Remembrance Day 2026: Where Is November 11 a Statutory Holiday?

Verified and updated: November 10, 2026, at 8:01 p.m. UTC.

Remembrance Day falls on Wednesday, November 11, 2026. It is a paid statutory or general holiday for most provincially regulated employees in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. It is also a paid general holiday for employees covered by the Canada Labour Code. The day is not a general statutory holiday under provincial employment standards in Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba or Nova Scotia, though Manitoba and Nova Scotia have separate rules that affect business hours and some workers.

That distinction can determine whether you have a paid day off, whether a store is open, and how to plan errands or appointments. Check your province or territory, whether your employer is federally regulated, and your workplace policy before assuming November 11 is either a regular workday or a day off.

Destaques

• In 2026, Remembrance Day is Wednesday, November 11.
• It is a statutory or general holiday in eight provinces and all three territories; Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba and Nova Scotia do not list it as a provincial general holiday.
• Federal labour standards recognize November 11 as a paid general holiday for federally regulated employees.
• Manitoba and Nova Scotia have distinct business-closing rules, so “not a statutory holiday” does not mean ordinary business hours everywhere.

Where is Remembrance Day a statutory holiday in Canada?

For most employees covered by provincial or territorial employment standards, the holiday applies in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. Official employment standards pages list November 11 as a general or public holiday in jurisdictions such as Alberta and Saskatchewan.

In Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba and Nova Scotia, November 11 is not a provincial general holiday that automatically gives all provincially regulated employees paid holiday entitlement. Ontario encourages observance and provides resources for ceremonies, but the date is not one of the province’s nine public holidays under employment standards. Quebec’s labour standards agency explicitly lists Remembrance Day among days that are not statutory holidays.

Manitoba and Nova Scotia warrant a closer look. Manitoba’s employment standards guidance says Remembrance Day is not a general holiday, while its separate Remembrance Day Act restricts retail operations from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., subject to exceptions. Nova Scotia also has a separate Remembrance Day Act: many businesses must close, and some employees who work may qualify for another paid day off. Employees who do not work are not automatically paid for the day under that Act. These special rules do not make the date a standard paid general holiday for everyone.

Do federally regulated workers get November 11 off?

Generally, federally regulated employees are entitled to Remembrance Day as a paid general holiday under the Canada Labour Code. The federal list includes banking, telecommunications, interprovincial transportation and other federally regulated activities, but the employer’s industry and the worker’s actual coverage matter. A business operating across Canada is not necessarily federally regulated in every role.

Holiday entitlement also does not always mean a workplace will close. The Code sets minimum holiday pay and time-off entitlements, while some operations continue and provide the required compensation or substitute day under applicable rules. Federal public servants have their own designated holiday provisions. For details, consult the federal government’s general holiday guidance for federally regulated employees.

What should you check before November 11?

Start with the province or territory where you work and confirm whether your employment is covered by provincial, territorial or federal labour standards. Then check your employer’s schedule, collective agreement and holiday-pay policy. A contract or employer policy can grant a day off even where minimum provincial law does not require it. Eligibility and pay calculations can depend on factors such as recent work history, whether November 11 is a regular workday, and whether you work the holiday.

If you are planning shopping or services, verify hours with the specific business. Manitoba limits retail openings during the morning, while Nova Scotia’s law requires many businesses to close for the day, with exceptions. Municipal rules, sector exemptions and local employer decisions can affect the practical picture. Schools, transit, banks, government counters and clinics may follow different schedules; check their direct notices instead of assuming they all use the same holiday calendar.

For 2026, the date is midweek, so there is no automatic long weekend attached to November 11. Where the holiday is recognized, any alternate day off or pay arrangement depends on the applicable law and workplace schedule. In Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba and Nova Scotia, provincially regulated workers should not assume a paid day off; in Manitoba and Nova Scotia, they should still check the separate observance and closing rules.

Frequently asked questions

Is Remembrance Day a federal statutory holiday?

It is a paid general holiday for employees covered by the Canada Labour Code, and it is a designated holiday for federal public servants. That does not make it a paid provincial holiday for every worker in Canada.

Which provinces do not make Remembrance Day a general statutory holiday?

Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba and Nova Scotia do not list November 11 as a provincial general statutory holiday for all employees. Manitoba and Nova Scotia have separate rules affecting business closures and some work performed that day.

Will stores be open on November 11, 2026?

It depends on location, type of business and local rules. Manitoba restricts retail openings between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m.; Nova Scotia requires many businesses to close, subject to exceptions. Check the store’s own hours.

Sources: Employment and Social Development Canada: general holidays; Alberta general holidays; Saskatchewan public holidays; Quebec statutory holidays; Manitoba general holiday rules; Nova Scotia Remembrance Day Act guidance.