Is Remembrance Day a statutory holiday where you live?
| Jurisdiction | Paid holiday on November 11? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Federally regulated workplaces | Yes | Banks, airlines, railways, telecoms, Canada Post, federal public service, in every province. |
| British Columbia | Yes | Statutory holiday. |
| Alberta | Yes | General holiday. |
| Saskatchewan | Yes | Public holiday. |
| Manitoba | No | Not on Manitoba's list of general holidays. |
| Ontario | No | Not a public holiday under the Employment Standards Act; employers may give the day off. |
| Quebec | No | Not a holiday under Quebec's labour standards. |
| New Brunswick | Yes | Paid public holiday. |
| Nova Scotia | Special rules | Covered by the separate Remembrance Day Act, not the Labour Standards Code. A worker who works November 11 may be entitled to another paid day off. |
| Prince Edward Island | Yes | Paid holiday. |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | Yes | One of six paid holidays. |
| Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut | Yes | General holiday in all three territories. |
In 2026, November 11 is a Wednesday, so there is no long weekend. Holiday pay and premium pay for working the day follow the same rules as other statutory holidays in your province; see statutory holidays in Canada for the pay rules.
"Legal holiday" does not mean a day off
In 2018 Parliament amended the federal Holidays Act (Bill C-311, royal assent March 1, 2018) so that November 11 "is a legal holiday and shall be kept and observed as such throughout Canada under the name of 'Remembrance Day'." That wording confirms its national status, but it does not give any worker a day off. Days off with pay come only from the Canada Labour Code (for federally regulated employers) and from each province's employment standards law, which is why the table above still differs from province to province.
What is closed on November 11
- Canada Post: no mail delivery. Post office counters inside private stores follow the store's hours.
- CRA and federal offices: November 11 is on the CRA's list of public holidays. A payment due that day is on time if received the next business day.
- Banks: bank employees are federally regulated and have the holiday; branch opening varies by bank and province, so check your branch.
- Schools: depends on the province and school board; check your board's calendar.
- Stores: in provinces where it is not a holiday (Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba), most businesses open as usual. Elsewhere, retail opening is set by provincial and municipal rules, so hours vary.
Why November 11 at 11 a.m.
The armistice that ended the fighting of the First World War took effect at 11:00 a.m. on November 11, 1918, "the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month." A year later King George V asked that "the brief space of two minutes" be kept in silence at that hour, and the first Armistice Day was observed across the Commonwealth.
Canada's first law, in 1921, placed Armistice Day on the Monday of the week containing November 11. In 1931 Parliament fixed the date at November 11 and renamed it Remembrance Day. Today it honours everyone who has served and died in Canada's wars, peacekeeping and other military operations.
Veterans' Week and the two minutes of silence
The Government of Canada marks Veterans' Week from November 5 to 11. It includes Indigenous Veterans Day on Sunday, November 8, 2026 and ends with Remembrance Day.
The two minutes of silence start at 11:00 a.m. local time, so the pause moves across the country from Newfoundland to British Columbia over three and a half hours this year. At ceremonies the silence follows the Last Post. If you are at work in a province where the day is not a holiday, you can still stop for the two minutes at 11:00; many employers announce it.
The National Remembrance Day Ceremony in Ottawa
The Royal Canadian Legion hosts the national ceremony at the National War Memorial in Ottawa. The programme includes the arrival of dignitaries before 11 a.m., the two minutes of silence at exactly 11:00, a 21-gun salute, the Last Post, the laying of wreaths and the Veterans' parade. The ceremony is usually broadcast live on national television and online; check broadcaster listings closer to the day.
Every year the Legion names a National Silver Cross Mother, a mother who lost a child in Canadian military service. She lays a wreath at the National War Memorial on behalf of all mothers who have lost children. The Memorial (Silver) Cross itself was first authorized on December 1, 1919.
Local Legion branches hold ceremonies at cenotaphs in most cities and towns, usually starting before 11 a.m.
Flags at half-mast
Under Canadian Heritage's rules, the National Flag is flown at half-mast on all federal buildings and establishments in Canada, including the Peace Tower, from sunrise to sunset on Remembrance Day. Where a ceremony is held, such as at the National War Memorial, the flag can be lowered at 11:00 a.m. or according to the order of service. To half-mast a flag, raise it to the top first and then lower it slowly to the half-mast position.
How to wear a poppy
The Legion's poppy campaign begins in late October and runs until November 11. Donations stay with local Legion branches to support Veterans and their families.
- Wear it on the left side, over the heart (on the left lapel).
- Don't put a pin through the poppy's centre that hides it; the Legion sells a black centre pin designed for it.
- After the ceremony, many people leave their poppy on a cenotaph or wreath as a gesture of respect.
- The Legion says it is not inappropriate to wear a poppy at other times of the year.
Remembrance Day dates ahead
| Year | Date | Countdown |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Wed, Nov 11, 2026 | — |
| 2027 | Thu, Nov 11, 2027 | — |
| 2028 | Sat, Nov 11, 2028 | — |
For federally regulated workers, when November 11 falls on a Saturday or Sunday they don't normally work (as in 2028), the holiday moves to the scheduled work day immediately before or after. Provincial rules on weekend holidays vary.
Frequently asked questions
When is Remembrance Day in 2026?
Wednesday, November 11, 2026. The two minutes of silence are held at 11:00 a.m. local time.
Is Remembrance Day a stat holiday in Ontario?
No. It is not a public holiday under Ontario's Employment Standards Act, so most private-sector workers do not get the day off with pay, unless they work for a federally regulated employer or their employer chooses to give it.
Is Remembrance Day a stat holiday in Quebec or Manitoba?
No. Neither province includes it in its list of paid holidays. Federally regulated employees in those provinces still have it.
Which provinces have Remembrance Day as a paid holiday?
British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. Nova Scotia covers it under its own Remembrance Day Act.
Is mail delivered on Remembrance Day?
No. Canada Post does not deliver on November 11.
Are banks open on Remembrance Day?
Bank employees are federally regulated and have the holiday, but branch opening varies by bank and province. Check with your branch.
Why is Remembrance Day on November 11?
The armistice ending the First World War took effect at 11 a.m. on November 11, 1918. Canada fixed the observance on that date and named it Remembrance Day in 1931.
Which side do you wear a poppy on?
The Royal Canadian Legion asks that the poppy be worn on the left side, over the heart.
Official sources
- Justice Laws — An Act to amend the Holidays Act (S.C. 2018, c. 3)
- Government of Canada — Vacations and general holidays (federal labour standards)
- Veterans Affairs Canada — Ministers mark Remembrance Day (November 2024)
- National Defence — Remembrance ceremony history
- Canadian Heritage — Rules for half-masting the National Flag of Canada
- The Royal Canadian Legion — How to wear a poppy
- The Royal Canadian Legion — Silver Cross Mother
- Government of Ontario — Public holidays (ESA guide)
- Government of Nova Scotia — Holiday pay
- Canada Post — Holiday hours
- CRA — Public holidays