Statutory Holidays in Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia’s Labour Standards Code (LSC) recognizes six public statutory holidays for employees working under provincial regulation. For statutory holidays, provincially regulated workers must receive a day off with pay from their employers.

What statutory holidays are recognized in Nova Scotia?

The following statutory holidays are recognized in Nova Scotia:

• New Year’s Day
• Nova Scotia Heritage Day
• Good Friday
• Canada Day
• Labour Day
• Christmas Day

Remembrance Day in Nova Scotia

In Nova Scotia, Remembrance Day is a unique public holiday. It is governed by the province’s Remembrance Day Act, rather than LSC legislation.

• This day is observed regardless of which day of the week it falls on.
• Most businesses, with some exceptions, must close on November 11th to honour those who served in wars.
• An employee who works on Remembrance Day and has been paid for at least 15 of the last 30 days before the holiday may be eligible for another paid day off. This additional paid day can be scheduled at the end of their vacation or on a mutually agreed date with the employer. However, this does not apply to an employee whose employer is not required to close for the day.

Other statutory holidays not observed by Nova Scotia

There are six holidays that are NOT statutory holidays in Nova Scotia: Easter Monday, Victoria Day, Civic Holiday, National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Thanksgiving and Boxing Day.

While provincially regulated employers in Nova Scotia are not legally required to give employees those days off, they can voluntarily choose to do so.

When do statutory holidays occur in Nova Scotia?

The dates for Nova Scotia statutory holidays change each year. Select a year below to find out when stat holidays take place:

2021 • 2022 • 2023 • 2024 • 2025

What happens if a stat holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday?

In Nova Scotia, when a statutory holiday falls on a day you don’t normally work (like Saturday or Sunday), another day is observed as the holiday. This is often the preceding Friday or the following Monday. The choice of the alternate day is at the employer’s discretion, as outlined in the LSC.

How we can help

While Samfiru Tumarkin LLP does NOT handle employment matters in Nova Scotia (terminations, severance pay, human rights claims), our team does regularly handle insurance matters for individuals throughout the province.

Long-term Disability: Areas served

Our team of experienced disability insurance lawyers can help individuals across all Canadian provinces (excluding Quebec) when their long-term disability claims are denied.

Alberta • British Columbia • Manitoba • New Brunswick • Newfoundland & Labrador • Nova Scotia • Ontario • P.E.I. • Saskatchewan

Additional insurance matters

The insurance lawyers at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP also handle denials for short-term disability, life insurance, critical illness insurance and mortgage insurance claims in all Canadian provinces (excluding Quebec).