Ontario Statutory Holidays: Comprehensive Guide for 2025-26

This page provides a complete guide to Ontario statutory holidays, including dates, eligibility for statutory holiday pay, and special rules for employees. Whether you are an employee or employer, this resource covers everything you need to know about public holidays in Ontario for 2024, 2025, and 2026.

What Are Statutory Holidays in Ontario?

Statutory holidays (also known as public holidays) are officially recognized days where most employees are entitled to take a day off work with statutory holiday pay. If an employee works on a statutory holiday, they must be compensated with premium pay or given a substitute day off with statutory holiday pay.

In Ontario, statutory holidays are protected under the Employment Standards Act (ESA), which outlines entitlements for provincially regulated employees. Federally regulated employees follow a different set of guidelines.

Ontario Statutory Holidays (2024-2026)

The following table provides a comprehensive list of statutory holidays in Ontario for 2024, 2025, and 2026:

Optional Holidays

In addition to the nine official statutory holidays, these optional holidays are recognized by some employers in Ontario:

• Easter Monday
• Civic Holiday
• National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
• Remembrance Day

Understanding Statutory Holiday Pay in Ontario

Employees in Ontario are entitled to statutory holiday pay if they meet the following criteria:

1. The Last and First Rule: They must work their last scheduled shift before and their first scheduled shift after the holiday, unless they have a valid reason.
2. Work on the Holiday: Employees who work on a statutory holiday must receive premium pay (1.5x their regular pay rate) or a substitute day off with holiday pay.

Calculating Statutory Holiday Pay

Statutory holiday pay is calculated as the total amount of regular wages earned in the four weeks before the holiday divided by the number of days worked during that period.

Special Rules for Certain Industries

Employees in specific industries, such as healthcare, hospitality, and tourism, may have different rules for statutory holidays. Employers must ensure they comply with these industry-specific guidelines.

What Happens if You Are Terminated Around a Statutory Holiday?

If you are terminated before or after a statutory holiday, your employer must still pay you any accrued statutory holiday pay. This applies even if you did not work on the holiday. Termination without proper compensation is a violation of Ontario’s Employment Standards Act.

If you’ve been fired without cause or for cause in Ontario 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.

If you believe your rights have been violated, contact our experienced team for assistance.

Federally Regulated Employees in Ontario

Federally regulated employees are entitled to different public holidays, including:

• Easter Monday
• National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
• Remembrance Day

Check with your employer to confirm your holiday entitlements.

Key Takeaways for Employees and Employers

• Employees are entitled to take the day off on statutory holidays or receive premium pay for working.
• Employers must comply with the ESA to avoid fines and penalties
• Special rules apply to industries like hospitality and healthcare.
• Federally regulated employees may follow different guidelines.

Contact Samfiru Tumarkin LLP

If you have questions about statutory holiday pay, termination around a public holiday, or any workplace issue, contact Samfiru Tumarkin LLP today. Our experienced employment lawyers have helped tens of thousands of employees secure proper compensation and resolve workplace disputes.

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.

Call 1-855-821-5900 or fill out our online contact form to get started on securing the advice you need, and the compensation you deserve.

Related Resources

• Termination Without Cause in Ontario
• Ontario Wrongful Dismissal Lawyers
• Ontario Severance Pay Calculator
• Record of Employment Ontario Guide