Thanksgiving Monday, which falls on October 13 this year, is a public holiday in Ontario — and most employees are entitled to take the day off with pay.
As a federally recognized statutory holiday, Thanksgiving applies to both public and private sector employees. Eligible workers are entitled to receive public holiday pay, which is calculated to reflect a regular day’s wages. Businesses that close for the holiday must still pay qualifying employees as though they worked a normal shift.
Some sectors, however, continue to operate through the holiday. Employees in industries like restaurants, hospitals, hotels, and other continuous operations may be required to work on Thanksgiving Monday. In these cases, employers are legally required either to provide a substitute day off with pay or to pay a premium rate for hours worked on the holiday.
Ontario has nine public holidays each year, including New Year’s Day, Family Day, Good Friday, Victoria Day, Canada Day, Labour Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day.
Thanksgiving has deep historical roots in Canada, introduced to Nova Scotia in the 1750s and widely observed by the 1870s. It was officially proclaimed in 1957 as an annual celebration of the fall harvest, taking place on the second Monday of October.
In short, for most Ontarians, Thanksgiving Monday means a well-deserved day off — and a guaranteed paid holiday. Those who do work can expect extra compensation as required by law.