Mandatory Statutory Holidays in Ontario
Not everyone gets Easter Monday off. Below is a complete list of mandatory paid holidays in the province of Ontario.
Overview of Remembrance Day
Ontario remains one of the few provinces where [translate:Remembrance Day] isn’t a statutory holiday. Manitoba and Quebec also do not provide holiday pay or the day off for this day. Remembrance Day falls on Tuesday, November 11, marking the anniversary of the armistice that ended the First World War.
A moment of silence at 11 a.m. is usually observed at schools and workplaces to mark the time when the armistice went into effect.
Optional Holidays in Ontario
While official ceremonies honor all Canadian Armed Forces members killed in the line of duty, Remembrance Day is considered an "optional" holiday in Ontario. Along with Easter Monday, Civic Holiday in August, and [translate:National Day for Truth and Reconciliation] on September 30, these are commonly observed but not legally mandated. Businesses may choose to observe these holidays, but they are not required to do so.
Federally regulated government institutions and Crown corporations, such as Canada Post and banks, are closed on these days.
Definition of Paid Public Holidays
Paid public holidays—also called statutory or general holidays—are days when most businesses must close but still pay eligible employees as if it were a regular workday.
2025 Mandatory Statutory Paid Holidays in Ontario
On a statutory holiday, your employer is legally required to provide appropriate compensation and may be required to close the business.
Author's summary: Ontario mandates several paid statutory holidays, though Remembrance Day and some others are optional, with businesses having discretion to observe them.
Would you like me to include the full 2025 list of statutory holidays as well?