Victoria Day 2025: Find out if you are eligible for public holiday pay

Victoria Day, celebrated on the Monday preceding May 25 each year, marks the official start of the summer season in Canada. The holiday honors Queen Victoria's birthday and is observed as a statutory holiday in Ontario. Besides this Toronto is gearing up to celebrate Victoria Day with fireworks, outdoor fun, and community events.

Highlights include a spectacular fireworks show at Ashbridges Bay Park on May 19 at 10:00 PM local time and another at Canada’s Wonderland on May 18 at 10:00 PM local time. Other local celebrations, like the Whitchurch-Stouffville Memorial Park fireworks on May 16, will feature food trucks and live music.

Overall, it’s a significant day for workers as it provides an opportunity for a long weekend, but it also comes with specific rules and regulations, particularly regarding employee rights and pay.


Here’s what you need to know about Victoria Day in Ontario:

• Holiday Date: Victoria Day will be observed on Monday, May 19, 2025.
  
  
  
• Eligibility for public holiday pay:
  
  
  
• Most employees are entitled to a day off with public holiday pay.
  
  
  
• Employees must have worked their last scheduled shift before the holiday and their first scheduled shift after it.
  
  
  
• Employees must have worked at least 15 days in the 30 days leading up to the holiday.
  
  
  
• Who is included:
  
  
  
• Full-time and part-time employees who meet the eligibility criteria.
  
  
  
• Employees on temporary contracts may also qualify depending on their work history.
  
  
  
• Exceptions:
  
  
  
• Employees in certain sectors (e.g., essential services, retail) may be required to work on Victoria Day and could receive additional pay or time off.
  
  
  
• Employer obligations:
  
  
  
• Employers must inform employees about their rights related to public holidays.
  
  
  
• Employees working on the holiday should receive premium pay (typically 1.5x their regular hourly rate) or an alternate day off, depending on their work agreement.
  
  
  

Besides celebrating Canada’s history, this day also reminds employees of their rights when it comes to working on public holidays.