- List the types of public holidays in Canada.
Nationwide statutory holidays in Canada[edit]
| Date | English name | French Name | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 1 | New Year's Day | Jour de l'An | Celebrates the first day of every year in the Gregorian calendar. |
| Friday beforeEaster Day | Good Friday | Vendredi saint | Commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus. In Quebec, non-federally regulated employers must give either Good Friday or Easter Monday as a statutory holiday, though some give both days. |
| July 1 | Canada Day | Fête du Canada | Celebrates Canada's 1867 Confederation and establishment of dominionstatus.
In Newfoundland and Labrador, observed as Memorial Day.
|
| First Monday in September | Labour Day | Fête du travail | Celebrates economic and social achievements of workers. |
| December 25 | Christmas Day | Noël | Celebrates the Nativity of Jesus. |
Statutory holidays for federal employees[edit]
In addition to the nationwide holidays listed above, the following holidays are mandated by federal legislation for federally regulated employees. All banks and post offices commemorate these holidays, and they are statutory in some provinces and territories.
| Date | English Name | French Name | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| In lieu of Good Friday (Stat Holiday), Monday afterEaster Day | Easter Monday | Lundi de Pâques | Celebrates the resurrection of Jesus.
Not a statutory holiday in any province or territory; however, in Quebec employers must give either Good Friday or Easter Monday as a statutory holiday, though most give both days.
Banks remain open (legally they cannot close for more than three consecutive days except in emergencies[citation needed]), but employees often receive a "floating" paid day off to be taken on or near the holiday.
This is not one of the nine "General Holidays" as defined by the Canada Labour Code – Part III. As such, there is no legal requirement for private sector employers in federally regulated industries to provide Easter Monday as a paid holiday to employees. However, many federal government offices will be closed on this day.
|
| Monday on or before May 24 | Victoria Day | Fête de la Reine ou Journée nationale des Patriotes | Celebrates the birthday of the reigning Canadian monarch; however, the date does not change with the change of monarch, being instead fixed on the birthday of Queen Victoria, the sovereign at the time of Canadian Confederation and establishment of dominion status in 1867. Some French-Canadians celebrate instead Adam Dollard des Ormeaux a French-Canadian hero from the New France times.
Statutory holiday in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Ontario, Quebec (coincides with National Patriots' Day),Saskatchewan, and Yukon. A holiday in New Brunswick under the Days of Rest Act.
Not a statutory holiday in the eastern maritime provinces of Nova Scotia, andPrince Edward Island or in Newfoundland and Labrador.
|
| Second Monday in October | Thanksgiving | Action de grâce | A day to give thanks for the things one has at the close of the harvest season.
Statutory holiday in most jurisdictions of Canada: Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan, and Yukon.[4]
An optional holiday in the Atlantic provinces of Prince Edward Island,Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.[4] In New Brunswick, included under the Days of Rest Act.
|
| November 11 | Remembrance Day | Jour du Souvenir | Commemorates Canada's war dead. Anniversary of the armistice endingWorld War I in 1918.
Statutory holiday in Alberta, British Columbia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Prince Edward Island, Saskatchewan, and Yukon.
In Manitoba, an "Official day of Observance", not a statutory holiday.
In Ontario and Nova Scotia, not a statutory holiday in that employers have the option of giving Remembrance Day or an alternate day off. In Nova Scotia Remembrance Day is covered specifically by the Remembrance Day Act [5]which prohibits employers from allowing employees to work and prohibits employees from working with exceptions for required services.
Not a statutory holiday in Quebec.
|
| December 26 | Boxing Day | Lendemain de Noël | A holiday with mixed and uncertain origins and definitions.[6]
Provincially, a statutory holiday in Ontario. A holiday in New Brunswick under the Days of Rest Act.
Many employers across the country observe Boxing Day as a paid day off.
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Other common holidays[edit]
| Date | English Name | French Name | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Third Monday in February (BC 2nd Monday in February) |
|
| Statutory holiday under various names in Alberta, Ontario, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia.
British Columbia celebrates its Family Day on the 2nd Monday in February, starting in 2013.[7]
Not observed elsewhere.
|
| First Monday in August | August Civic Holiday | Premier lundi d'août | Statutory holiday in British Columbia (British Columbia Day), New Brunswick (New Brunswick Day), Northwest Territories (Civic Holiday), Nunavut (Civic Holiday), Ontario and Saskatchewan (Saskatchewan Day).
