2025 Statutory Holidays in Ontario: The Complete List
Publié le 8 January 2025
Plan your next day off and break from work with the complete list of 2025 statutory holidays in Ontario.
A new year means it’s time to start a new calendar. Looking through the months to come, it’s always exciting to plan out the year and start thinking about your next fun vacation. Statutory holidays provide time off and a chance to have fun and relax with friends, family and loved ones. It will also help you feel rested and recharged when it’s time to return to work, helping to give a boost to your overall well-being. As statutory holidays are paid time off, you also don’t even have to worry about it affecting your next paycheck. Grab your new calendar and start planning your next break from work with the 2025 statutory holidays in Ontario.
Please always check with your provincial government to confirm the exact requirements and responsibilities for employers and employees.
Here is the complete list of the 2025 Statutory Holidays (and one Civic Holiday) in Ontario:
- January 1 – Wednesday: New Year’s Day
- February 17 – Monday: Family Day
- April 18 – Friday: Good Friday / April 21 – Monday: Easter Monday (Optional)
- May 19 – Monday: Victoria Day
- July 1 – Tuesday: Canada Day
- August 4 – Monday: Civic Holiday
- September 1 – Monday: Labour Day
- October 13 – Monday: Thanksgiving
- December 25 – Thursday: Christmas Day
- December 26 – Friday: Boxing Day
What Is A Statutory Holiday?
A statutory holiday is a public holiday created through legislation by federal, territorial or provincial governments. On these designated days, many employees are entitled by law to a paid day off from work or increased compensation for working. The Federal Government of Canada mandates six statutory holidays, which means they apply to Federal employees across the country regardless of their location.
Every province and territory is also responsible for creating additional statutory holidays as they deem appropriate. The province of Ontario, home to over 8 million workers, currently has nine statutory holidays and one additional civic holiday as of 2025.
Rethink The (Unofficial) Extra Long Weekend
When a 2025 statutory holiday falls on either a Friday or Monday, many people may consider calling in sick to make it a four-day weekend. However, this may not be the best idea and could actually have negative consequences.
According to official federal legislation, having an unapproved absence from work on the day before or the day after a statutory holiday means that as a result you not eligible to receive holiday pay on the stat holiday itself.
For example, if you have an unapproved absence on the Friday before Labor Day, you will not be eligible to receive holiday pay on the actual statutory holiday on Monday.
What If You’re Working On A Statutory Holiday?
While the 2025 statutory holidays in Ontario are great for spending time with family and friends, there are also many people who will still be working. Private companies are allowed to require employees to work on stat holidays. This is why many servers working at restaurants will still work on the Victoria Day stat holiday, for example. However, these employees must also be compensated at a premium rate by their employers.
In exchange for working on a 2025 statutory holiday, employees must be paid “time and a half.” On statutory holidays, employees are entitled to their regular pay plus an additional 50% by law. For example, an employee who earns the Ontario minimum wage of $$17.20 an hour on a regular workday will earn $25.80 ($17.20+$8.60) per hour for working on a 2025 statutory holiday in Ontario.
Another option is for employees to agree to additional paid time off on regular working days in exchange for working on a stat holiday.
Additional Holidays
There are additional days throughout the year which certain employers choose to offer as days off from work. It’s important to note that these are not official 2025 statutory holidays, and therefore employers are under no legal obligation to pay their employees if they are off work on these days.
April 21 – Monday: Easter Monday
Some employers give their employees Easter Monday off from work in addition to the statutory holiday on Good Friday, allowing for an extra-long weekend right around the time when the first warm days of spring arrive.
September 30 – Tuesday: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
Created in 2021, this day is meant to recognize and acknowledge the tragic legacy of Canada’s residential school system, and how it continues to harm and affect Indigenous communities today. It a time to reflect on these shameful programs and on what actions can be taken under Indigenous leadership to address these issues. A Federal statutory holiday, it is not currently an official provincial holiday in Ontario, although some employers can choose to observe.
Plan Your 2025 Holidays
With the complete list of 2025 statutory holidays in Ontario, you’re now ready to plan how you are going to spend them. Whether you spend time with loved ones, take a trip with friends, or enjoy a simple and peaceful day with family, these days off are important to your overall well-being. Grab your calendar, circle the 2025 stat holidays and get ready for some time off.
