Is Civic Holiday a Stat Holiday? Province-by-Province

If you’ve ever booked the first Monday of August off only to find out your employer doesn’t treat it as a paid holiday, you’re not alone—across Canada, the Civic Holiday is a statutory holiday in only two provinces: British Columbia and Saskatchewan. This guide breaks down the rules province by province, compares it to Ireland’s August Bank Holiday, and explains what you’re actually entitled to.

Canadian provinces where Civic Holiday is a statutory holiday: 2 (British Columbia and Saskatchewan) ·
Provinces where it is a paid holiday but not statutory: 5 (Alberta, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec – varies by employer) ·
First observed: 1879 as a half-day holiday for federal employees ·
Common alternate names: Over 15 (e.g., British Columbia Day, Saskatchewan Day, Heritage Day, Natal Day, New Brunswick Day) ·
Date: First Monday of August

Here’s a quick comparison of the two countries’ August holidays:

What is Civic Holiday?

Is the Civic Holiday a federal holiday?

No. The Civic Holiday is not a federally mandated statutory holiday. It does not appear in the Canada Labour Code and the federal government does not require all workers to receive it off. However, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) treats it as a public holiday for tax filing deadlines, which can cause confusion.

Why is it called Civic Holiday?

Because the holiday is not tied to a single person or event, each municipality can name it locally. In Toronto it’s Simcoe Day (honouring John Graves Simcoe), in Ottawa it’s Colonel By Day, in Guelph it’s John Galt Day. The lack of a unified name reflects its informal status.

When is Civic Holiday celebrated?

Every first Monday of August. In 2026 that falls on August 3. Provinces that mark it choose their own brand: British Columbia Day, Saskatchewan Day, Heritage Day (Alberta), Natal Day (Nova Scotia), and New Brunswick Day, among others.

The implication is clear: without statutory protection, the day off depends entirely on where you live and who you work for.

Is the Civic Holiday a statutory holiday in BC, Ontario, and other provinces?

In British Columbia: Yes, it’s statutory

• BC Day (first Monday of August) is a statutory holiday under the British Columbia Employment Standards Act.
• Eligible employees who work receive statutory holiday pay or a substitute day off.

In Ontario: No, it’s not statutory

The Ontario government does not list the first Monday of August in the Employment Standards Act or the Retail Business Holidays Act. It remains a municipal “civic” day. Some employers give it as a paid day off, but they are not legally required to.

In Saskatchewan: Yes, statutory

Saskatchewan Day is a statutory holiday. Workers in the province are entitled to the day off with regular pay or premium pay if they work.

In Alberta: Not statutory

Heritage Day is not a statutory holiday. Many employers still offer the day off, but there is no legal requirement.

In Quebec: Not statutory (but commonly observed)

Quebec does not recognize the first Monday of August as a statutory holiday. However, many employers in Quebec give the day off as a paid vacation day by agreement.

Other provinces and territories

Here is the full provincial and territorial breakdown:

What this means: if you work outside those five jurisdictions, your right to the day off is not guaranteed by law.

Is civic holiday time and a half?

What does time and a half mean?

Time-and-a-half (1.5× regular hourly wage) is the standard statutory holiday premium in provinces where the day is legally recognized. It applies when an employee who is eligible for the holiday works on that day.

Are all employees entitled to overtime on Civic Holiday?

No. Since the Civic Holiday is not a statutory holiday in most provinces, there is no legal obligation to pay a premium. Some union contracts or employer policies voluntarily offer time-and-a-half, but it is not the norm.

Do you get paid extra if you work on a non-statutory holiday?

Generally, you only get your regular pay unless a separate agreement exists. If you work in a non-statutory province and your employer requires you to be there, you simply earn your normal wage — no added premium.

The pattern: without statutory designation, workers cannot count on extra pay or even the day off itself.

Why is 27 October a bank holiday?

What is the October bank holiday in Ireland?

27 October 2025 is the October Bank Holiday in the Republic of Ireland (in 2026 it falls on 26 October). It is a public holiday under the Organisation of Working Time Act, 1997. All workers are entitled to a paid day off or premium pay.

Is it a public holiday?

Yes, it is a statutory public holiday. Unlike Canada’s Civic Holiday, Ireland’s October Bank Holiday is uniformly observed across the entire country.

How is it different from Canadian Civic Holiday?

Canada’s Civic Holiday falls on the same date as Ireland’s August Bank Holiday (first Monday of August). That shared date causes confusion, but they are not the same. Ireland’s October bank holiday is separate and has no connection to Canada’s August long weekend.

“The Civic Holiday is not a federally mandated statutory holiday although it’s a day off for many employees across the country.”

— StatutoryHolidays.com (holiday guide)

“From a quick Google search it doesn’t look like Civic Holiday is a statutory holiday in Ontario. But after talking with friends and family this weekend…”

— Reddit user, r/ontario (discussion thread)

The implication is clear: while Canada’s Civic Holiday may look like Ireland’s August Bank Holiday on the calendar, the legal protections for workers are dramatically different.

For Canadians hoping to treat the Civic Holiday like a guaranteed day off, the reality is clear: check your province’s employment standards and your contract, or risk showing up to an empty office with no extra pay.

What are the statutory holidays in Ireland?

List of statutory holidays in Ireland 2026

Ireland has 10 public holidays each year. For 2026, they include:

• New Year’s Day (1 January)
• St. Patrick’s Day (17 March)
• Easter Monday (6 April)
• May Bank Holiday (4 May)
• June Bank Holiday (1 June)
• August Bank Holiday (3 August)
• October Bank Holiday (26 October)
• Christmas Day (25 December)
• St. Stephen’s Day (26 December)

All are governed by the Organisation of Working Time Act, 1997.

How many public holidays does Ireland have?

10 per year, including both permanent dates (Christmas, St. Patrick’s) and floating Monday holidays (May, June, August, October).

Is the August bank holiday a statutory holiday in Ireland?

Yes. The August Bank Holiday (first Monday of August) is a full statutory holiday in Ireland. Every employee is entitled to a paid day off or a paid substitute day.

“The Civic Holiday is not a federally mandated statutory holiday although it’s a day off for many employees across the country.”

— StatutoryHolidays.com (holiday guide)

For Canadians hoping to treat the Civic Holiday like a guaranteed day off, the reality is clear: check your province’s employment standards and your contract, or risk showing up to an empty office with no extra pay.