Good Friday & Easter Monday aren't stat holidays everywhere in Canada — Here's how it works
Here's who does (and doesn't) get the holiday off. 🐣🐰
Are Good Friday and Easter Monday holidays in Canada? The answer isn't so simple.
The 2025 Easter weekend in Canada is almost here — but before you start making plans to chill or hit the road, you might want to double-check your province's holiday rules.
While Good Friday and Easter Monday are both holidays in parts of the country, that doesn't mean everyone across Canada gets both days off work. In fact, Easter in Canada is a bit of a patchwork when it comes to statutory holidays.
The rules aren't the same in Ontario, B.C., Quebec and elsewhere across Canada, and which holiday you get off depends on a bunch of things, including where you work and what province or territory you live in.
Whether you're booking a weekend getaway or just hoping to sleep in, here's what you need to know about who gets a break — and who doesn't — for Good Friday and Easter Monday 2025.
When is Easter 2025 in Canada?
Easter 2025 falls on the weekend of April 18 to 21. Good Friday lands on April 18 and Easter Monday is on April 21.
The date shifts every year because it's based on an ancient calendar formula: Easter Sunday is celebrated on the first Sunday following the first full moon after March 21. That means it can land anywhere between March 22 and April 25.
Is Good Friday a statutory holiday in Canada?
Mostly, yes! Good Friday is a federal holiday, meaning it's a holiday for all employees of the federal government and federally regulated industries like banks, postal services, transportation services and many others — no matter where in the country you are.
Good Friday is also a statutory holiday in every province and territory except for Quebec.
If you're in Ontario, Alberta, B.C., or pretty much anywhere else, you can expect a day off on April 18. That means schools, banks, government offices and a lot of businesses will be closed.
In Quebec, things are a bit different. Employers there are required to give either Good Friday or Easter Monday off, but not both. So, depending on your workplace, you might be working Friday and off on Monday — or vice versa.
What about Easter Monday?
Easter Monday isn't a statutory holiday in most of Canada — but it is recognized by the federal government. That means if you work in a federally regulated industry (think banking, telecommunications, Canada Post or anything under the Government of Canada), you'll probably have Monday, April 21 off too.
In Quebec, employers can choose which day to observe, but it's more common to have Easter Monday off in that province.
In other provinces and territories, Easter Monday is a regular workday. Some employers might still choose to shut down and give employees a paid holiday, but it's not required by law.
Are stores and businesses open during the Easter weekend?
Easter weekend closures can get a little confusing, so it's always smart to check what's open and closed before you head out. Many stores and restaurants close or reduce their hours on Easter Sunday and Monday, even though they aren't stat holidays in most parts of the country.
Canada Post, banks and federal services like Service Canada will be closed on both Good Friday and Easter Monday, no matter where you live.
TL;DR: Who gets time off for Easter 2025?
- Good Friday (April 18, 2025) is a statutory holiday in all provinces and territories except Quebec.
- Easter Monday (April 21, 2025) is only a provincial stat holiday in Quebec. Employers here can choose either Good Friday or Easter Monday as a paid holiday, but Easter Monday is more common.
- Federal workers get both days off.
- Retail and service hours tend to vary across the entire weekend — check ahead before making plans.
So if you're one of the lucky folks getting a four-day weekend, enjoy it. For everyone else, maybe just pencil in an extra coffee break on Monday.
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