
Public holidays in Canada
At first glance, the list of public holidays in Canada looks quite extensive. Due to the enormous size of the country and the regional and political peculiarities associated with it, there are numerous holidays that only apply regionally. In order to unify the chaos, holidays of different regions were put on a uniform calendar day at least. For example, Victoria Day (on the Monday before May 25) is named differently in the individual provinces. So in the end, something different is celebrated, but on the same day.By the way, Whitsun is hardly known in Canada. It is only celebrated in individual Christian communities.
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Non-floating holidays
Non-statutory holidays are written in gray.Date | Holiday | Local name |
---|---|---|
Jan. 1st | New Year's Day | New Year’s Day |
Jan. 6th | Epiphany | Holy Three Kings |
Feb. 2nd | Groundhog Day | Groundhog Day |
Feb. 16th | Family's Day | Family Day |
March 17th | Memorial Day of Bishop Patrick | St. Patrick's Day |
June 21st | Indigenous Day | National Aboriginal Day |
June 22nd | Discovery of Newfoundland and Labrador (regional only) | Discovery Day |
June 24th | Saint-Jean-Baptiste (nur Quebec) | St. Jean Baptiste Day |
July 1st | National holiday | Canada Day |
July 9th | Nunavut Regional Holiday | Nunavut Day |
July 31st | Newfoundland and Labrador | Orangemen's Day |
Nov. 11th | Memorial Day of the Victims of the War | Remembrance Day |
Dec. 24th | Christmas Eve | Christmas Eve |
Dec. 25th | Christmas Day | Christmas Day |
Dec. 26th | Boxing Day | Boxing Day |
Dec. 31st | New Year's Eve | New Year's Eve |
Moving Holidays in Canada
Holiday | Local name | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | 2027 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Commemoration Day Louis Riel (only in Manitoba) | Louis Riel Day | Feb. 20th | Feb. 19th | Feb. 17th | Feb. 16th | Feb. 15th |
Islanders' Day (Prince Edward only) | Islander Day | Feb. 20th | Feb. 19th | Feb. 17th | Feb. 16th | Feb. 15th |
Ash Wednesday | Ash Wednesday | Feb. 22nd | Feb. 14th | March 5th | Feb. 18th | Feb. 10th |
Good Friday | Good Friday | April 7th | March 29th | April 18th | April 3rd | March 26th |
Easter Sunday | Easter Sunday | April 9th | March 31st | April 20th | April 5th | March 28th |
Easter Monday | Easter Monday | April 10th | April 1st | April 21st | April 6th | March 29th |
Mother's Day | Mother's Day | May 14th | May 12th | May 11th | May 10th | May 9th |
Ascension of Christ | Ascension Day | May 18th | May 9th | May 29th | May 14th | May 6th |
Victoria Day | Victoria Day | May 22nd | May 20th | May 19th | May 18th | May 24th |
Patriot Day (Quebec only) | National Patriots' Day | May 22nd | May 20th | May 19th | May 18th | May 24th |
Whit Sunday | Whit Sunday | May 28th | May 19th | June 8th | May 24th | May 16th |
Whit Monday | Whit Monday | May 29th | May 20th | June 9th | May 25th | May 17th |
Father's Day | Father's Day | June 18th | June 16th | June 15th | June 21st | June 20th |
August holiday | Civic Holiday | Aug. 7th | Aug. 5th | Aug. 4th | Aug. 3rd | Aug. 2nd |
Discovery of Yukon (Yukon only) | Discovery Day | Aug. 7th | Aug. 5th | Aug. 4th | Aug. 3rd | Aug. 2nd |
Labor Day | Labour Day | Sept. 4th | Sept. 2nd | Sept. 1st | Sept. 7th | Sept. 6th |
Thanksgiving | Thanksgiving | Nov. 23rd | Nov. 28th | Nov. 27th | Nov. 26th | Nov. 25th |
Victoria Day

Victoria Day is not celebrated throughout the country on this Monday, but a regional day, which varies from region to region. While the British king is honoured in Ontario, the neighbouring province of Quebec celebrates National Patriots Day. Thus, the whole of Canada has a public holiday on this day.
The occasion may vary regionally, but the celebrations vary less. Throughout the country, parades, concerts and horse shows are held on Victoria Day. Families gather for a picnic in the park in view of the warmer season. Schools, post offices, libraries and government offices are closed throughout the country, although many shops are still open. Tourists should avoid longer distances on this weekend, as the long weekend means that many Canadians are on the road, creating congestion and the ferries are fully booked.