As a business owner or employee in Prince Edward Island, it is essential to have a full working knowledge of statutory holidays in Canada. This includes knowing your entitlements, pay calculations, retail closures, and other related regulations.
In this guide, we’ll cover all the key details specific to Prince Edward Island. Whether you’re looking for clear answers on eligibility, exceptions, or what happens when holidays fall on weekends, this guide has you covered.
What are the Statutory Holidays in Prince Edward Island in 2026?
Below, find the full schedule of 8 official statutory holidays alongside 5 optional general holidays for Prince Edward Island in 2026.
Official Statutory Holidays in PEI
Here are the 8 official paid statutory holiday dates that employees are entitled to have off work with pay in 2024, 2025 and 2026:
| PEI Holidays | 2024 Date | 2025 Date | 2026 Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | Monday, January 1 | Wednesday, January 1 | Thursday, January 1 |
| Islander Day | Monday, February 19 | Monday, February 17 | Monday, February 16 |
| Good Friday | Friday, March 29 | Friday, April 18 | Friday, April 3 |
| Canada Day | Monday, July 1 | Tuesday, July 1 | Wednesday, July 1 |
| Labour Day | Monday, September 2 | Monday, September 1 | Monday, September 7 |
| National Day for Truth and Reconciliation | Monday, September 30 | Tuesday, September 30 | Wednesday, September 30 |
| Remembrance Day | Monday, November 11 | Tuesday, November 11 | Wednesday, November 11 |
| Christmas Day | Wednesday, December 25 | Thursday, December 25 | Friday, December 25 |
Source: Government of Prince Edward Island – Paid Holidays
Optional General Holidays in PEI
Employers may choose to observe the optional general holidays in PEI.
| PEI Holidays | 2024 Date | 2025 Date | 2026 Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Easter Monday | Monday, April 1 | Monday, April 21 | Monday, April 6 |
| Victoria Day | Monday, May 20 | Monday, May 19 | Monday, May 18 |
| Civic Holiday | Monday, August 5 | Monday, August 4 | Monday, August 3 |
| Thanksgiving Day | Monday, October 14 | Monday, October 13 | Monday, October 12 |
| Boxing Day | Thursday, December 26 | Friday, December 26 | Saturday, December 26 |
Who Qualifies for Statutory Holiday Pay in Prince Edward Island?
For an employee to qualify for a paid statutory holiday day off in PEI, the following three criteria must be met:
Length of Employment
Employees must work for the same organization for at least 30 calendar days before the public holiday. For example, if calculating for Canada Day on July 1, they would need to have started on or before June 1.
Days Earned Wages in Prior 30 Days
In the 30 calendar days immediately before the statutory holiday, the employee must earn wages on at least 15 of those days. “Pay days” usually mean days you were paid wages (for hours worked) and may include paid vacation or other paid leave if your employer actually paid you for those days.
Last Regular Shift Before and After
The employee must complete their last regularly scheduled shift right before the statutory holiday and the first regularly scheduled shift immediately after.
Exceptions are made if the employer requires them not to come in on either qualifying day. Weekend alignments also provide entitlement to a substitute day.
Which Employees Are Ineligible for Statutory Holiday Pay in Prince Edward Island?
There are two primary employee groups excluded from statutory holiday pay eligibility:
- Commissioned Sales Employees: Employees earn the majority of their income through sales commissions rather than standard wages. However, the employer can still provide a paid day off if desired.
- Agricultural Farm Labourers: Those employed as farm labourers do not qualify. But again, the agricultural employer can elect to provide statutory holiday benefits if they wish.
So, in summary, commissioned salespersons and farm workers don’t automatically qualify for paid statutory holidays. While the law does not require employers to provide paid holidays for these workers, employers may choose to offer them as a company benefit.
How is Statutory Holiday Pay Calculated in Prince Edward Island?
For qualified employees who are given the statutory holiday off, employers must provide regular day’s wages for that day, determined by either:
Standard Daily Hours and Earnings
If an employee earns the same fixed wages and works the same hours every day, this daily wage rate can be used to calculate statutory holiday pay.
Average Daily Wage in 30 Days Prior
For fluctuating hourly wages or irregular shifts, the employer can calculate an average daily wage earned over the 30 calendar days leading up to the public holiday as follows:
The sum of All Regular Wages Earned in the Prior 30 Days ÷ the Number of Days Worked in the Prior 30 Days
Any overtime pay can be removed from the averaging calculation.
Let’s walk through an example:
Julie worked 22 of 30 days before the July 1 holiday. She earned $1,485 in regular wages over those 22 days worked. Her average daily wage would be:
- Total Regular Wages = $1,485
- Days Worked = 22
- $1485 / 22 = $67.50 average per day
So Julie receives $67.50 statutory holiday pay.