Civic holiday (may be a paid vacation day depending on employer) in Alberta (Heritage Day), Manitoba (Terry Fox Day), Ontario (Colonel By Day + John Galt Day + Simcoe Day + Break for no reason day +others), Nova Scotia (Natal Day), Prince Edward Island (Federal Civic Holiday).
Not observed in Newfoundland and Labrador, Quebec, or Yukon.
|
Provincial and territorial holidays[edit]
Provinces and territories generally adopt the same holidays as the federal government with some variations:
Date English Name French Name AB BC MB NB NL NT NS NU ON PE QC SK YT January 1 New Year's Day Jour de l'An National Second Monday in February Family Day Fête de la famille - V - - - - - - - - - - - Third Monday in February Louis Riel Day Journée Louis Riel - - V - - - - - - - - - - Third Monday in February Islander Day Fête des Insulaires - - - - - - - - - V - - - Third Monday in February Family Day Fête de la famille V - - - - - - - V - - V - Third Monday in February Heritage Day Fête du Patrimoine - - - - - - V - - - - - - March 17 Saint Patrick's Day Jour de la Saint-Patrick - - - - V - - - - - - - - Friday before Easter Day Good Friday Vendredi saint National Monday after Easter Day Easter Monday Lundi de Pâques V - - - - - - - - V - - - April 23 Saint George's Day Jour de St. George - - - - V - - - - - - - - Monday on or before May 24 National Patriots' Day Journée nationale des patriotes - - - - - - - - - - V - - Monday on or before May 24 Victoria Day Fête de la Reine V V V V - V V V V V - V V June 21 National Aboriginal Day Journée nationale des Autochthones - - - - - V - - - - - - - June 24 Discovery Day / National Holiday Journée découverte / Fête nationale du Québec / Saint-Jean-Baptiste - - - - V - - - - - V - V July 1 Canada Day Fête du Canada National July 12 Orangemen's Day Fête des orangistes - - - - V - - - - - - - - First Monday in August Civic Holiday Premier lundi d'août - V V - V V - V - - - - - First Monday in August Heritage Day Fête du patrimoine V - - - - - - - - - - - V First Monday in August New Brunswick Day Jour de Nouveau Brunswick - - - V - - - - - - - - - First Monday in August Natal Day Jour de la Fondation - - - - - - V - - - - - - Third Friday in August Gold Cup Parade Day Défilé de la Coupe d'or - - - - - - - - - V - - - Third Monday in August Discovery Day Jour de la Découverte - - - - - - - - - - - - V First Monday in September Labour Day Fête du travail National Second Monday in October Thanksgiving Action de grâce National November 11 Armistice Day Jour de l'Armistice - - - - V - - - - - - - - November 11 Remembrance Day Jour du Souvenir V V - V - V V V - V - V V December 25 Christmas Day Noël National December 26 Boxing Day Lendemain de Noël V - - V - - V - V V - - - Total Holidays 12 10 9 10 11 10 11 9 9 12 8 9 11 - Compare and contrast the public holidays in Canada with those of another country.
National public holidays in France 2016
- January 1: New Year's Day (Jour de l'an)
- March 25: Good Friday – applicable only to Alsace and Moselle/Lorraine.
- March 28: Easter Monday (Lundi de Pâques)
- May 1: Labour Day (Fête du premier mai)
- May 5: Ascension Day (Jour de l'Ascension, 40 days after Easter)
- May 8: WWII Victory Day (Fête du huitième mai or Jour de la Victoire 45)
- May 16: Whit Monday – also known as Pentecost Monday (Lundi de Pentecôte).
- July 14: Bastille Day (Fête nationale)
- August 15: Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Assomption)
- November 1: All Saints Day (La Toussaint)
- November 11: Armistice Day (Jour d'armistice)
- December 25: Christmas Day (Noël)
- December 26: Boxing Day/St Stephen's Day (Deuxième jour de Noël): applicable only to Alsace and Moselle/Lorraine.
Other important dates
- March 27: Clocks go forward one hour as daylight saving time (DST) starts.
- April 1: April Fool’s Day (Poisson d'Avril)
- May 29: Mother’s day (last Sunday in May)
- June 19: Father’s day (third Sunday in June)
- October 30: Clocks go back one hour (DST ends).
School holidays
School dates vary according to which ‘zone’ you’re in. The French Ministry of Education maintains a comprehensive list of school holidays in France.
- If you had a chance to change the calendar of holidays in that country, what 3 changes would you make?
- August 15: Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Assomption)
- November 1: All Saints Day (La Toussaint)
- November 11: Armistice Day (Jour d'armistice)
- Discuss and publish your decision.
