Victoria Day: New Brunswick's Holiday

Victoria Day is a federal Canadian public holiday observed on the last Monday preceding May 25 to honour Queen Victoria. However, it is not a statutory holiday in New Brunswick, along with provinces such as Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. In New Brunswick, it is a prescribed day of rest, meaning retail businesses must be closed, but it is not a paid public holiday.

Victoria Day is not a statutory holiday in New Brunswick

Victoria Day is a federal Canadian public holiday observed on the last Monday preceding May 25 to honour Queen Victoria, who is known as the "Mother of Confederation". The holiday has existed in Canada since at least 1845, originally on Victoria's natural birthday, May 24. It is a federal statutory holiday, as well as a holiday in six of Canada's ten provinces and all three of its territories. However, it is important to note that Victoria Day is not a statutory holiday in all parts of Canada, including the province of New Brunswick.

In New Brunswick, Victoria Day is not recognised as a statutory holiday. This means that many businesses in the province remain operational on the day before May 25. While it is not a paid public holiday, it is considered a government holiday in New Brunswick. As such, government offices and some other businesses may be closed, but there is no requirement for private businesses to provide their employees with a day off.

The recognition of Victoria Day as a government holiday in New Brunswick reflects the day's significance as the reigning sovereign's official birthday. This distinction sets it apart from other days that are not considered statutory holidays in the province, such as Thanksgiving and Boxing Day. While these days are also not statutory holidays, they are not designated as government holidays and therefore do not involve any official closures.

The status of Victoria Day as a government holiday in New Brunswick highlights the variation in how the day is observed across Canada. While it is not a statutory holiday in the province, its recognition as a government holiday underscores its importance and provides an opportunity for residents to honour the reigning sovereign and participate in related celebrations and traditions.

It is a prescribed day of rest when businesses must close

Victoria Day is not a statutory holiday in New Brunswick. However, according to the Days of Rest Act, it is a prescribed day of rest when businesses must close. This means that while many businesses are operational on the day before May 25th, retail businesses in New Brunswick must be closed. This is also the case in Newfoundland and Labrador, where Victoria Day is a government holiday.

The Days of Rest Act identifies specific days during the year that businesses in New Brunswick must be closed. These include the weekly day of rest (Sunday) and eleven prescribed days of rest throughout the year. These days are: New Year's Day, Family Day, Good Friday, Victoria Day, Canada Day, New Brunswick Day, Labour Day, Thanksgiving Day, Remembrance Day, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day.

The status of Victoria Day varies across Canada's provinces and territories. It is a general holiday in Alberta, Manitoba, the Northwest Territories, and Yukon and a statutory holiday in British Columbia, Ontario, and Saskatchewan. In some provinces, such as Newfoundland and Labrador, Victoria Day is not a public holiday, but a government holiday, and retail businesses must be closed.

The day before May 25th is observed as National Patriots' Day in Quebec, a paid statutory holiday. In Nova Scotia, it is considered a "non-statutory holiday" and is not a designated retail closing day.

It is a general holiday to mark the reigning sovereign's birthday

Victoria Day is not a statutory holiday in New Brunswick, but the province does have a day to itself—New Brunswick Day, which is observed on the first Monday in August. This day is celebrated with community activities such as cake cutting, musical events, and sporting tournaments, all to foster the spirit of togetherness.

However, Victoria Day is a general holiday to mark the reigning sovereign's birthday. The reigning sovereign of the UK and the Commonwealth is King Charles III, who became sovereign following the death of Queen Elizabeth II on 8 September 2022. Elizabeth II was the second-longest reigning monarch in world history, with 70 years and 127 days on the throne.

The sovereign is a title applied to the highest leader, derived from the Latin word 'superānus', meaning "above". In most hereditary monarchies, there are no limits on the duration of a sovereign's reign. The sovereign is the supreme ruler and possesses ultimate power.

It is not a paid public holiday for provincially regulated employees

Victoria Day is a federal Canadian public holiday observed on the last Monday preceding May 25 to honour Queen Victoria, who is known as the "Mother of Confederation". The holiday has existed in Canada since at least 1845, originally on Victoria's natural birthday, May 24. While Victoria Day is a federal statutory holiday, it is not a paid public holiday for provincially regulated employees in New Brunswick.

In New Brunswick, Victoria Day is considered a prescribed day of rest, as outlined in the Days of Rest Act, which mandates that businesses must be closed on this day. This means that while many businesses are operational on the day, retail businesses are required by law to be closed. Provincially regulated employees in New Brunswick are not entitled to a paid day off on Victoria Day.

The status of Victoria Day varies across Canada's provinces and territories. It is a general holiday in Alberta, Manitoba, the Northwest Territories, and Yukon, and a statutory holiday in British Columbia, Ontario, and Saskatchewan. In Newfoundland and Labrador, Victoria Day is not a public holiday, but a paid holiday for government employees. In Nova Scotia, it is not a designated retail closing day, but is considered a "non-statutory holiday". Prince Edward Island provincial legislation defines "holiday" to include Victoria Day, but it is not one of the eight paid public holidays in the province.

It is important to note that the majority of workplaces in Canada are regulated by provincial or territorial governments, which is why the entitlement to a paid day off on Victoria Day depends on the province or territory of residence, with the exception of employees in federally regulated workplaces such as banks.

It is a federal Canadian public holiday observed on the last Monday before May 25

Victoria Day is a federal Canadian public holiday observed on the last Monday before May 25. It is a day to honour Queen Victoria, who is known as the "Mother of Confederation". The holiday has existed in Canada since at least 1845, originally celebrated on Victoria's actual birthday, May 24. It falls on the Monday between the 18th and the 24th (inclusive) and is always the penultimate Monday of May.

The holiday has been a distinctly Canadian observance and continues to be celebrated across the country. It is informally considered the start of the summer season in Canada. It is also referred to as "May Two-Four", a double entendre that refers to the date around which the holiday falls (May 24) and Canadian slang for a case of 24 beers, a popular drink during the long weekend.

While Victoria Day is a federal statutory holiday, it is not a statutory holiday in New Brunswick. However, it is listed as an optional holiday in the province. This means that while it is not a day off for everyone, some businesses and organisations may be closed.

The history of Victoria Day dates back to the mid-19th century, when the Parliament of the Province of Canada sought to create a new public holiday that would unite English and French Canadians, helping them transcend their cultural and religious differences. Queen Victoria's birthday was chosen as a date that appealed to both groups, and at the time, loyalty to the Crown was seen as a key trait that distinguished Canada from the United States.

In 1845, the Queen's birthday was officially designated a public holiday by legislation, making it Canada's oldest official holiday. After Queen Victoria's death in 1901, the holiday was made a perpetual statutory holiday to remember her contribution to Canadian Confederation. In 1952, the date was changed from May 24 to the last Monday before May 25, ensuring most Canadians would enjoy a long weekend.

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