List of Statutory Holidays in Ontario in 2021
The following is a comprehensive list of the nine statutory, or public holidays in Ontario, and when they take place in 2021. These are dates where employees are entitled to a day off work with public holiday pay in Ontario.
| Holiday | Date |
|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | January 1, Friday |
| Family Day | February 15, Monday |
| Good Friday | April 2, Friday |
| Victoria Day | May 24, Monday |
| Canada Day | July 1, Thursday |
| Labour Day | September 6, Monday |
| Thanksgiving Day | October 11, Monday |
| Christmas Day | December 25, Saturday |
| Boxing Day | December 26, Sunday |
Optional 2021 Ontario Stat Holidays
In addition to the official statutory holidays, there are a few days in 2021 that are recognized as “optional” holidays in Ontario for provincially regulated employees. These days are not mandated as paid days off, but employers may choose to observe them:
- Easter Monday: April 5, Monday
- Civic Holiday: August 2, Monday
- National Day for Truth and Reconciliation: September 30, Thursday
- Remembrance Day: November 11, Thursday
Additional Years
The dates for Ontario statutory holidays change each year. Find out when they occur through our yearly guides: 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025.
Terminations and Stat Holidays
If you’ve been fired without cause or for cause before or after taking a stat holiday it’s crucial to understand your rights through a consultation with an Ontario employment lawyer at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP immediately.
Do not accept any severance offer, termination papers, or exit agreement from your employer, even if they come with a deadline. These deadlines are pressure tactics used to push you into accepting inadequate compensation. Once you sign and return these documents, you forfeit your ability to negotiate a fair and proper severance package. A full severance package can be as much as 24 months’ pay.
Talk To an Employment Lawyer
The knowledgeable employment law team at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP has helped tens of thousands of non-unionized individuals across the country.
In addition to severance package negotiations, we have experience securing solutions for the following employment matters:
Our lawyers in Ontario, Alberta, and B.C. stand ready to help you solve your workplace issues.
If you are a non-unionized employee who needs help with an employment issue, contact us or call 1-855-821-5900 to get the advice you need, and the compensation you deserve.
About the Author
Lior Samfiru
Lior Samfiru is a Founding Partner of Samfiru Tumarkin LLP and Practice Leader for the firm's Labour & Employment Law Group. His experience in countless successful cases and mediations on behalf of employees and employers, as well as his continued advocacy for the rights of workers, makes him one of the most skilled and sought-after labour and employment lawyers in Canada.
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