Statutory holidays in British Columbia are legally mandated public holidays when qualified employees are entitled to paid days off. The BC government observes these statutory holidays throughout the year.
Through the Employment Standards Act of British Columbia, employees are ensured fair treatment through protections and benefits pertaining to minimum wage, statutory holidays, and overtime pay, among others.
This article provides essential information about BC statutory holidays (also called “stats”) and outlines the specific obligations that employers and employees must follow.
Key Takeaways
- Statutory holidays are public holidays that qualified employees in British Columbia get paid for even if they don’t work on those days.
- The list of stat holidays in British Columbia include New Year’s Day, Family Day, Good Friday, Victoria Day, Canada Day, B.C. Day, Labour Day, National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Thanksgiving Day, Remembrance Day, and Christmas Day.
- Employees who work on a statutory holiday earn 1.5 times their regular wage for the first 12 hours and double their regular wage thereafter.
Statutory Holidays in British Columbia for 2025
Below is the list of statutory holidays in British Columbia and their respective dates.
| Holiday | 2024 | 2025 |
| New Year’s Day | January 1 (Monday) | January 1 (Wednesday) |
| Family Day | February 19 (Monday) | February 17 (Monday) |
| Good Friday | March 29 (Friday) | April 18 (Friday) |
| Victoria Day | May 20 (Monday) | May 19 (Monday) |
| Canada Day | July 1 (Monday) | July 1 (Tuesday) |
| B.C. Day | August 5 (Monday) | August 4 (Monday) |
| Labour Day | September 2 (Monday) | September 1 (Monday) |
| National Day for Truth and Reconciliation | September 30 (Monday) | September 30 (Tuesday) |
| Thanksgiving Day | October 14 (Monday) | October 13 (Monday) |
| Remembrance Day | November 11 (Monday) | November 11 (Tuesday) |
| Christmas Day | December 25 (Wednesday) | December 25 (Thursday) |
Statutory Holiday Pay Rules in British Columbia
The pay for statutory holidays in British Columbia is equivalent to an average day’s earnings. Qualified employees receive this statutory holiday pay whether they work on the holiday or take the day off.
Below are the stat holiday pay rules in the province:
- Employees are entitled to statutory holiday pay if they:
- Have been employed for a minimum of 30 calendar days,
and
- Have worked or earned wages on 15 of the 30 days before the statutory holiday. This includes paid vacation days or other stat holidays.
- Employees who are not eligible for statutory holiday pay but render work on a stat holiday will receive their regular pay.
- Employees must work the day before and the day after the stat holiday to qualify for the statutory holiday pay.
Calculating Statutory Holiday Pay in British Columbia
Statutory holiday pay is calculated using this formula:
Statutory holiday pay (an average day’s pay) = Employee’s total wages ÷ number of days worked
The calculation is based on days worked during the 30 calendar days preceding the stat holiday. This includes all wages, except for overtime.
Total wages include the following: Regular pay, salary, commissions, paid vacation days, statutory holiday pay, and paid sick leave mandated by employment standards.
Number of days worked refer to any days when the employee earns wages, including: Paid vacation days, other paid stat holidays, and paid sick days mandated by employment standards.
Additional compensation for working on a Statutory Holiday
Employees receive time-and-a-half for hours worked on a stat holiday. They receive double-time if they work over 12 hours.
Labour Standards for Statutory Holidays in British Columbia
Below are some of the statutory holiday pay rules in British Columbia:
- An employee who is on day off on a public holiday, or is permitted a substitute day off, must be compensated with an amount equivalent to at least an average day’s pay.
- Employees not qualified for statutory holidays are not entitled to receive statutory holiday pay, regardless of whether or not they work on that day. If they work on a public holiday, their compensation will be the same as any regular working day.
- To calculate an average day’s pay, divide the amount paid or payable in the 30 calendar days prior to the stat holiday by the number of days worked.
- When a statutory holiday falls on an employee’s day off, the employer is under no obligation to provide another day off.
What Happens If a Statutory Holiday in British Columbia Falls on a Weekend?
If a statutory holiday in British Columbia falls on a non-work day, an alternative day will be observed as the holiday, usually the Friday before the holiday or the following Monday. Employers have the option to pick what day will be observed as the holiday.
FAQs
Can an employee substitute another day for a statutory holiday?
Yes. An employer and an employee may mutually agree in writing to designate an alternative day to substitute a stat holiday. The substitute day they have agreed upon must be observed and treated in the same way as a regular stat holiday.
What is the new statutory holiday in Canada BC?
The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is now a statutory holiday in British Columbia. The recognition came after the province passed legislation in March 2023 to make September 30 a stat holiday.
How many official holidays are there in British Columbia?
There are 11 stat holidays in BC. These include New Year’s Day, Family Day, Good Friday, Victoria Day, Canada Day, B.C. Day, Labour Day, Thanksgiving Day, Remembrance Day, Christmas Day, and the recently recognized public holiday, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
What are the requirements for the employee to be eligible for holiday pay in British Columbia?
For an employee in British Canada to qualify for stat holiday pay, they must have been employed for 30 calendar days preceding the statutory holiday, and have been earning wages on 15 of the 30 days prior to the stat holiday.
Related: Statutory Holidays in Ontario
