC News. September 11, 2021 (website); "Statutory Holidays in Canada" (government publication); Paid Statutory Holidays in Employment Standards Legislation"Hrsdc.gc.ca (website); Public Holidays. Ontario Ministry of Labour (website); General Overview – Statutory Holidays Human Resources and Social Development Canada (website); Overview of Canadian statutory holidays (website); Government of Canada – Canadian Heritage – Important Commemorative Days (website); Canadian statutory holidays, Dates and information about holidays in Canada (website).