Blog Post
2025 Canadian Holidays: A Guide to Statutory Holidays and Observances for Businesses
3 Dec 2024
The start of a new year is a pivotal time for businesses to ensure compliance with employment and labour laws across Canada. Knowing the statutory holidays applicable to your region is not only essential for legal compliance but also helps with workforce planning and employee satisfaction. At MaxPeople, we provide the knowledge and tools to manage compliance seamlessly, empowering organizations to focus on their core objectives.
National and Regional Holidays at a Glance
Below is a comprehensive table of statutory holidays for 2025, with clear federal and regional applicability.
Holiday | Fed | BC | AB | SK | MB | ON | QC | NB | NS | PEI | NL | YT | NWT | NU |
New Year’s Day
January 1 |
✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Islander’s Day
February 17 |
✅ | |||||||||||||
Louis Riel Day
February 17 |
✅ | |||||||||||||
Heritage Day
February 17 |
✅ | |||||||||||||
Family Day
February 17 |
✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | |||||||||
Good Friday
April 18 |
✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | **✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Easter Monday
April 20 |
✅ | *✅ | **✅ | |||||||||||
Victoria Day
May 20 |
✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | |||||
National Patriot’s Day
May 25 |
✅ | |||||||||||||
National Indigenous Day
June 21 |
✅ | ✅ | ||||||||||||
St. Jean Baptiste Day
June 24 |
✅ | |||||||||||||
Canada Day
July 1 |
✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Nunavut Day
July 9 |
✅ | |||||||||||||
Civic Holiday
August 4 |
✅ | *✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ||||||||||
BC Day
August 4 |
✅ | |||||||||||||
Heritage Day
August 4 |
*✅ | |||||||||||||
NB Day
August 4 |
✅ | |||||||||||||
SK Day
August 4 |
✅ | |||||||||||||
Discovery Day
August 19 |
✅ | |||||||||||||
Labour Day
September 1 |
✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Truth & Reconciliation
September 30 |
✅ | ✅ | *✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | |||||||
Thanksgiving
October 13 |
✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ||||
Remembrance Day
November 11 |
✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | *✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | |||
Christmas Day
December 25 |
✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Boxing Day
December 26 |
✅ | *✅ | ✅ | |||||||||||
Total: | 12 | 11 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 11 | 11 | 11 |
*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
Key Notes for Businesses
- Optional Holidays: Some holidays, like Boxing Day, may be recognized as optional in certain provinces or by specific employers.
- Regional Variations: Provinces such as Quebec have unique holidays like National Patriot’s Day (May 19) instead of Victoria Day.
- Civic Holidays: August civic holidays vary widely in their observance and naming, so confirm with local regulations.
Planning Ahead
Transparent communication of holiday schedules and policies ensures fairness and inclusivity within your organization. MaxPeople is here to help you navigate compliance and create a thriving work environment.
This blog was written by MaxPeople.
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