Ontario Statutory Holidays: Complete Guide for 2025-2026

This updated guide explains your rights around statutory holidays in Ontario, including 2025 and 2026 public holiday dates, stat holiday pay rules, and how terminations near a holiday affect your compensation. Whether you’re an employee or employer, here’s everything you need to know.

What’s In This Guide

What Are Statutory Holidays in Ontario?

Statutory holidays (also called public holidays) are recognized days off protected by the Employment Standards Act (ESA). Most employees in Ontario are entitled to a paid day off on these holidays – or premium pay if they work.

Employers must follow these rules, or they could face penalties.

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Ontario Stat Holidays: 2025-2026

Here are the official Ontario stat holiday dates for the next two years:

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Optional Holidays in Ontario

These are not official stat holidays, but some employers may recognize them:

• Easter Monday
• Civic Holiday (First Monday in August)
• National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (Sept. 30)
• Remembrance Day (Nov. 11)

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Stat Holiday Pay Rules Ontario

In Ontario, statutory holiday pay (often called stat pay) is money paid to eligible employees for a public holiday — even if they don’t work that day.

To qualify for stat holiday pay, you must meet the Last and First Rule:

• You worked your last scheduled shift before the holiday, and
• You worked your first scheduled shift after the holiday

You may still qualify if you missed either shift for a valid reason (like illness).

This rule applies to most full-time, part-time, contract, and temp employees under Ontario’s Employment Standards Act.

If you’re eligible for stat pay in Ontario, your employer must provide one of the following:

• A paid day off
• Premium pay (1.5x your regular rate) if you work the holiday
• A substitute day off with public holiday pay (if agreed to in writing)

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Working on a Stat Holiday

If you agree to work:

• You must be paid 1.5x your regular wage, or
• Get a substitute day off with full stat holiday pay

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Termination Around a Stat Holiday

If you’re terminated before or after a stat holiday, your employer must still pay you any earned statutory holiday pay – even if you didn’t work the day.

Many employees are owed up to 24 months’ pay in severance when they are fired without cause or dismissed for cause. Learn more on our Severance Pay in Ontario page.

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Special Rules for Certain Jobs

Different rules may apply in industries like healthcare, hospitality, emergency services, and tourism. These jobs often require working holidays – but ESA protections still apply.

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Federally Regulated Employees

If you work in banking, telecom, or air transport, your employer may follow federal stat holiday rules instead.

Your stat holidays include:

• Easter Monday
• Truth and Reconciliation Day
• Remembrance Day

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Key Takeaways

• Ontario has 9 official stat holidays
• Most employees qualify for paid time off or premium pay
• Rules differ for federally regulated employees and some industries
• You must follow the Last and First Rule to qualify
• If fired before/after a holiday, you may still be owed pay
• Speak to an employment lawyer before accepting a severance offer

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Talk to an Ontario Employment Lawyer

At Samfiru Tumarkin LLP, our Ontario employment lawyers have helped tens of thousands of non-unionized employees protect their rights and compensation — including many in the GTA who reached out to an employment lawyer Toronto workers trust for results.

We can assist with:

• Severance pay
• Wrongful dismissal
• Employment contracts
• Dismissal for cause

Our lawyers can review your situation and make sure your rights – and your pay – are fully protected.

Call 1-855-821-5900 or request a consultation to get the compensation you’re owed.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What are the statutory holidays in Ontario for 2025?

Ontario has 9 official statutory holidays in 2025: New Year’s Day, Family Day, Good Friday, Victoria Day, Canada Day, Labour Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day.

How is statutory holiday pay calculated in Ontario?

Stat holiday pay is calculated by dividing your total regular wages earned in the four workweeks before the holiday by the number of days worked during that same period.

What happens if I’m fired before or after a stat holiday?

Your employer must still pay any earned statutory holiday pay, even if you didn’t work on the holiday. This is required under Ontario’s Employment Standards Act.

Do part-time or contract employees qualify for stat holiday pay?

Yes. As long as you meet the “Last and First Rule” – working your last scheduled shift before and first shift after the holiday — you may qualify under the ESA.

Is Boxing Day a statutory holiday in Ontario?

Yes. Ontario is the only province in Canada where Boxing Day is officially recognized as a statutory holiday.