Family Day isn't a stat holiday everywhere in Canada — Here's who doesn't get the day off
Get ready for the long weekend... unless you live in one of these spots. 😬
Not all employees in Canada get Monday, February 17 off work.
If you're looking forward to having a day off for the upcoming Family Day long weekend, you might want to read this before making big plans.
Family Day isn't actually a stat holiday everywhere in Canada, meaning some Canadians will be clocking in on Monday just like any other workday.
Family Day is observed each year on the third Monday in February, meaning that Family Day 2025 falls on this Monday, February 17.
While it's a well-known statutory holiday in Canada, it's not recognized in every province or territory, so if you're in the wrong spot, you won't be getting a paid day off. So before you start making long weekend plans, let's talk about who actually gets to enjoy the extra time off — and who doesn't.
If you're in Alberta, British Columbia, New Brunswick, Ontario or Saskatchewan, congratulations! Family Day is a statutory holiday in your province, which means most employees get a paid day off or are entitled to extra holiday pay if they have to work. In other provinces, however, things look a little different.
Manitoba technically doesn't have Family Day but don't worry — there's still a break! The province marks Louis Riel Day on the same date, giving most employees a paid holiday. Prince Edward Island has its own spin on the holiday too, calling it Islander Day. Over in Nova Scotia, there's another variation — Nova Scotia Heritage Day — which also lands on the third Monday in February.
Now, if you're a federal employee, there's bad news: Family Day isn't a stat holiday at the federal level, so government workers in federally regulated industries (like banking, telecommunications and postal services) don't automatically get the day off — even if you live in a province that observes the holiday.
And if you live in Newfoundland and Labrador, the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Quebec or Yukon, there's no sugar-coating it — you don't get a holiday at all. For employees in those provinces and territories, Monday is just another regular workday.
So if you're one of the lucky ones getting a three-day weekend, enjoy the extra time to relax. If not, at least you know now — not everyone gets to kick back on Family Day!
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