Enjoy the time off for Civic Holiday

Civic Holiday, also known as Civic Day, is a holiday celebrated on the first Monday of August. The holiday officially started in 1895, when the city of Toronto became the first municipality in Canada to observe a midsummer “day of recreation”—which the Toronto Town Council dubbed Civic Holiday. Today, Civic Holiday is an opportunity for towns, cities, and municipalities to come together and foster community.

While Civic Holiday is observed across Canada, it’s not a federally recognized holiday—and there are areas that do not celebrate Civic Holiday on the first Monday of August, including Quebec, Yukon, and parts of Newfoundland. And because Civic Holiday is all about individual communities coming together, different places have different names for the holiday—like British Columbia Day in BC, Heritage Day in Alberta, and Natal Day in Nova Scotia.

But although different areas of Canada have different names for the holiday, generally, the celebrations are the same—community events like cultural festivals, fireworks displays, and community meals (like barbecues or breakfasts).

How to prepare

Our offices will be closed for Civic Holiday, so make sure to turn on your out-of-office message before you head out for the weekend.

How to take action

Civic Holiday is about honoring and connecting with your community. 

Here are some ideas to celebrate Civic Holiday and foster a deeper connection with your area:

• Visit a local museum
• Read a book about local history
• Attend a community event and introduce yourself to other community members