Family Day - third Monday of February in most Canadian provinces, a regional statutory holiday for time with family
Family Day is a Canadian statutory holiday observed on the third Monday of February in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, and British Columbia, and on related dates in other provinces. Honours family time, has no fixed federal status under Canada Holidays Act, and serves as the Canadian equivalent of American Presidents Day.
Next observed in CA - Family Day
Federal holidayPublished October 12, 2026
- Observed in
- Where observed
- When
- February
- Frequency
- Nth weekday of a month
- Days off
- 1 day - federal workers / banks off
- Public status
- Federal / public holiday (banks + federal offices closed)
Family Day is a Canadian statutory holiday observed on the third Monday of February in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, and British Columbia. Honours family time, has no fixed federal status under Canada Holidays Act, and serves as the Canadian equivalent of American Presidents Day. Other provinces have different names for the same mid-February long weekend.
The one-line summary
Canadian provincial statutory holiday on the third Monday of February in AB, SK, ON, and BC. Not a federal holiday. First introduced in Alberta in 1990. Equivalent to American Presidents Day in timing.
Origin
Family Day was first introduced in Alberta in 1990 under Premier Don Getty. The holiday was created to give Albertans a mid-February long weekend and to promote family time during the cold-weather season. Saskatchewan followed in 2007, Ontario in 2008, and British Columbia in 2013.
The pattern of provincial holidays is common in Canada because Canada Holidays Act defines federal holidays that federal employees receive, while provincial holidays are separately established by each province. The result is a patchwork of provincial holidays that vary by region.
Regional variations
Family Day has different names in different provinces: Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, and British Columbia call it Family Day. Manitoba calls it Louis Riel Day (honouring the Metis leader who was executed in 1885). PEI calls it Islander Day. Nova Scotia has variously called it Volunteer Day, Heritage Day, and is currently exploring whether to rename. Quebec does not observe Family Day - the province has its own set of statutory holidays including National Patriots Day in May.
The result is a patchwork of mid-February long weekends across the country. The Atlantic provinces and Quebec do not get a mid-February holiday, while the four central and western provinces do. Employers with operations in multiple provinces typically follow the provincial calendar of the employee location.
The Monday pattern
Family Day falls on the third Monday of February in provinces that observe it. The third-Monday pattern is consistent with the Monday-where-possible calendar that Canada adopted in 1952 with the Holidays Act. The pattern gives Canadians a three-day weekend for as many federal and provincial holidays as possible.
The same third-Monday-of-February pattern is used by American Presidents Day in the United States, which is functionally similar in timing. The two holidays are not formally linked, but the calendar coincidence creates a cross-border mid-February long weekend that supports cross-border retail and tourism flows.
How it is observed
Family Day is observed as a long weekend in mid-February. Schools are closed. Most provincial offices are closed. Many retail businesses are closed or have reduced hours. The day is widely treated as a family-activities holiday - ski trips, outdoor activities, and indoor family programming are the typical observance.
Many provinces publish official Family Day events lists. Ontario publishes an annual Family Day events calendar. Alberta runs Family Day programming at provincial parks and historic sites. Saskatchewan runs free family programming at provincial museums and galleries on the day.
Legal status
Family Day is a provincial statutory holiday in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, and British Columbia. It is not a federal public holiday under Canada Holidays Act. Federal employees in those provinces receive the day off because their workplaces are closed under provincial law. Private employers are required by provincial employment standards to give the day off with pay in each province.
Where it is contested
Family Day is broadly uncontested as a family-activities holiday. Critics have noted that the patchwork of provincial holidays creates inconsistencies for multi- province employers; the federal government has not moved to harmonise the calendar. The name Family Day is also sometimes critiqued for being vague - critics argue that days like Louis Riel Day (Manitoba) or Islander Day (PEI) more accurately reflect the specific provincial history.
Family Day by the numbers
Sources
- Government of Canada Holidays Act: laws-lois.justice.gc.ca
- Alberta Government on Family Day: alberta.ca
- Ontario Government on Family Day: ontario.ca
A short history of Family Day
Family Day is a public holiday observed in several Canadian provinces on the third Monday of February. The day was first proclaimed in Alberta in 1990 by Premier Don Getty, and was subsequently adopted by other provinces. Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, and British Columbia observe Family Day on the third Monday of February, while other provinces observe similar holidays on different dates.
Family Day by province
Canadian provinces observe Family Day-related holidays on various dates:
- Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, BC: Third Monday of February (Family Day)
- Manitoba: Third Monday of February (Louis Riel Day)
- Quebec: Same day, not a public holiday (provincial Heritage Day)
- Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, PEI: No equivalent holiday
Several other countries observe family-themed holidays on or around the same period. The UK's Mother's Day and Father's Day are similar concepts.
Family Day FAQs
- When is Family Day? Third Monday of February.
- Which provinces observe it? Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, BC, and Manitoba.
- Is it a federal holiday? No, it is a provincial public holiday in Canada.
- What is Louis Riel Day? Manitoba's name for its third-Monday-of-February holiday, honouring the Métis leader.
Family Day activities
Family Day in Canada is typically observed with family gatherings, outdoor winter activities (skating, sledding, skiing), movie nights, and shared meals. Many Canadian municipalities host free public events including skating parties, fireworks, and community gatherings. Ski resorts typically see peak Family Day attendance.
The day coincides with school breaks in most participating provinces, making it a popular family travel period. Canadian tourism operators have marketed Family Day weekend packages. The day is increasingly framed as a counterweight to the more commercial holidays later in the year, emphasising family time over consumer activity.
Family Day and the economy
Family Day weekend has become an important retail and tourism period in participating provinces. Retailers have occasionally lobbied for the holiday to be moved to extend the calendar, though worker groups have typically opposed such moves. Ski resorts, restaurants, and entertainment venues report peak Family Day weekend activity.
The day also intersects with winter festival programming in many Canadian cities. Quebec's Carnaval de Quebec, Ottawa's Winterlude, and similar events often span Family Day weekend, drawing visitors from across the country.