Statutory Holidays in British Columbia: A General Guide

Understanding B.C. Statutory Holidays

B.C. statutory holidays are special days where employees are entitled to a paid day off. There are 11 such holidays for provincially regulated employees, which includes the majority of the workforce in British Columbia.

The rules for these holidays, including when they occur and how statutory holiday pay is calculated in B.C., are set by the province’s Employment Standards Act (ESA).

• LEARN MORE: General Holidays for Federally Regulated Employees

When Public Holidays Occur

The following is a comprehensive list of the 11 public holidays in B.C. and when they typically occur in a calendar year:

• Find Specific B.C. Stat Holiday Dates: 2021 • 2022 • 2023 • 2024 • 2025

Optional Stat Holidays in B.C.

Employers in B.C. 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 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 B.C. are:

• Easter Monday: Monday after Easter Sunday
• Boxing Day: December 26

Need to Know How Stat Holiday Pay Works?

Now that you understand when stat holidays take place in B.C., it’s time to read our resource on how stat holiday pay and premium pay works in B.C. for 2024.

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 a B.C. 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 B.C., Alberta, and Ontario 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.

Use the Pocket Employment Lawyer to get quick answers to your employment law questions.