The rules around store hours during holidays are different in each jurisdiction. The overview below outlines holiday hours for each province and territory in Canada.
Please note that there are exceptions. If you have specific questions, we encourage you to check with your local municipality or provincial/territorial government.
New Year’s Day
Family Day
Good Friday
Victoria Day
Canada Day
B.C. Day
Labour Day
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
Thanksgiving Day
Remembrance Day
Christmas Day
Retailers can be open on holidays as long as they pay their employees according to law.
If located in a mall, retailers must follow mall rules.
More information:
- To ensure compliance in your area — contact your local Employment Standards Branch Office.
- Statutory Holiday Interpretation Guidelines: British Columbia Employment Standards Act and Regulations
The following are statutory holidays in Alberta:
New Year’s Day
Alberta Family Day
Good Friday
Victoria Day
Canada Day
Labour Day
Thanksgiving Day
Remembrance Day
Christmas Day
Retailers can be open on holidays as long as they pay their employees according to law.
If located in a mall, retailers must follow the mall’s rules on hours.
More information:
- To ensure compliance in your area — contact your local Employment Standards Branch Office.
- Alberta Government: Statutory holidays
- Statutory Holiday Guidelines
The following are statutory holidays in Saskatchewan:
New Year’s Day
Family Day
Good Friday
Victoria Day
Canada Day
Saskatchewan Day
Labour Day
Thanksgiving Day
Remembrance Day
Christmas Day
Retailers can be open on holidays as long as they pay their employees according to law.
In many cases, municipalities set store opening guidelines. Contact your municipal clerk to ensure compliance.
More information:
As of December 10, 2020, all holiday store hour restrictions across the province have been eliminated, with the exception of Remembrance Day.
Remembrance Day is not a general holiday, however retail businesses are prohibited from opening between 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. on this day.
More information:
The following are statutory holidays in Ontario:
New Year’s Day
Family Day
Good Friday
Easter Sunday
Victoria Day
Canada Day
Labour Day
Thanksgiving Day
Christmas Day
Many municipalities, including Toronto, have passed by-laws allowing retailers to open on statutory holidays and certain business types are exempted.
Municipal by-laws
Stores may be open on these holidays if exempted under specific municipal by-laws for the development or maintenance of tourism.
Any questions about tourism designations or local hours of retail operation should be directed to the municipal clerk’s office in your municipality or the Ministry of Labour.
More information:
Most retailers are NOT allowed to open during the following holidays:
New Year’s Day
Easter Sunday
Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day
Canada Day
Labour Day
Christmas Day
To inquire about which types of retail operations are exempt from the act, please refer to the Act respecting hours and days of admission to commercial establishments.
More information:
- To ensure compliance in your area — contact the Commission des norms du travail.
- Act respecting hours and days of admission to commercial establishments
- Heures et jours d’overture des commerces de détail (en français)
Most retailers are NOT allowed to open during the following holidays:
New Year’s Day
Good Friday
Victoria Day
Canada Day
New Brunswick Day (1st Monday of August)
Labour Day
Remembrance Day
Thanksgiving Day
Christmas Day
Boxing Day
Of these holidays, the following are paid public holidays:
New Year’s Day
Family Day
Good Friday
Canada Day
New Brunswick Day
Labour Day
Remembrance Day
Christmas Day
To inquire about which types of retail operations are exempt from the act, please refer to the Days of Rest Act.
More information:
- To ensure compliance in your area — contact your local Employment Standards Branch Office.
- Days of Rest Act
- Prescribed Days of Rest in New Brunswick
- Employment Standards New Brunswick
Most retailers are NOT allowed to open during the following holidays:
New Year’s Day
Islander Day
Good Friday
Labour Day
Thanksgiving Day
Remembrance Day
Christmas Day
Boxing Day
Of these holidays, the following are paid statutory holidays:
New Year’s Day
Islander Day
Good Friday
Canada Day
Labour Day
Remembrance Day
Christmas Day
In Prince Edward Island, Canada Day is listed as a paid holiday, but it is not listed under the province’s Retail Business Holiday’s Act. Therefore, a retail business can be open on Canada Day as long as they pay their employees according to the law.
