Remembrance Day in Canadian Law: What the Holidays Act Really Means

Sara Santos-Vigneault
13 hours ago
4 min read

Written By: Sara Santos-Vigneault

Date: November 11, 2025

Red tulips in sunlight with a memorial stone background. The text "LEST WE FORGET" is visible, evoking a solemn, respectful mood. — Photo by chris robert on Unsplash

How the Holidays Act Recognizes Remembrance Day

On November 11, Canadians pause to remember those who served and died in the nation’s military conflicts.

Over 120,000 Canadian service members have lost their lives in wartime, and more than 227,000 were wounded in the First and Second World Wars alone.[4]

[5] The majority were young—many between the ages of 18 and 25—enlisting from farms, towns, and cities across the country. Their stories, and their sacrifice, form the foundation of Canada’s Remembrance Day observance. This day of national reflection gained formal legal standing through a 2018 amendment to the Holidays Act. The revised statute designates November 11 as a legal holiday to be known as Remembrance Day. [1]

The legislation—An Act to amend the Holidays Act (Remembrance Day)—received Royal Assent on March 1, 2018. It modified section 3 of the Holidays Act to formally name Remembrance Day as a legal holiday. This change applies to federally regulated employees. [2]

It is important to note that statutory holiday status is governed by provincial and territorial jurisdictions. While the federal government legally recognizes Remembrance Day, each province determines whether it is a paid day off. For example, Ontario and Quebec do not designate November 11 as a statutory holiday, whereas provinces like British Columbia and Alberta do. [3]

Canada’s Role in the World Wars

During the First World War, more than 650,000 Canadians and Newfoundlanders served. Approximately 66,000 lost their lives, and over 170,000 were wounded. The war had a profound effect on Canada’s national identity and international standing. Canada signed the Treaty of Versailles independently, a major step in asserting its sovereignty. [4]

The Second World War saw over 1.1 million Canadians serve in various military branches. Military deaths totalled approximately 44,090.

Canadian forces participated in key battles, including the Italian Campaign, the Normandy invasion, and the liberation of the Netherlands. [5]

Who Served: Age, Background, and Sacrifice

Those who served in both world wars came from diverse regions and communities across Canada. The majority were young men in their late teens and early twenties. Many Indigenous, Black, and immigrant Canadians enlisted despite facing discrimination. Thousands of women also served as nurses, clerical staff, and in auxiliary roles.

One such young Canadian was Private Thomas Ricketts of Newfoundland, who enlisted at age 15. During an attack in Belgium in October 1918, Ricketts advanced under heavy fire to retrieve ammunition and provide cover for his unit. His bravery enabled the capture of enemy guns and prisoners. At age 17, he was awarded the Victoria Cross—the highest military decoration for valour in the British Empire—making him the youngest combatant to receive it. His story is commemorated in Newfoundland and remains a symbol of youth, courage, and sacrifice. [6]

Another powerful example is Nursing Sister Mabel Clint, who served in France during the First World War. Clint, originally from Montreal, kept detailed diaries of her service in field hospitals. She wrote about the relentless stream of wounded soldiers, the pressure of working under bombardment, and the emotional toll of treating young men with grievous injuries. Her writing reveals the often overlooked mental and physical demands placed on women in uniform. She was later invalided home due to illness, but her records offer invaluable insight into the war’s human cost. [7]

The story of Sergeant Tommy Prince, an Indigenous Canadian from Manitoba and member of the elite First Special Service Force in WWII, stands as a testament to perseverance and service despite systemic racism. Fluent in multiple languages and skilled in stealth tactics, Prince famously disguised himself as a farmer to repair a broken communications wire under enemy fire—an act that earned him the Military Medal. He later served in the Korean War as well. After the war, Prince faced poverty and discrimination, highlighting the systemic barriers Indigenous veterans faced even after heroic service. [8]

The National Books of Remembrance, located in the Peace Tower on Parliament Hill, list over 118,000 Canadian service members who have died in conflict. [9]

Ceremony with uniformed Canadian Mounted Police RCMP officer by a monument adorned with wreaths and poppies. Crowd observes somberly. Fall trees in background. — Image by <a href="

Remembrance Day in Canadian Culture

The origin of Remembrance Day traces back to Armistice Day, which was first observed in 1919. In 1931, Parliament changed the name to Remembrance Day and established November 11 as the official date of commemoration. [1]

National ceremonies are held at the National War Memorial in Ottawa and in communities across Canada. At 11:00 a.m., a moment of silence is observed to mark the end of hostilities in 1918. Red poppies are worn as a symbol of remembrance, a tradition inspired by the poem "In Flanders Fields."

Remembrance Day now honours all Canadian military service members, including those who served in Korea, in peacekeeping missions, and in modern conflicts such as Afghanistan. Veterans such as Master Corporal Paul Franklin, who lost both legs in a 2006 attack in Kandahar, continue to advocate for better support systems for Canadian veterans today. [10]

Legal Recognition and Its Symbolic Importance

The 2018 amendment to the Holidays Act may not change paid leave across all provinces, but it provides uniform federal recognition of the day. It affirms the significance of remembrance as a national value and supports a shared moment of reflection across jurisdictions. [2]

The Ongoing Role of Remembrance Day in Canadian Law

Remembrance Day reflects Canada’s legal, cultural, and historical commitment to honouring military service. The legal recognition under the Holidays Act ensures that the sacrifices made by Canadians in uniform are observed and respected across the country, even if practical observance varies by province. [3]