Thanksgiving in Canada is observed on the second Monday of October and is recognized as a statutory holiday in all Canadian jurisdictions except in PEI, Newfoundland, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.
Below, you’ll find a summary of Thanksgiving holiday requirements for each Canadian jurisdiction.
Statutory Holiday Legislation for Thanksgiving in Canada
Don't forget to check out our Payroll Calendar for more stat holiday info. For questions related to statutory holiday pay, click here for more information.
| Payroll Jurisdiction |
Basic Details |
Link to Additional Resources |
|
Federal |
Employees working for a federally regulated employer are entitled to a day off with pay for Thanksgiving Monday. |
Click here for employment standards - Federally regulated employers general holidays |
|
Alberta |
Thanksgiving is considered a statutory holiday in Alberta. Holiday pay depends on a few factors. Use this tool to see if an employee qualifies for holiday pay by clicking here.
|
Click here for employment standards – Alberta general holidays |
|
British Columbia |
Thanksgiving is a statutory holiday in British Columbia.
|
Click here for employment standards - British Columbia statutory holidays |
|
Manitoba |
Thanksgiving is one of Manitoba's 9 general holidays throughout the year. |
Click here for employment standards - Manitoba general holidays |
|
New Brunswick |
Thanksgiving is not a statutory holiday in New Brunswick. |
Click here for employment standards - New Brunswick paid public holidays PDF |
|
Newfoundland & Labrador |
Thanksgiving is not a statutory holiday in Newfoundland & Labrador. |
Click here for employment standards - Newfoundland & Labrador labour relations PDF |
|
Northwest Territories |
Thanksgiving is a statutory holiday in the Northwest Territories. |
Click here for employment standards - Northwest Territories statutory holidays |
|
Nova Scotia |
Thanksgiving is a not statutory holiday in Nova Scotia. |
Click here for employment standards - Nova Scotia labour code PDF (see pages 16-21) |
|
Nunavut |
In Nunavut, Thanksgiving is a statutory holiday. |
Click here for employment standards - Nunavut general holidays |
|
Ontario |
Thanksgiving is a statutory holiday in Ontario. |
Click here for employment standards - Ontario public holidays |
|
Prince Edward Island |
Thanksgiving is not a statutory holiday in P.E.I. |
Click here for employment standards - Prince Edward Island paid holidays |
|
Quebec |
Thanksgiving is a statutory holiday in Quebec. |
|
|
Saskatchewan |
Thanksgiving is a paid holiday in Saskatchewan. |
Click here for employment standards - Saskatchewan paid holidays |
|
Yukon |
Thanksgiving is a statutory holiday in the Yukon. |
Click here for employment standards - Yukon statutory holiday |
Effectively managing statutory holiday requirements across Canada’s provinces and territories is essential for employers and employees alike. Accurate, jurisdiction-specific details are vital for ensuring compliance and maintaining operational continuity, whether administering payroll or coordinating leave. To access comprehensive legislative information, review the resource links provided and consider saving this blog as a reference for the latest statutory holiday updates and professional guidance.
