Ontario Public Holidays and Long Weekends 2025 Guide

Key Takeaways

Ontario employees have nine statutory holidays in 2025, offering paid days off and premium pay for holiday work.
Non-statutory and cultural holidays like Easter Monday and National Indigenous Peoples Day are not mandated paid days off.
Closures during statutory holidays affect most businesses, but some exceptions apply, including certain grocery and convenience stores.

Overview of Ontario’s Statutory Holidays and Paid Days Off in 2025

In Canada 🇨🇦, paid days off for employees vary depending on the province or territory where they work. In Ontario 🇨🇦, public holidays are established by provincial regulations. Federally regulated employers—such as federal government entities and certain key sectors—follow a different set of public holidays determined by federal rules. For 2025, Ontarians can anticipate a variety of statutory holidays that promise not only time for rest and celebration but also certain remunerative benefits for those who need to work on these days.

Quick Facts

Store Closures

Most retail stores are closed on statutory holidays in Ontario

Employee Rights

Workers get premium pay or alternate time off for holiday work

Federal Sectors

Banks, post offices, and federal services follow different holiday schedules

Statutory Holidays in Ontario for 2025

Ontario Public Holidays and Long Weekends 2025 Guide

For employees in Ontario who qualify, 2025 will feature nine statutory holidays with designated dates on which they are observed. Here’s what you can expect:

New Year’s Day: Wednesday, January 1
Family Day: Monday, February 17
Good Friday: Friday, April 18
Victoria Day: Monday, May 19
Canada Day: Tuesday, July 1
Labour Day: Monday, September 1
Thanksgiving: Monday, October 13
Christmas: Thursday, December 25
Boxing Day: Friday, December 26

These holidays add up to a total of nine paid days off for most employees in the province.

Public Holiday Entitlement and Compensation in Ontario

For workers in Ontario who are eligible, these public holidays offer not only time away from work but also the assurance of being paid. Those who are required to work on a statutory holiday in Ontario are entitled to public holiday pay plus a premium for all hours worked. Alternatively, they may receive regular pay for hours worked on the holiday and a substitute paid day off.

Commonly Observed Non-Statutory Holidays

While certain holidays like Easter Monday, Civil Holiday, and Remembrance Day are widely observed in Ontario, they are not mandated to be paid days off under provincial law. Employers might opt to grant a day off on these dates, but it is not universally required.

Cultural Holidays Not Commonly Observed as Paid Days Off

Numerous cultural holidays are celebrated in Ontario, though they do not typically involve a day off with pay. These include:

St Patrick’s Day (March 17): Marking Irish culture with green attire, parties, and pub outings.
Groundhog Day (February 2): A nod to the approach of spring, often celebrated with family crafts.
Pride Month (June): A period promoting inclusivity and awareness of challenges faced by the LGBTQA+ community, highlighted by parades and rainbow displays.
National Indigenous Peoples Day (June 21): Celebrating the cultural contributions of Indigenous peoples.
National Day of Truth and Reconciliation (Orange Shirt Day, September 30): Remembering residential school survivors and their experiences, marked by wearing orange shirts and educational events.
Halloween (October 31): Embracing spooky festivities with costumes and trick-or-treating.

Closures on Statutory Holidays

Ontario’s statutory holidays see many services closing or operating on reduced schedules. Government offices, most retail stores, banks, schools, and various municipal services are closed during these days. However, the exception to this is typically the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) and certain grocery stores like Shoppers Drug Mart and convenience stores, which might operate on reduced hours or remain open.

Unlike some regions in the U.S. where shopping is commonplace on public holidays, most businesses in Ontario will close, emphasizing a day of rest and observance rather than commerce.

How Holidays are Scheduled

Holidays like Christmas and New Year’s Day fall on the same calendar date every year but can vary in the day of the week they occur. As a result, if these holidays fall on a weekend, the following Monday is usually observed as a day off. Employees can therefore enjoy a consistently scheduled holiday, ensuring they don’t miss out if the holiday falls on their non-working day.

Grocery Store and Restaurant Operations on Holidays

The Ontario Retail Business Holidays Act outlines grocery store closures, ensuring most major stores remain closed on statutory holidays, although some businesses, based on location or special urban area designation, like Toronto’s Eaton Centre, may remain open.

Restaurants, not bound by this Act, often choose whether to stay open on such holidays. Larger chains typically operate on these days, while smaller establishments may opt for closure. It’s important that if restaurants remain open, they are required to compensate employees with additional holiday pay or provide an alternative paid day off.

Federally Regulated Sectors in Canada

Certain sectors are under federal regulation, following national employment laws. These sectors include transportation (airlines, railways, etc.), telecommunications, banks, Crown corporations like Canada Post, broadcasting, First Nations services, uranium mining, and more. Employees in these sectors adhere to federal holidays, which include:

New Year’s Day: January 1
Good Friday: April 18
Victoria Day: May 19
Canada Day: July 1
Labour Day: September 1
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation: September 30
Thanksgiving: October 13
Remembrance Day: November 11
Christmas: December 25
Boxing Day: December 26

These workers benefit from federal holiday regulations, distinct from those mandated at the provincial level in Ontario.

Conclusion and Additional Resources

Understanding Ontario’s statutory holidays in 2025 is crucial for employees and employers alike to appreciate entitlements and obligations. This lineup of holidays marks opportunities for rest, celebration, and cultural engagement. For further authoritative information regarding Ontario’s statutory holidays or federally regulated industries, you can refer to the Government of Canada’s official site. This resource offers detailed knowledge on employment standards, including holiday regulations.

Analysis from VisaVerge.com suggests staying informed about these holidays is beneficial for both planning and compliance, ensuring workers and businesses operate smoothly within the legal framework. Whether navigating provincial statutes or federally regulated guidelines, this comprehensive understanding of Ontario’s 2025 holiday schedule shapes not just when one can enjoy time off but also how compensation is structured during these meaningful times.

Learn Today

Statutory Holiday: A legally mandated day off for employees, often with pay, recognized by provincial or federal regulations.
Public Holiday Entitlement: Rights employees have to take leave on public holidays, often involving paid time off or compensation.
Federally Regulated: Industries governed by national laws, including banking and transportation, with distinct holiday and employment regulations.
Retail Business Holidays Act: Ontario legislation dictating store closures on statutory holidays, ensuring most major retailers remain closed.
Crown Corporation: Government-owned company that operates independently, following federal employment and holiday regulations.

This Article in a Nutshell

Ontario’s 2025 statutory holidays promise more than mere days off; they represent a chance for rest, reflection, and rewards. With nine provincial holidays and distinct federal regulations, workers enjoy benefits like paid leave or substituted days. Understanding these entitlements ensures smooth planning and compliance, enhancing both workforce satisfaction and productivity.
— By VisaVerge.com