Remembrance Day Retail Hours
November 6, 2019The following is a brief overview of retail business regulations from across Canada, related to Remembrance Day.
Since there are exceptions to Remembrance Day retail hours, based on jurisdiction and type of retail store, RCC members are encouraged to check with their local municipality or provincial/territorial government if they have specific questions.
Please note: In provinces where there are no regulations related to Remembrance Day retail hours (see below), there may still be rules in a retailer’s shopping mall lease agreement pertaining to retail opening hours on that day.
OPEN
In Quebec and Ontario, Remembrance Day is not a statutory holiday, so holiday hours do not apply.
In recognition of the significance of Remembrance Day in honouring Canadian Veterans, and those currently serving in the Canadian Armed Forces, the City of Ottawa’s Remembrance Day By-law (By-law No. 2008-355), requires most retail businesses to remain closed until 12:30 p.m. on November 11th each year. Remembrance Day (By-law No. 2008-355) | City of Ottawa
In Manitoba, retailers may operate on Remembrance Day, but must follow both the Remembrance Day legislation and the Sunday Shopping legislation in 2018, as Remembrance Day falls on a Sunday. Retail businesses can only be open from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Employees who do not work on Remembrance Day are not required to be paid. Like any other Sunday, retail employees have the right to refuse work on Remembrance Day Sunday as long as they provide 14 days’ notice to their employer.
In Saskatchewan, retailers who are normally open on Sunday will observe Remembrance Day on Sunday, November 11th. Retailers who are normally closed on Sunday will observe Remembrance Day on Monday, November 12th.
In British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Yukon, retailers are allowed to open on Remembrance Day as long as they pay their employees according to the law.
CLOSED
In New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador and Prince Edward Island, Remembrance Day is a statutory holiday observed on November 11th and a retail closing day for most retailers.
ATTENTION for Atlantic provinces where Remembrance Day is a statutory holiday: For employees who don’t normally work on the day where the statutory holiday falls (e.g. Sunday), employers must offer the employee another day off with pay. This day off is supposed to be taken before the next holiday occurs (unless an arrangement is worked out between employer and employee).
Nova Scotia is the only Atlantic province where Remembrance Day is not a statutory holiday. It is a retail closing day for most retailers, including those in shopping malls. View more information.
More information on retail closing days can be found on our Holiday Store Hours fact sheet.