Is Truth & Reconciliation Day a stat holiday? Here's who gets a day off on September 30
The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation 2025 is just around the corner — and depending on where you live and work, the September 30 holiday might mean a paid day off, extra wages or just another regular Tuesday.
Falling on Tuesday, September 30 this year, Truth and Reconciliation Day is a federal statutory holiday that honours the children who never came home from residential schools, as well as the survivors, families and communities impacted by this dark chapter in Canadian history.
Also known as Orange Shirt Day, it's a time for reflection and remembrance — but figuring out how the holiday actually works and whether you're entitled to a day off or stat pay can get a little complicated.
Since it was first introduced in 2021, the September 30 holiday has been a paid statutory day off for employees working in federally regulated industries — like banks, air travel, Canada Post and federal government offices.
But when it comes to provincial workers and private businesses, the rules vary across Canada.
Who gets Sept. 30 off in 2025?
If you work in a federally regulated industry, you're entitled to the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation off with pay, unless your employer has made alternative arrangements like a day off in lieu.
That includes industries like airlines, banks, telecommunications, interprovincial trucking, railways, broadcasting, uranium mining and more.
Several provinces and territories also recognize the September 30 holiday as an official statutory holiday, meaning most workers there, including private sector employees, will either get the day off or stat pay if they're scheduled to work.
Here's where that's the case:
- British Columbia: The province passed legislation in 2023 officially making September 30 a stat holiday. Workers in B.C. are entitled to paid time off or premium pay if they work that day.
- Manitoba: In 2023, the government designated Sept. 30 as Orange Shirt Day, a provincial statutory holiday under the Employment Standards Code. Most employees get general holiday pay for the day.
- Northwest Territories: The territory amended its Employment Standards Act in 2022 to include Truth and Reconciliation Day in its list of statutory holidays.
- Nunavut: The holiday is listed as a "general holiday" in Nunavut's Labour Standards Act, which means workers are entitled to a paid day off.
- Prince Edward Island: September 30 is a statutory holiday under the Employment Standards Act, following amendments made in 2021.
What about the rest of Canada?
If you're in Alberta, Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador or Yukon, Truth and Reconciliation Day is not a statutory holiday for everyone — but that doesn't mean you won't get the day off.
In many of these provinces and territories, the day is recognized even if it's not officially a stat. That means government offices, public schools and municipal services may close, but private employers aren't required to follow suit.
The provincial and territorial governments of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador and Yukon recognize the day for public sector employees, so schools and provincial government offices may close. But it's not a stat holiday for the private sector under provincial labour laws.
In Alberta, Ontario, Quebec and Saskatchewan, there is no official recognition or statutory status for the holiday. Employers can choose whether to recognize the holiday, but there's no legal requirement to close or provide stat pay. Most provincial and municipal services will remain open as usual, although some municipalities may choose to observe it.
So if you're unsure whether you're off work, you may want to check with your employer or HR department. Even in provinces where the day isn't a stat, many businesses, school boards and municipalities still choose to honour the day with closures or special programming.
Do I get paid extra if I work on Sept. 30?
Only if National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is a statutory holiday in your province, or you work in a federally regulated sector. If that's the case and you're required to work, you may be entitled to stat pay — usually 1.5 times your normal wage — or a future day off in lieu.
For everyone else, there's no automatic entitlement to extra pay, but some employers choose to offer benefits or recognition anyway.
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