Plan your well-deserved break from work with the complete list of 2024 statutory holidays in Québec.
A brand-new year brings new holidays. The 2024 statutory holidays in Québec are a series of paid days off throughout from work as mandated by provincial law. These days are opportunities for workers throughout the province to spend time with loved ones, families and friends to celebrate special occasions and take a break from work.
These holidays are not only just for fun. Having time away from work does play an undeniably important role in helping people avoid exhaustion and burnout, and maintain their overall wellbeing. The opportunity to get away from work — even for short periods of time such as a long weekend —can help employees feel rested and charged. They will be able to return to work after the holidays feeling better physically, mentally, and emotionally, and ready to perform at their best.
People across la province are now looking at the year ahead and all the possibilities for new adventures. It’s the perfect opportunity to grab the calendar and plan your next vacation with the 2024 statutory holidays in Québec.
Please always check with your employer to confirm the exact status of these holidays within your organization.
Here is the complete list of Statutory Holidays in Québec in 2024:
- New Year’s Day – January 1st
- Good Friday – March 29 and/or Easter Monday – April 1 (the choice of your employer)
- Patriot’s Day – May 20
- Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day (Fête nationale du Québec) – June 24 (verify with your employer)
- Canada Day – July 1 (verify with your employer)
- Labour Day – September 2
- Thanksgiving – October 14
- Christmas – December 25
What Is A Statutory Holiday?
A statutory holiday is a public holiday created through legislation passed by Federal, Territorial or Provincial governments. On these stat holidays, many employees are legally entitled to a paid off from work. Those employees who will still work on stat holidays are then often entitled to increased compensation. The Federal government creates stat holidays that apply for Federal employees throughout the country, while Provincial and Territorial governments can create additional Statutory holidays for provincial workers. More than 4.3 million workers residing and working in Québec are entitled to 8 statutory holidays throughout the year.
The Québec National Holiday
June 24 marks the Fête Nationale du Québec, commonly known as Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day. Based on the traditional feast day of Saint Jean The Baptist, it has been the official national holiday of Quebec since the mid-1970s after having been regular celebrated since 1925. Occurring one week before Canada Day, the Fête Nationale du Québec is extremely popular in the province and is celebrated with parades, fireworks and parties. While not everyone will have the day off from work, many who do work on the Fête Nationale du Québec will be entitled to increased holiday pay. Please be sure to confirm with your employer.
The Newest Stat Holiday
Everyone who grew up before the 2000s may be surprised to see Journée nationale des Patriotes (National Patriot’s Day en Anglais) appear on the list of 2024 statutory holidays in Québec. This is the newest stat holiday in Québec and was introduced in 2003 to replace the May long weekend, which been unofficially known as Fête de Dollard. The day commemorates the Lower Canada Rebellion of 1837 — aka the Guerre Des Patriotes — and occurs at the same time as the Victoria Day long weekend in Ontario and other provinces.
Is July 1st Moving Day?
People kiving outside of the province of Québec are often surprised by the references to July 1st as “Moving Day.” This is =the day on which rental lease agreements traditionally are set to expire, a practice that evolved from earlier legal mandates that covered fixed lease terms. The practice has become so commonplace that over 250,000 people in Québec have moved on this day, including over 70,000 people in the city of Montreal alone. If you plan to move on July 1st, be sure to secure your moving truck rental months in advance in order to avoid a big headache.
What Are The “Construction Holidays?”
The 2024 Construction Holidays in the summer will occur from July 21st to August 3rd. While they are not an official 2024 statutory holiday in Québec, the Construction Holidays play a big part of summer vacation plans for workers across the province.
Beginning back in 1970, the Québec government entered into an agreement with representatives of the provincial construction industry for two periods of two-week holidays at the end of July and December. Over the past 54 years, the summer period has grown into an unofficial holiday for workers from outside the construction industry as well. During this two-week period in July, it is estimated that more than 150,000 people — a quarter of Québec’s population — will be on vacation.
The Construction Holidays are not a statutory holiday and there is no legal mandate for employers outside of the construction industry to provide paid time off. For workers who want to take a vacation during this time, the exact arrangements and use of PTO from their benefit plans will need to be negotiated between employees and employers.
Is Boxing Day A Holiday in Québec?
Boxing Day occurs on December 26th, the day after Christmas. With origins in the United Kingdom, it is often celebrated in countries throughout the Commonwealth as well. Boxing Day is not a 2024 statutory holiday in Québec. It is a stat holiday in neighbouring Ontario, a fact that can cause some confusion for workers. It is a holiday for Federal employees across the country, meaning so those who work for the Federal Government while based in Québec will have the day off.
A break from work is not just a nice perk, but something necessary for the health and wellness of employees and employers alike. The 2024 statutory holidays in Québec provide workers with the opportunity to rest, relax and spend time with loved ones. They are much more likely to return to the workplace feeling better and prepared to perform at their best. Add these 2024 stat holidays to your calendar for the new year and plan your vacation accordingly.
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