Statutory Holidays in Ontario
Not everyone gets Easter Monday off. Here is a complete list of mandatory paid holidays in Ontario. The province remains one of the few where Remembrance Day isn’t a statutory holiday.
Remembrance Day
Remembrance Day, observed on Tuesday, Nov. 11, marks the anniversary of the armistice that ended the First World War. A moment of silence at 11 a.m. is typically observed at schools and workplaces to honor this moment. While official ceremonies commemorate all Canadian Armed Forces members killed in the line of duty, [translate:Remembrance Day] is considered an optional holiday in Ontario.
Optional Holidays
The following holidays are commonly observed but not legally mandated in Ontario:
- Easter Monday
- Civic Day in August
- National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on Sept. 30
Businesses may choose to observe these optional holidays but are not required by law to do so. However, federally regulated institutions and Crown corporations, such as Canada Post and banks, are closed on these days.
Mandatory Paid Holidays
Paid public holidays, also called statutory or general holidays, require most businesses to close and pay eligible employees as if they worked a regular day. For 2025, employers in Ontario are legally required to honor these statutory holidays.
On a statutory holiday, your employer is legally required to:
(List of 2025 statutory holidays was not provided in the original content.)
Author's summary: Ontario mandates several paid statutory holidays, while some days like Remembrance Day remain optional, leaving businesses with a choice to observe them.