Truth and Reconciliation Day

Truth and Reconciliation Day will be recognized on September 30 each year, starting in 2021.

Provincial government offices, public schools and regulated childcare will be closed on Truth and Reconciliation Day. Businesses are not required to close and have the choice to remain open.

Truth and Reconciliation Day is not one of the general (paid) holidays listed in the Nova Scotia Labour Standards Code.

There are 6 general holidays listed in the Code: New Year's Day, Nova Scotia Heritage Day, Good Friday, Canada Day, Labour Day and Christmas Day. These are the minimum number of holidays that employers must provide to employees. Many employers offer more paid holidays.

An employer may agree to provide employees with Truth and Reconciliation Day as a paid holiday and the Labour Standards Division could enforce such an agreement.

Truth and Reconciliation Day is not a closing day for retail businesses. Retail businesses are free to open and retail employees do not have the right to refuse to work (unless Truth and Reconciliation Day falls on a Sunday – employees of certain types of retail businesses are entitled under the Labour Standards Code to refuse to work on Sundays).