Statutory Holidays in Alberta: A General Guide

Understanding Alberta Statutory Holidays

Alberta statutory holidays, also known as general holidays, are special days where employees are entitled to a paid day off. There are nine general holidays for provincially regulated employees, which includes the majority of the workforce in Alberta.

The rules for these holidays, including when they occur and how general holiday pay is calculated in Alberta, are set by the province’s Employment Standards Code (ESC).

• LEARN MORE: General Holidays for Federally Regulated Employees

When General Holidays Occur

The following is a comprehensive list of the nine general holidays in Alberta and when they typically occur in a calendar year:

*Alberta was the first province to establish Family Day, passing legislation in 1990.

• Find Specific Alberta General Holiday Dates: 2021 • 2022 • 2023 • 2024 • 2025

Optional Holidays in Alberta

Employers in Alberta have the flexibility to recognize additional holidays beyond the statutory ones. If an employer decides to acknowledge an extra holiday, all the rules and regulations related to general holiday pay will apply.

These optional holidays are at the discretion of the employer and can be any day they choose to acknowledge as a holiday. The most common optional holidays in Alberta are:

• Easter Monday: Monday after Easter Sunday
• Heritage Day: First Monday in August
• National Day for Truth and Reconciliation: September 30
• Boxing Day: December 26

Need to Know How General Holiday Pay Works?

Now that you understand when general holidays typically take place in Alberta, it’s time to read our resource on general holiday pay and how to calculate it in Alberta for 2024.