For the Canadians: Why is Today a Civic Holiday?

Fred19Flintstone

My calendar says for today: "Civic Holiday (Canada)"  What's up with that?

golfandgrill

My Canadian friend told me "because now it's August and we need another one"

Jeronamo

Too much to explain as it varies by province. Check out this link.... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civic_Holiday

Fred19Flintstone

I was thinking maybe it was "National Tune Up Your Snowblower Day" in preparation for when winter starts next month.

hotwheels

 

Fred19Flintstone said:

I was thinking maybe it was "National Tune Up Your Snowblower Day" in preparation for when winter starts next month.

I think Fred19Flintstone might be a little jealous. :-)  I would be too, if I had to wait until September 2nd for the next holiday.  And worse than that, some poor people never get the thrill of running a powerfull snowblower up and down the driveway in two feet of snow.  Yup, some people just have no luck at all. ;-)

gerhardk

We have a Holiday Monday first weekend in February as well, at least in Ontario, because out former Premier thought it would buy a few votes.

Gerhard

TexanOfTheNorth

gerhardk said:

We have a Holiday Monday first weekend in February as well, at least in Ontario, because out former Premier thought it would buy a few votes.

Gerhard

At least they gave that one a name... "Family Day". Plus, we get "Boxing Day" off (i.e., the day after Christmas)

hondabbq

During our Civic Long weekend this past weekend my wife and I were discussing American long weekends. How often do you guys get a long weekend? In Manitoba it works out to 11 out of 12 months.

henapple

Memorial day
Labor day
Good Friday
Thanksgiving

Skiddymarker

Depends on where you live. just like the US. 

Washington State shows 10 days in 2013. same as BC.

http://dor.wa.gov/content/contactus/localoffices/con_hldy.aspx

http://www.labour.gov.bc.ca/esb/facshts/stats.htm

School starts after Labour Day pretty much everywhere across Canada. Summer is short, so most provinces have a holiday on the first Monday in August.As @Fred19Flintstone points out, it is the only Holiday I know of without a reason other than let's have a day off.  

CharlieTN

It used to be called "Consolation Holiday" instead of "Civic Holiday" and was a consolation for the long dark winters and tons of snow.  In Alaska they decided to simply pay the residents yearly for putting up with it.