In Canada, there are two definitions to the term Civic Holiday.

The August holiday

The more commonly-understood definition is that the civic holiday is an annual holiday, celebrated on the first Monday of August in most Canadian provinces.

However, its legal status and name is far from uniform nationwide. Two provinces and one territory do not recognize it at all, and five other provinces do not oblige employers to offer holiday pay on this day, thus making it a civic holiday as described below. This leaves only three provinces and two territories where the first Monday in August is a full statutory holiday and employers are obliged to pay their employees holiday pay.

Jurisdictions which have a statutory holiday on the first Monday of August

• British Columbia (British Columbia Day)
• New Brunswick (New Brunswick Day)
• Northwest Territories (Civic Holiday)
• Nunavut (Civic Holiday)
• Saskatchewan (Saskatchewan Day)

Jurisdictions which have a civic holiday on the first Monday of August

• Alberta¹ (Heritage Day)
• Manitoba (Civic Holiday)
• Nova Scotia (Natal Day)
• Ontario (Simcoe Day)²
• Prince Edward Island (Natal Day)

¹ - Albertan employers can opt out of the Family Day holiday in February. If they do, they must treat the August holiday as a statutory holiday.
² - Some Ontarian municipalities have a different name for the holiday. See Holidays in Canada.

Jurisdictions which have no holiday on the first Monday of August

• Newfoundland and Labrador (celebrates Discovery Day in June)
• Quebec (celebrates St. Jean Baptiste Day on June 24)
• Yukon (celebrates Discovery Day later in August)

Legal definition

From a legal standpoint, a civic holiday is usually defined as any holiday which is legally recognized but where the employer is not obliged to offer holiday pay. For example, in Alberta Christmas is a statutory holiday where employees are entitled to holiday pay, but Boxing Day is a civic holiday and employers do not have to provide holiday pay.

External link

• Details on the August holiday