What is the Civic Holiday in Canada?
In 2016 Civic Holiday is on Monday, August 1.
The Civic Holiday, also commonly referred to as the August long weekend is celebrated on the first Monday of August and it’s a public holiday in some provinces and territories.
Civic Day is a statutory holiday in B.C., New Brunswick, Saskatchewan, Nunavut and The Northwest Territories, but not in the Yukon or other provinces, including Ontario.
The origin of Civic Day goes back to the late 1800s when the government decided citizens needed another “day of relaxation” during the summer, and it’s continued to change form over the years.
It is known by many names in different provinces and municipalities. Each municipality that opts to declare the holiday can give it a unique name. It’s called the “civic” holiday because it’s the holiday that cities have authority to declare.
What’s Civic Day called across Canada?
Ontario – Civic Holiday
B.C. – British Columbia Day
Alberta – Heritage Day
Saskatchewan – Saskatchewan Day
Manitoba – Terry Fox Day
Québec – No holiday
New Brunswick – New Brunswick Day
Nova Scotia – Natal Day
P.E.I. – No holiday
Newfoundland and Labrador – Not a provincial holiday, but municipalities such as St. John’s and Harbour Grace observe Regatta Day
Nunavut – Civic Holiday
Northwest Territories – Civic Day
Yukon Territory – No holiday (Celebrate Discovery Day on third Monday of August)
~Wakenya Canada