Civic Holiday

In Canada, there are two definitions to the term Civic holiday. By law, a civic holiday is defined as any holiday which is legally recognized, but where the employer is not obliged to offer holiday pay. No universal name is recognized for this holiday and the official name may vary from province to province. The Civic Holiday is celebrated on the first Monday in August. See the details below to know the Civic holiday for each province;

Alberta – The first Monday in August an annual holiday and celebrated as “Heritage Day“. In 1974 “Heritage Day” declared as a Public holiday in Alberta. “Edmonton Heritage Festival” started in 1976 in association with “Heritage Day”. It is a three-day celebration focused on food, dance, and handicrafts of cultures from different communities.

British Columbia –  In British Columbia, the first Monday in August is celebrated as British Columbia Day to celebrate the province’s history, heritage, and culture.

Manitoba – In Manitoba, the civic holiday is celebrated as Terry Fox Day. Terrance Stanley Fox lost his right leg to cancer at age 18, and he decided to run across Canada to raise awareness and money for cancer research. Terry Fox started his run on 12^th April 1980, from St. John’s, Newfoundland, and covered 5,373 km in 143 days. He stopped his “Marathon of Hope” on 1^st September 1980 in Thunder Bay, Ontario, when he fell really sick as cancer infected his lungs.

Terry Fox died on 28^th June 1981 in new Westminster after his fight against Cancer. Terry Fox day is named in honor of this great athlete and cancer research activist.  On the second Sunday of September, an annual charity event – the Terry Fox Run held around the globe to raise money for cancer research.

New Brunswick –in New Brunswick the Civic holiday know as New Brunswick Day, and it’s a public holiday across the province.

Newfoundland and Labrador – In Newfoundland and Labrador the Civic holiday know as Regatta Day and usually falls on the first Wednesday of August. in St. John’s, it is celebrated on usually the fourth Saturday in July. Some municipalities follow the other provinces. But it is not a statutory holiday in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Nova Scotia – in Nova Scotia the civic holiday is known as Natal Day to commemorate the province’s founding day. Natal Day falls on the first Monday of August and it’s a public holiday in Nova Scotia. People celebrate Natal day with fireworks, parades, concerts, and fairs. paddling regattas, cake-cutting, road running races, etc.

Northwest Territories – in Northwest Territories “Civic Holiday” is a Statuary holiday.

Nunavut – in Nunavut the first Monday of August is a public holiday

Ontario – In Ontario, the first Monday of August is not designated as an official statutory holiday. Ontario municipalities celebrate the day in different names. “Colonel By Day” in Ottawa, in Mississauga it is August Civic Holiday, “Simcoe Day” in Toronto, “Benjamin Vaughan day” in the City of Vaughan, “Founders’ Day” in Brantford, in Burlington its “Joseph Brant Day”, “George Hamilton Day” in Hamilton, “McLaughlin Day” in Oshawa, etc.

Prince Edward Island – In Prince Edward Island Civic holiday is celebrated as the Gold Cup Parade.  The event is organized in August but is not an official provincial holiday. But the Civic holiday is a paid day off for federal employees in PEI.

Quebec – In Quebec, the civic holiday is not celebrated and it’s not a provincial holiday.

Saskatchewan – In Saskatchewan the civic holiday is known as Saskatchewan Day since 1975. Saskatchewan Day falls on the first Monday of August in Saskatchewan and it’s a statutory holiday in Saskatchewan.

Yukon – In Yukon, The civic holiday celebrates on the third Monday of August as Discovery Day. Discovery day celebrates the start of the Klondike Gold Rush which started with the discovery of gold in Yukon. In 1896, gold was discovered in the province by the local miners and the famous gold rush started. Thousands and thousands of prospects migrated to Yukon between 1896 and 1899 in search of gold.

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