2024 Canadian Holidays: Understanding Statutory Holidays and Observances for Business Success
The beginning of a new year is a crucial time for businesses, particularly in staying up to date with applicable employment and labour laws and regulations in the provinces where their employees are based. Understanding which statutory holidays apply to your business is not just a matter of compliance with employment and labour laws but also plays a significant role in strategic planning. At MaxPeople, our goal is to equip organizations with the necessary insights and tools to manage compliance effortlessly. We are dedicated to helping businesses navigate these aspects smoothly, ensuring they are well-prepared to meet both legal requirements and their own strategic objectives.
National Statutory Holidays
| Holiday | *CLC | BC | AB | SK | MB | ON | QC | NB | NS | PEI | NL | YT | NWT | NU |
| New Year’s Day 1 Jan | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Islander’s Day 19 Feb | X | |||||||||||||
| Louis Riel Day 19 Feb | X | |||||||||||||
| Heritage Day 19 Feb | X | |||||||||||||
| Family Day 19 Feb | X | X | X | X | X | |||||||||
| Good Friday 29 Mar | X | X | X | X | X | X | ***X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Easter Monday 1 Apr | X | **X | ***X | |||||||||||
| Victoria Day 20 May | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | |||||
| National Patriot’s Day 20 May | X | |||||||||||||
| National Indigenous Day 21 Jun | X | X | ||||||||||||
| St. Jean Baptiste Day 24 Jun | X | |||||||||||||
| Canada Day 1 Jul | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Nunavut Day 9 Jul | X | |||||||||||||
| Civic Holiday 5 Aug | X | **X | X | X | ||||||||||
| BC Day 5 Aug | X | |||||||||||||
| Heritage Day 5 Aug | **X | |||||||||||||
| NB Day 5 Aug | X | |||||||||||||
| SK Day 5 Aug | X | |||||||||||||
| Discovery Day 19 Aug | X | |||||||||||||
| Labour Day 2 Sep | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Truth & Reconciliation 30 Sep | X | X | **X | X | X | X | X | |||||||
| Thanksgiving 14 Oct | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||
| Remembrance Day 11 Nov | X | X | X | X | **X | X | X | X | X | X | X | |||
| Christmas Day 25 Dec | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Boxing Day 26 Dec | X | **X | X | |||||||||||
| Total: | 12 | 11 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 11 | 11 | 11 |
*Canadian Labour Code
**Statutory Holidays with an asterisk are optional public holidays
***Employers in Quebec have the option of providing Good Friday or Easter Monday as a public holiday
Implications for Businesses
Transparent communication about office closures, holiday pay policies, and expectations for employees working during holidays ensures fairness and inclusivity in the workplace.
At MaxPeople we can help organizations stay compliant. As a trusted outsourced HR partner, we are dedicated to supporting your organization’s journey toward a balanced and compliant work environment in 2024 and beyond. Contact us today!
This blog was written by Chen Sasson, HR Director, Centre of Excellence for MaxPeople.
For more information about fractional HR services, email [email protected] or call 1.888.709.1236