Is Civic Holiday a stat holiday? Here's who gets the August long weekend in 2025

The August long weekend is just a week away — and if you're already dreaming about an extra day off next Monday, it might be time to check your local stat holiday rules.

The Civic Holiday 2025 falls on Monday, August 4, and figuring out whether you're actually entitled to the day off and what stores will be open in your area can be surprisingly confusing.

Celebrated across Canada on the third Monday in August each year, the Civic Holiday is one of those weird Canadian holidays that isn't the same everywhere.

While some provinces treat it like a full-on statutory holiday with paid time off, others consider the August 4 holiday as more of a suggestion than a guarantee.

Whether you call it B.C. Day, Simcoe Day, Heritage Day or something totally different, here's a breakdown of which provinces and territories observe it as a statutory holiday — and what it means for your work schedule, paycheque and shopping plans.

Is Civic Holiday a stat holiday in Canada?

Sort of. The Civic Holiday is a federal holiday, but that only applies if you work for a federally regulated industry — like banks, airlines, railways or the federal public service.

If that's you, congrats! You probably get August 4 off — that is, unless you're in Quebec, where the Civic Holiday isn't observed at all because federal workers in the province already got Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day off on June 24.

For everyone else, it all comes down to your province or territory. The August 4 holiday goes by a bunch of different names across Canada, and the rules vary just as much.

Who observes the Civic Holiday?

Here's what August 4 looks like, depending on where you live and work:

Alberta: Here, the day is called Heritage Day — a chance to celebrate Alberta's cultural diversity. But it's not a statutory holiday. Employers can choose to give the day off (and many do), but it's totally optional.

British Columbia: It's officially B.C. Day, and it is a statutory holiday. Most people get the day off, and if you do work, stat holiday pay rules apply.

Manitoba: Known as Terry Fox Day, it's not a stat holiday. Lots of businesses close anyway, but your boss doesn't legally have to give you the day off.

New Brunswick: It's called New Brunswick Day and yes, it is a "prescribed day of rest," aka a statutory holiday. Expect closures and a proper long weekend.

Newfoundland and Labrador: No stat holiday here. It's just a regular Monday unless your employer says otherwise.

Northwest Territories: Civic Holiday is a statutory holiday here, so most workers get the day off and many public services will be closed.

Nova Scotia: Some places mark the day as Natal Day, but it's not a stat holiday. Employers can offer it as a paid day off, but they're not required to.

Nunavut: This territory also does observe Civic Holiday as a statutory holiday, with closures and stat pay rules in effect.

Ontario: The Civic Holiday is not a provincewide stat, but many municipalities celebrate it under local names — like Simcoe Day in Toronto, Colonel By Day in Ottawa and John Galt Day in Guelph. The city government might close, but your office or store might stay open, and your employer isn't obligated to give you the day off.

Prince Edward Island: It's also called Natal Day here, but again, it's not a stat. Expect some closures, but nothing guaranteed.

Quebec: No Civic Holiday here at all. Quebec had Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day on June 24, so it's business as usual on August 4.

Saskatchewan: It's dubbed Saskatchewan Day — and yes, it is a statutory holiday. Workers get a day off with stat holiday pay if required to work.

Yukon: There's no holiday here on August 4. Instead, Yukon observes Discovery Day two weeks later on August 18 — that's their official territorial stat holiday.

Do I get paid extra if I work on August 4?

Only if it's a statutory holiday in your province or territory, you work for a federally regulated industry, or your employer has designated it as a company holiday.

In B.C., New Brunswick, Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Saskatchewan, working on August 4 should come with either stat holiday pay or a day off in lieu, depending on your situation. Same goes for federal workers in any other province or territory except Quebec. But in places where it's not a stat, there's no automatic requirement for extra pay.

However, some provinces allow employers to establish their own company holidays, even when the day isn't officially recognized by the province.

For example, in Alberta, if your employer has designated Heritage Day as a paid day off, then all the usual holiday pay rules apply. Nova Scotia's Labour Standards Division may also enforce agreements where employers have committed to offering days like Natal Day as paid holidays, even though they're not statutory.

What is open on Civic Holiday?

Federally regulated services and industries like Canada Post, banks, federal government offices and more will be closed across most of the country, since it's a federal holiday — although they may still run as normal in Quebec.

For everything else, it depends on where you are.

In provinces where August 4 is a stat holiday, expect most local government offices and retail stores to be closed. In other places, like Ontario or Alberta, it's more of a mixed bag. Malls and big-box stores might still open, but you'll want to check local hours just to be safe.

TL;DR: Who gets the Civic Holiday off in 2025?

• It's a federal holiday — so federal employees (except for Quebec) get it off.
• It's a statutory holiday in B.C., Saskatchewan, New Brunswick, Northwest Territories and Nunavut.
• It's not a stat in Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Nova Scotia, P.E.I., Newfoundland and Labrador, Yukon or Quebec.
• Many businesses choose to close anyway, even where it's not required.
• Retail closures vary — check ahead before heading out.

So if you're off next Monday, soak it up — it's one of summer's final long weekends. And if you're working? Maybe treat yourself to a cold one after your shift.

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