Nova Scotia Stat Holidays 2026: Dates & Holiday Pay Rules

Nova Scotia has six paid statutory holidays under its Labour Standards Code.

The six paid holidays are New Year’s Day, Nova Scotia Heritage Day, Good Friday, Canada Day, Labour Day and Christmas Day.

Remembrance Day is different. November 11 is protected under a separate Nova Scotia law, with special rules for which businesses can open and when employees who work that day receive another paid day off.

On This Page:

• 1. Nova Scotia Stat Holidays 2026
• 2. Who Qualifies for Holiday Pay
• 3. How Holiday Pay Is Calculated
• 4. Working on a Stat Holiday
• 5. Holidays on Your Regular Day Off
• 6. Remembrance Day & Other Holidays
• 7. FAQs

Nova Scotia Stat Holidays 2026

There are six paid statutory holidays under Nova Scotia’s Labour Standards Code in 2026.

Who Qualifies for Stat Holiday Pay in Nova Scotia?

To qualify for statutory holiday pay in Nova Scotia, you must meet both a pay requirement and a scheduled-shift requirement.

You must:

• Be entitled to receive pay for at least 15 of the 30 calendar days immediately before the holiday.
• Work your last scheduled shift or day before the holiday.
• Work your first scheduled shift or day after the holiday.

You do not necessarily have to physically work on 15 of the previous 30 days. Paid vacation, paid sick time or another period when you were entitled to wages can count.

You also do not lose holiday pay simply because the day immediately before or after the holiday is one you were not scheduled to work.

What if your employer tells you not to work before or after the holiday?

You can still qualify. An employer cannot avoid holiday pay simply by telling you not to report for your last scheduled shift before the holiday or first scheduled shift afterward.

Do part-time employees get stat holiday pay?

Yes. Part-time employees can qualify if they meet the same pay and scheduled-shift requirements.

Are some employees excluded?

Yes. Nova Scotia excludes certain workers from the ordinary holiday-pay rules.

Examples include:

• Most farm employees
• Real estate and car salespeople
• Certain commissioned sales employees
• Employees working on fishing boats
• Certain petrochemical manufacturing and refining employees
• Athletes while engaged in athletic activities
• Employees covered by a collective agreement

How Is Stat Holiday Pay Calculated in Nova Scotia?

If you qualify and have the holiday off, your employer must pay you a regular day’s pay.

Employees with regular hours

If you normally work consistent hours for consistent wages, you receive the amount you would normally earn for a regular working day.

For example, if you normally work eight hours at $20 per hour:

8 hours × $20 = $160 in holiday pay.

Employees with changing hours

If your hours vary, your employer can calculate an average day based on the days you worked during the 30 calendar days immediately before the holiday.

For example, if you worked 170 hours over 20 working days:

170 hours ÷ 20 days = 8.5 average hours.

Your holiday pay would then be based on that average working day.

What if your wages change from day to day?

Your employer can use your average daily wages during the 30-day period before the holiday to calculate your holiday pay.

What Do You Get If You Work on a Stat Holiday in Nova Scotia?

If you qualify and work on one of Nova Scotia’s six statutory holidays, you generally receive holiday pay plus 1.5 times your regular wage for the hours worked.

That means you receive:

• A regular or average day’s holiday pay.
• 1.5 times your regular hourly wage for every hour you work on the holiday.

For example, if you earn $20 per hour and work eight hours:

You receive your holiday pay plus $30 per hour for the eight hours worked.

Are there different rules for continuous operations?

Yes. Employees in continuous operations can be compensated differently.

A continuous operation can include:

• Industrial operations where production does not stop
• Transportation services
• Telephone and communications services
• Other workplaces where employees normally work Sundays or public holidays

In these workplaces, the employer can use the normal holiday-pay-plus-premium system or pay straight time for the hours worked and provide another paid day off.

What If a Stat Holiday Falls on Your Regular Day Off?

If you qualify and the statutory holiday falls on your regular day off, your employer must provide another paid day off.

The replacement day can be:

• The working day immediately after the holiday
• The working day immediately after your vacation
• Another day you and your employer agree to

What if the holiday falls during your vacation?

You remain entitled to the statutory holiday benefit. The holiday should not simply use up one of your vacation days.

Is Remembrance Day a Stat Holiday in Nova Scotia?

Remembrance Day has special legal protection in Nova Scotia, but it is not one of the six paid holidays under the Labour Standards Code.

The Remembrance Day Act controls which businesses and organizations can operate on November 11 and creates separate employee-pay rules.

What do you get if you work on Remembrance Day?

If you work on Remembrance Day and were entitled to wages for at least 15 of the previous 30 calendar days, you can be entitled to another paid day off.

That paid day can generally be taken:

• At the end of your vacation
• On another day agreed to by you and your employer

Is Truth and Reconciliation Day a stat holiday in Nova Scotia?

No. September 30 is not one of Nova Scotia’s six paid statutory holidays for most provincially regulated employees.

Is Thanksgiving a stat holiday in Nova Scotia?

No. Thanksgiving Day is not one of the six paid statutory holidays under the Labour Standards Code.

Is Victoria Day a stat holiday in Nova Scotia?

No. Victoria Day is not one of Nova Scotia’s six paid statutory holidays.

Is Boxing Day a stat holiday in Nova Scotia?

No. Boxing Day is not a paid statutory holiday under Nova Scotia’s Labour Standards Code.

What about federally regulated employees?

Federally regulated employees follow federal general-holiday rules instead of Nova Scotia’s provincial holiday rules.

This includes many employees working for banks, airlines, telecommunications companies and interprovincial transportation businesses. See our guide to federal statutory holidays in Canada.

Nova Scotia Stat Holiday FAQs

How many paid stat holidays does Nova Scotia have?

Nova Scotia has six paid statutory holidays under the Labour Standards Code.

Is Heritage Day a stat holiday in Nova Scotia?

Yes. Nova Scotia Heritage Day is a paid statutory holiday on the third Monday in February.

Is Remembrance Day a paid stat holiday?

It has separate rules. Employees who work November 11 can qualify for another paid day off under the Remembrance Day Act.

Do part-time employees get stat holiday pay?

Yes, if they meet Nova Scotia’s normal qualification rules.

Can my employer make me work on a stat holiday?

Yes. If you qualify and work, your employer must provide the compensation required by Nova Scotia law.

Note: Samfiru Tumarkin LLPdoes not currently handle employment-law matters in Nova Scotia. Employees with concerns about unpaid statutory holiday pay can contact Nova Scotia Labour Standards for information about enforcing their provincial rights. We do handle long-term disability claims in Nova Scotia, specifically when those LTD claims are denied.