In New Brunswick, there are a number of holidays on the calendar over the course of the year. Some of these are “public” with paid time off, and some are not. There are 12 days a year when all businesses must be closed to let people spend time with their loved ones. In some provinces—not New Brunswick—businesses and services must remain closed on Sundays.
Public holidays
A paid public holiday is a holiday for which employers are required to pay employees for the day off. If you work a public holiday, employers must pay a rate of time and a half, or potentially pay the employee an additional average day’s pay.
The paid public holidays observed in New Brunswick are:
- New Year’s Day: January 1st
- Family Day: 3rd Monday in February
- Good Friday: varies each year
- Canada Day: July 1st
- New Brunswick Day: 1st Monday in August
- Labour Day: 1st Monday in September
- Remembrance Day: November 11th
- Christmas Day: December 25th
Note that these public holidays do come with some conditions.
Other holidays
Holidays on the Canadian calendar that are not public include:
- Mother’s Day: 2nd Sunday in May
- Victoria Day: 3rd Monday in May (school holiday, most stores and offices are closed)
- Father’s Day: 3rd Sunday in June
- Thanksgiving Day: 2nd Monday in October (school holiday, most stores and offices are closed)
- Boxing Day: December 26th (school holiday, most stores and offices are closed)
- National Day for Truth and Reconciliation: September 30 (school holiday, most stores and offices are closed)
If you have children, take note that there are several days that students do not attend school, but it is not a public holiday. You will have to arrange their stay out of school. And, of course, there are school vacations!