Now that we’ve covered payment calculations for days off, let’s examine the pay owed when working on statutory holidays.
Pay Entitlements for Working Statutory Holidays in Prince Edward Island
For qualified employees who work on a statutory holiday, PEI employers must provide either:
Option 1: Premium Overtime Pay
- Regular statutory holiday pay
- Plus, overtime wages at 1.5x the regular rate for all hours worked during the public holiday
Option 2: Substitute Paid Day Off
- Regular statutory holiday pay
- Plus, a substitute day off with pay before the next vacation
If choosing the second option, the date of the substitute day off must be agreed upon in advance by the employer and employee.
Let’s use a couple of examples to illustrate the alternatives:
Amanda earns $15 per hour regular wage rate. She works 8 hours on July 1, Canada Day, a statutory holiday. Her statutory holiday and overtime pay would be:
- $67.50 statutory holiday pay
- Plus 8 hours x 1.5 x $15/hour overtime = $210
- Total Pay = $277.50
Alternatively, Amanda may choose to receive her $67.50 statutory holiday pay along with a mutually agreed-upon substitute paid day off to be taken before her next vacation.
So, as demonstrated, employers have two options when employees work on statutory holidays: overtime premium or a future substitute day.
What Other Leaves and Benefits Come with Statutory Holidays in Prince Edward Island
On top of statutory holiday entitlements, a few other employment standards-related regulations must be followed in PEI:
Minimum Wage
PEI’s minimum hourly wage is currently $16.50 per hour, as of 1 Oct 2025, for standard work weeks.
Vacation Pay
In PEI, most employees earn vacation pay of at least 4% of wages. After 8 years with the same employer, vacation pay increases to at least 6% of wages. (Source)
Read our guide to understand Vacation & Paid Time Off Policies in Canada
Leaves of Absence in Prince Edward Island
Employers must also provide various job-protected leaves of absence for personal sickness, family care, bereavement, pregnancy/parental leave, etc.
Unpaid Sick Leave: After working for 3 months, you get up to 3 unpaid sick days each year.
Paid Sick Leave: Starting October 1, 2024, you also earn paid sick days based on your time with the company:
- After 1 year of work: 1 paid day
- After 2 years of work: 2 paid days
- After 3 years of work: 3 paid days
Family leave: If you’ve worked for at least 6 months, you can take up to 3 unpaid days per year to care for a family member’s health or other needs.
Compassionate Care Leave: This is a longer, unpaid leave for when you need to care for a family member with a serious medical condition who is at risk of passing away.
- You can take up to 28 weeks of job-protected leave.
- You will need to provide a doctor’s certificate.
Bereavement Leave
- For a close family member: You get 1 paid day off. You can take up to 2 additional unpaid days if needed.
- For an extended family member: You can take up to 3 unpaid days off.
Pregnancy Leave: Up to 17 weeks for the person giving birth.
Parental Leave: Up to 62 weeks for any new parent, whether by birth or adoption.
Source: Leave Options – Government of Prince Edward Island
Rest and Meal Breaks
Employers must give one uninterrupted 30-minute unpaid break for every 5 consecutive hours worked. If duties prevent taking the full break, it becomes paid time.
Termination Notice Periods
Minimum termination notice period requirements depend on years of service, with relevant exceptions factored in.
While we have covered surrounding statutory holidays in Prince Edward Island, each Canadian province and territory has its own set of public holiday legislation. Some key provincial statutory holiday references:
- Statutory Holidays in Quebec
- Statutory Holidays in Manitoba
- Statutory Holidays in Ontario
- Statutory Holidays in Saskatchewan
- Statutory Holidays in Alberta
The bottom line
In summary, alongside managing statutory holidays, PEI employers must be aware of and aligned with minimum wage rates, vacation pay accruals, protected leaves, mandated breaks, termination notices and other employment standards.
FAQs on Statutory Holidays PEI
What if you work on a statutory holiday in Prince Edward Island?
If an employee works on statutory holiday, the employer must pay either public holiday pay plus premium 1.5x overtime wages, or public holiday pay plus a substitute day off.
Can commission salespersons get stat pay in PEI?
While commission sales employees are exempt from statutory holiday pay eligibility, employers can choose to still provide the benefit if they wish.
Are farm workers entitled to public holiday pay in PEI?
Agricultural farm workers do not automatically qualify for statutory holiday pay but farmers can decide to extend eligibility if they want.
Do statutory holidays impact vacation pay in PEI?
Yes, employees earn 4% vacation pay on top of gross wages in PEI, increasing to 6% after 8 consecutive years with the same employer.
