Civic Holiday 2026: What’s Open and Closed on August 3 in Canada

Canada’s August long weekend arrives on Monday, August 3, 2026, but the Civic Holiday will not create one nationwide closure schedule. Whether employees receive a paid day off—and whether banks, stores or public services close—depends on the province, municipality and employer.

Government offices and banks are among the most likely closures in participating regions. Grocery stores, malls, pharmacies, attractions and transit systems may remain open with reduced or holiday hours.

What is the Civic Holiday in Canada?

The Civic Holiday falls on the first Monday of August. It is known as British Columbia Day, Saskatchewan Day, New Brunswick Day, Terry Fox Day in Manitoba and Heritage Day in Alberta.

Ontario generally calls it the Civic Holiday, although local names include Simcoe Day in Toronto, Colonel By Day in Ottawa and John Galt Day in Guelph.

The Government of Canada’s 2026 public holiday calendar lists August 3 as Civic Holiday and excludes Quebec. However, that federal calendar does not mean every Canadian worker is automatically entitled to paid leave.

Who gets August 3 off in 2026?

British Columbia, Saskatchewan, New Brunswick, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut recognize the first Monday in August as a statutory holiday. Eligible employees generally receive public-holiday entitlements under their jurisdiction’s employment rules.

Ontario, Alberta, Manitoba and Nova Scotia widely observe the day, but it is not a province-wide statutory holiday in those jurisdictions. Private employers may remain open, and an employee’s paid leave can depend on workplace policy, an employment contract or a collective agreement.

Quebec, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Yukon do not have the same province-wide August 3 observance, although individual communities may recognize local civic holidays.

Why Quebec does not observe Civic Holiday

Quebec celebrates its National Holiday, commonly called Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day, on June 24. Civic Holiday is not included among the province’s eight general statutory holidays.

Quebec’s holiday calendar reflects its own cultural and historical observances. The difference can be seen in Montreal’s Quebec National Day and Canada Day closure schedule, where provincial and federal holidays affect services differently.

Employees should confirm their entitlement with their employer rather than assuming that federal, provincial and municipal holiday calendars provide identical days off.

Are banks, grocery stores and malls open?

Many bank branches, government offices, municipal counters, courts and public libraries will close in communities observing Civic Holiday. Online banking, mobile apps, ATMs and card payments should remain available, but staff-assisted transactions may wait until the next business day.

Mail and post-office schedules can vary by region. Customers should check their local location instead of assuming that one rule applies across Canada.

Some grocery stores, pharmacies, restaurants, cinemas and tourist attractions will open with reduced hours. Selected LCBO and Beer Store locations may also operate. Toronto-area reporting indicates that several malls, along with some Farm Boy, Rabba Fine Foods, Shoppers Drug Mart and Rexall locations, will open.

Hours can differ between branches of the same chain. Shoppers should therefore verify the exact location before travelling. The wider pattern differs from Canada Day closures affecting banks, malls and transit, because Civic Holiday is not observed uniformly.

Toronto and Durham transit schedules

Toronto’s TTC will operate Sunday service, beginning at approximately 6 a.m. GO Transit will follow a Saturday schedule, while UP Express will use its weekend and holiday timetable.

Durham Region Transit will operate weekend service. Its On Demand Call Centre will remain available from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., but the DRT Customer Service Desk in Ajax and the regular customer service call centre will close.

Durham Region services affected

Durham Regional Headquarters in Whitby will close, including Provincial Offences Courts, Ontario Works, Child Care and Early Years services, 311 counters and call centre operations.

Ontario Works offices in Ajax, Oshawa, Whitby and Uxbridge will be unavailable. Family Services Durham, directly operated child-care centres and adult day programs at Hillsdale Estates and Lakeview Manor will also close.

Oral health, sexual health, breastfeeding and immunization clinics will not operate. Water-sample drop-off and pickup will be unavailable at designated locations on July 31 and August 3, with regular service returning Tuesday, August 4, at 8:30 a.m.

Durham Region Outreach will continue supporting people experiencing homelessness. Online court payment and document services will remain accessible, but submissions will not be monitored during the closure.

What to check before August 3

Residents should complete branch banking, government paperwork and essential clinic visits before the weekend where possible. Grocery, pharmacy, mall, liquor-store and attraction hours should be checked directly because operating times may change by location.

The practical rule is simple: public offices are most likely to close, transit will usually continue on modified schedules, and private businesses will make location-specific decisions. Workers should confirm their employer’s policy before treating August 3 as guaranteed paid leave.

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