Statutory Holidays + Closures

General Holidays

Employees at the university observe 11 general holidays.

Alberta’s Nine General (Statutory) Holidays

  • New Year's Day
  • Alberta Family Day
  • Good Friday
  • Victoria Day
  • Canada Day
  • Labour Day
  • Thanksgiving Day
  • Remembrance Day
  • Christmas Day

Two Optional General Holidays

  • Easter Monday
  • Heritage Day

Winter Closure

Employees will be entitled to four days off during the regular work week period from December 26 to December 31 inclusive for Winter Closure.

National Day for Truth + Reconciliation

The U of A will be closed for regular operations and there will be no classes on Saturday, September 30, 2023 in observance of National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. As this is a day of reflection and learning, and not a statutory holiday, there is no day observed in lieu.
If your normal work week is Monday to Friday, there will be no change in your schedule. If you work an irregular schedule or the weekends, please refer to the Closure Day Payroll Guidelines.

Paid Holidays

If a paid holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the paid holiday will be observed on the following Monday. These are considered designated paid days off and are treated as a rest day under the terms of the Collective Agreements and Handbooks.

Questions?
Visit the Staff Service Centre.

2023-24 Upcoming Paid Holidays

Subscribe to the Pay, Time Off + Holidays Calendar

Upcoming Paid Holidays
Holiday Date
Labour Day Monday, September 4, 2023
Thanksgiving Monday, October 9, 2023
Remembrance Day Saturday, November 11, 20231
Christmas Day Monday, December 25, 2023
Winter Closure From Tuesday, December 26–Friday, December 29, 20232
New Year's Day Monday, January 1, 2024
Family Day Monday, February 19, 2024
Good Friday Friday, March 29, 2024
Easter Monday Monday, April 1, 2024
Victoria Day Monday, May 20, 2024
Canada Day Monday, July 1, 2024
Heritage Day Monday, August 5, 2024
1. As Remembrance Day 2023 falls on a Saturday, it will be recognized on Monday, November 13 in lieu.
2. Please refer to the Winter Closure  and Winter Closure Effect on Pay  reference guides for instructions on how support staff pay is administered during winter closure. Guidelines for the current year will be updated prior to the date.

Eligibility for General Holiday Pay

Employees are eligible for general holiday pay as listed in the table below. General holiday pay is paid across the pay periods the month the holiday occurs. Depending on their schedules, some part-time employees also receive holiday pay as part of their salary. Additionally, please note that:

  • Not all employees are eligible to receive pay for optional general holidays.
  • Part-time employees are not eligible to receive general holiday pay for days they were not scheduled to work.

General Holiday Pay by Employee Type

General Holiday Pay by Employee Type
Employee Type Eligibility and Rate of Pay
Regular Support Staff General holiday pay is included in regular salary.
Auxiliary Hourly Support Staff Eligible for the 9 statutory holidays and the two optional holidays. Pay is calculated at a rate of 4.23% on all regular earnings and processed each pay period on all regular hours worked. These employees will see statutory pay code 077 on their paycheques.
Part Time Salaried Support Staff If general holiday falls on a scheduled work day, employees receive their regular earnings for that day.
Casual 1 Full Time Students, Casual 1, Casual 2 Eligible for the 9 statutory holidays and will receive 3.46% stat pay which is processed each pay period on all regular hours worked. These employees will see statutory pay code 074 on their paycheques.
Supplement Trades Receive 10% vacation pay, which is a combination of 4% statutory holiday pay and 6% vacation pay. This is based on their trade agreements. These employees will see the vacation code 720 on their paycheques.
Faculty, Faculty Service Officer, Librarians, Academic Teaching Staff, Trust/Research Academic Staff, Administrative and Professional Officer, Temporary Librarian, Administrative and Professional Officer General holiday pay is included in regular salary.
Academic hourly Eligible for 9 statutory holidays if holiday is considered a regular day of work according to the 5 of 9 rule. If in the 9 weeks before the holiday, the employee has worked 5 of the same weekdays, then that weekday is considered a regular day of work.  E.g. if a holiday falls on a Monday, and the employee has worked 5 Mondays in the last 9 weeks before the holiday, then Monday is considered a regular day of work for them, and the rules for regular days of work apply. Employees receive their regular earnings for that day.
Management and Professional Staff General holiday pay is included in regular salary.
Part Time Salaried Excluded Academic and Management Staff Eligible for holiday pay only when the holiday falls on a scheduled work day. Pay is included in their regular salary.
Short Term Academically-Related Employment (STARE) Eligible for 9 statutory holidays if holiday is considered a regular day of work according to the 5 of 9 rule. If in the 9 weeks before the holiday, the employee has worked 5 of the same weekdays, then that weekday is considered a regular day of work.  E.g. if a holiday falls on a Monday, and the employee has worked 5 Mondays in the last 9 weeks before the holiday, then Monday is considered a regular day of work for them, and the rules for regular days of work apply. Employees receive their regular earnings for that day.
Excluded Students Eligible for the 9 statutory holidays and will receive 3.46% stat pay which is processed each pay period on all regular hours worked. These employees will see statutory pay code 074 on their paycheques.