Interpretation Guidelines Manual
British Columbia Employment Standards Act and Regulations

Employment Standards Act Part 1 – Introductory Provisions

ESA Section 1 - Definitions - Statutory Holiday

Contents:

Summary
Text of Legislation
Policy Interpretation
Related Information


Summary

This section contains definitions for terms used throughout the Employment Standards Act and its Regulation.

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Text of Legislation

"statutory holiday" means New Year's Day, Good Friday, Victoria Day, Canada Day, British Columbia Day, Labour Day, Thanksgiving Day, Remembrance Day, Christmas Day, and any other holiday prescribed by regulation;

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Policy Interpretation

Statutory holidays are listed below:

Note: Easter Monday and Boxing Day are not statutory holidays.
Statutory Holiday Date
New Year's Day January 1st
Good Friday the Friday before Easter Sunday. Easter Sunday is the first Sunday after the full moon on or following March 21st, or one week later if the full moon falls on Sunday.
Victoria Day the first Monday before May 25th
Canada Day July 1st unless it falls on a Sunday, in which case, it is on July 2nd
B.C. Day the first Monday in August
Labour Day the first Monday in September
Thanksgiving Day the second Monday in October
Remembrance Day November 11th
Christmas Day December 25th


Refer to the Employment Standards Regulation for exclusions to statutory holiday entitlements under the Act.

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Related Information

Related sections of the Act or Regulation Other

See www.labour.gov.bc.ca/esb/facshts/


Factsheets

Statutory Holiday Dates – 2008 - 2011

Statutory Holidays

Collective Agreements and the Employment Standards Act

Commission Sales


High Technology Companies

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