Statutory holidays in British Columbia 2024

There are 5 nationwide and 5 provincial holidays in BC plus Easter Monday, which is a bank holiday and commemorated by federal employees only.

The five provincial holidays are Family Day, Victoria Day, British Columbia Day, Thanksgiving and Remembrance Day. British Columbia Day is observed on the first Monday in August similar to civic holidays in other provinces.

Boxing Day is not an official holiday in BC but Remembrance Day is.

Starting in 2019 Family Day has been observed on the third Monday of February (used to be the second Monday) to coincide with Family Day and other holidays elsewhere in Canada.

Cottage facts: BC is the 2nd biggest cottage-crazy province (called "cabins" in BC) in Canada after Ontario but the gap is closing between the two provinces every year. Because of its mountains many people prefer to rent a cabin in British Columbia during the summer holidays versus renting in Ontario.

Stat holidays in BC for 2024, 2025 and 2026 including dates of observances

Holiday 2024 2025 2026
New Year's Day
January 1
Mon, January 1 Wed, January 1 Thu, January 1
Family Day
Third Monday in February
Mon, February 19 Mon, February 17 Mon, February 16
Good Friday
Friday before Easter Sunday
Fri, March 29 Fri, April 18 Fri, April 3
Easter Monday
Federally regulated workplaces only only
Mon, April 1 Mon, April 21 Mon, April 6
Victoria Day
Monday before May 25
Mon, May 20 Mon, May 19 Mon, May 18
Canada Day
July 1
Mon, July 1 Tue, July 1 Wed, July 1
British Columbia Day
First Monday in August
Mon, August 5 Mon, August 4 Mon, August 3
Labour Day
First Monday in September
Mon, September 2 Mon, September 1 Mon, September 7
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Mon, September 30 Tue, September 30 Wed, September 30
Thanksgiving
Second Monday in October
Mon, October 14 Mon, October 13 Mon, October 12
Remembrance Day
November 11
Mon, November 11 Tue, November 11 Wed, November 11
Christmas Day
December 25
Wed, December 25 Thu, December 25 Fri, December 25
Boxing Day
December 26
not an official stat holiday.
Thu, December 26 Fri, December 26 Sat, December 26

Pay eligibility and holiday payment

To get paid on a BC statutory holiday an employee must have been an employee for at least 30 days before the holiday out of which he/she must have earned wages for at least 15 days.

If an employee is required to work on a stat holiday he/she must be paid 1.5 x wages for the first 12 hours and 2 x wages afterwards in addition to the regular day's wage. Not a bad deal at all.

Go to the list of Canadian national stat holidays.

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Recent comments
Posted by Shawn:

Most indigenous Canadians are working class citizens and rarely government employees. Shouldn't indigenous citizens be at the top of the list for getting a paid day off from work? Once again our governments have failed us and have given only privilege to themselves

Posted by Douglas:

Are holidays a time to reflect on joyful things like birthdays, end of war,families, end of life. What joy is there in celebrating our ugly past.

Posted by Roy K:

I don't believe 'Truth and Reconciliation Day' should be a national holiday. The federal government should not use racial motivation to incentivize select Canadians. If they want to acknowledge past wrongs, such as the internment of Japanese citizens during WW II or the residential school act, then made a statement without using tax money to reward federal employees and manipulate the private sector.Federal Holidays should be something to celebrate and directly effect the majority of Canadians.The passing of the Queen did fit a one-time holiday IMO as Canada is a Commonwealth country and her likeness is on all our currency,it effects all Canadians. If you want to divide society then dwell on differences and the things that separate us, but if you want to unite it, dwell on what we All share and have in common.

Posted by Roy:

What is dangerous and deceptive is to post 'Truth and Reconciliation Day' as a holiday when it is not a national holiday for the majority of provences. Just tell the truth regardless of what you want to believe.

Posted by georges :

it's dangerous to be right when the government is wrong.(Albert Einstein)

Posted by Canadian:

Why do Government workers get so many extra holidays? Why does the gov. make different and unfair rules to the lower income people? It makes rich people more rich & poor people more poor, it makes lower class and upper class in our country. why can't we have the same equal right? Please see how many days off different from below; hope you can change the law & make it fair for everyone in BC, Canada. Easter Monday/National Day for Truth and Reconciliation/Boxing Day/Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II

Posted by Vancouver Traffic:

It's NOT called "Residential School Holiday" it's Truth & Reconciliation Day. It may be recognized as a holiday but it is to remember the struggles that people went through & thoes who lost their lives in this struggle

Posted by T S:

Referring to the federally regulated employees over Truth and Reconciliation is nonsensical. The provinces you are in decided whether or not to observe it as a stat. Let that sink in. You can easily view which provinces don’t give a rats a** about what was done to people by the government and it will be the same ones that don’t care when they cause more damage to Canadians. No, I am not affected by it, but at the very least I can acknowledge that it horribly wrong. Canada has a lot of blood spilled. Not just from this but multiple different abuses to non-white people. I refuse to use caucasian, let it be offensive. Could not care less about offending people sympathizing with murderers who continue to have the system built for them across the globe. ????????

Posted by heidi:

If i generally do not work on a Monday (not a day off) and a stat falls on it, do I get a day off in leu of it? I do get stat pay

Posted by Buffy:

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, really not happy that this is for Federally regulated employees. Just another thing to divide the country

Posted by Robin Wintemute:

Why do Government workers get so many extra holidays? they are not better than the rest of us and their paycheques are generated by our taxes.

Posted by no name:

is the new residential schools holiday for government only?