Do I have Remembrance Day off work?

Nov 07, 2022

Payworks

Originally published October 26, 2020

That's a great question!

Whether or not businesses are closed for Remembrance Day in Canada depends on the province in which the business is located. As such, not all employees are entitled to the same days off work. Remembrance Day is a public holiday in many jurisdictions, which means that in some areas of the country it's a day off with pay for qualifying employees and where schools and most businesses are closed. However, it can be a typical working day in other provinces.

Essentially, Remembrance Day is a statutory holiday in every province and territory except for Manitoba, Ontario, Québec and Nova Scotia.

If you're wondering what the legislation for Remembrance Day is in your jurisdiction, Payworks has broken down the statutory holiday legislation by province and territory below:

Federal

In the Canada Labour Code, Remembrance Day is recognized as a general holiday. That means federally-regulated businesses (like banks and mail delivery services) are not operational on November 11. When Remembrance Day falls on a Saturday or Sunday that’s a non-working day for an employee, the employee is entitled to a holiday with pay on the working day immediately preceding or following the general holiday.

Visit canada.ca/en/services/jobs/workplace/federally-regulated-industries for a list of federally-regulated industries and workplaces.

Alberta

In Alberta, Remembrance Day is a general holiday. Qualifying employees in Alberta receive the day off with general holiday pay if it's a regular working day. If the holiday falls on a day that isn’t a regular work day for an employee and they don't work on Remembrance Day, they aren’t entitled to general holiday pay.

British Columbia

Remembrance Day is one of the 10 statutory holidays in British Columbia. Qualifying employees in BC receive the day off with holiday pay if it's a regular working day. Employers and employees may agree (in writing) to substitute another day for Remembrance Day, and the substitute day must be treated the same as the statutory holiday.

Manitoba

Manitoba has separate legislation for Remembrance Day, called the Remembrance Day Act. This legislation prohibits businesses that engage in industry (see the Act for exceptions) from operating on November 11, and prohibits most retail businesses from operating between 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Whether or not retail businesses close for the entire day is at the employers' discretion. While it's common practice for employers to pay employees who don’t work on Remembrance Day, in Manitoba it's not a requirement. An employer also can’t substitute another day off in lieu if November 11 falls on a day when the employee wouldn’t normally work, like a Saturday or a Sunday.

New Brunswick

Remembrance Day is a paid public holiday in New Brunswick. Qualifying employees receive the day off with holiday pay if it's a regular working day. If the business is operational Monday through Friday and November 11 lands on a Saturday or Sunday, the holiday can be substituted with a written mutual agreement between employees and employers, as long as the substituted day is taken no later than the employee’s next vacation period.

Newfoundland and Labrador

In Newfoundland and Labrador, Remembrance Day is a paid public holiday. If the business is operational Monday through Friday and November 11 lands on a Saturday or Sunday, qualifying employees of those businesses receive the following business day (Monday) off in lieu, or a day mutually agreed upon by the employee and employer.

Northwest Territories

Remembrance Day is a statutory holiday in the Northwest Territories. Qualifying employees receive the day off with holiday pay if it's a regular working day. As an alternative, the employer may transfer the holiday to another day, giving the employee a day off with pay.

Nova Scotia

The Province of Nova Scotia has separate legislation for Remembrance Day, called the Remembrance Day Act. The Act prohibits many businesses from operating on Remembrance Day and there are guidelines regarding holiday pay for employees who work on November 11. Under the Act, most grocery stores, box stores, and retail malls must close. If November 11 lands on a Saturday or Sunday, government employees, bank employees and students may receive the following Monday off in lieu.

Nunavut

Remembrance Day is a general holiday in Nunavut. Qualifying employees receive the day off with holiday pay if it's a regular working day. Upon a mutual agreement between the employer and the employee, another day may be substituted for the general holiday.

Ontario

Under the Employment Standards Act, employers in Ontario aren’t required to give their employees a day off for Remembrance Day. However, some employers elect to give their employees a holiday on November 11. Whether or not businesses close is completely at the employers' discretion.

Prince Edward Island

Remembrance Day is a paid holiday in Prince Edward Island. Qualifying employees receive the day off with holiday pay if it's a regular working day. When November 11 falls on a day that is a non-working day for the employee, the employer must grant the employee a holiday with pay on either a working day immediately following the paid holiday, the day immediately following the employee's vacation, or on another day agreed upon by the employer and employee before the employee's next vacation.

For more information about statutory holiday legislation for Prince Edward Island, visit: https://www.princeedwardisland.ca/sites/default/files/legislation/e-06-2-employment_standards_act.pdf.

Québec

Remembrance Day is not a statutory holiday in Quebec. Whether or not businesses close is completely at the employers' discretion.

Saskatchewan

In Saskatchewan, Remembrance Day is a public holiday and qualifying employees receive the day off with holiday pay. If the business is normally open on a Sunday, Remembrance Day is observed on that day. If the business is normally closed on that day, then Remembrance Day is observed on the Monday.

Yukon

Remembrance Day is a general holiday in the Yukon. Qualifying employees receive the day off with holiday pay if it falls on a regular working day. If Remembrance Day falls on the employee's day off, the first working day immediately following the holiday is when it's observed.

If your employees are looking for more information on statutory holidays in the Yukon, visit: https://yukon.ca/en/employee-information-statutory-holidays.