The Retail Business Holidays Act also states that retail businesses must be closed every Sunday during the time period of 12:00am and 11:59am.
To inquire about which types of retail operations are exempt from the act, please refer to the Retail Business Holidays Act.
More information:
- To ensure compliance in your area — contact the Department of Justice and Public Safety.
- Retail Business Holidays Act
- Act to Amend the Retail Business Holidays Act
Most retailers are NOT allowed to open during the following holidays:
New Year’s Day
Nova Scotia Heritage Day
Good Friday
Easter Sunday
Canada Day
Labour Day
Remembrance Day
Thanksgiving Day
Christmas Day
Boxing Day
Of these holidays, the following are paid statutory holidays:
New Year’s Day
Nova Scotia Heritage Day
Good Friday
Canada Day
Labour Day
Christmas Day
Remembrance Day
Remembrance Day closing falls under the Remembrance Day Act with different exemption rules.
Other Holidays
The following days are commonly recognized as holidays, but are not paid holidays under the Nova Scotia Labour Standards Code and do not fall under the Retail Business Designated Closing Day Act: Easter Monday, Victoria Day, Natal Day (August holiday). Retailers are free to open on these days and retail employees do not have the right to refuse to work.
Within the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM), there is a municipal by-law which states that retail shops are only allowed to be open between 9am and 6pm on Natal Day. Retail operations in Halifax Regional Municipality that are exempt from the Retail Business Designated Closing Day Act are also exempt from HRM’s Natal Day by-law.
To inquire about which types of retail operations are exempt from the act, please refer to the Retail Business Designated Closing Day Act and Remembrance Day Act.
More information:
- To ensure compliance in your area — contact the Nova Scotia Labour Standards office.
- Retail Business Designated Closing Day Act
- Remembrance Day Act
Most retailers are NOT allowed to open during the following holidays:
New Year’s Day
Good Friday
Easter Sunday
Victoria Day
Memorial Day or Canada Day
Labour Day
Thanksgiving Day
Remembrance Day
Christmas Day
Boxing Day
Regatta Day (St. John’s and Harbour Grace)
Of these holidays, the following are paid statutory holidays:
New Year’s Day
Good Friday
Memorial/Canada Day
Labour Day
Remembrance Day
Christmas Day
To inquire about which types of retail operations are exempt from the act, please refer to the Shops Closing Act.
More information:
- To ensure compliance in your area — contact your local Labour Standards Division or municipality.
- Shops Closing Act
- Shops Closing Act Regulations
The following are statutory holidays in Yukon:
New Year’s Day
Good Friday
Victoria Day
National Aboriginal Day (Thursday, June 21, 2018)
Canada Day
Discovery Day (3rd Monday in August)
Labour Day
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
Thanksgiving Day
Remembrance Day
Christmas Day
Retailers can be open on holidays as long as they pay their employees according to law.
If located in a mall, retailers must follow mall rules.
More information:
The following are statutory holidays in the Northwest Territories:
New Year’s Day
Good Friday
Victoria Day
National Aboriginal Day
Canada Day
First Monday in August
Labour Day
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
Thanksgiving Day
Remembrance Day
Christmas Day
Retailers can be open on holidays as long as they pay their employees according to law.
If located in a mall, retailers must follow the mall’s rules on hours.
More information:
- To ensure compliance in your area, please contact the Government of Northwest Territories.
- Employment Standards Act
- Statutory Holidays and Holiday Pay
The following are statutory holidays in Nunavut:
New Year’s Day
Good Friday
Victoria Day
National Aboriginal Day
Canada Day
Nunavut Day
Civic Holiday
Labour Day
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
Thanksgiving Day
Remembrance Day
Christmas Day
Retailers can be open on holidays as long as they pay their employees according to law.
If located in a mall, retailers must follow the mall’s rules on hours.
More information: