School holidays in Canada

Students, teachers and families—we can agree that they all benefit from some much-needed time off during the school year.

Students can take a break from learning. They can integrate their lessons and engage in physical activities—to balance out all of the desk work.

Teachers need a break from the hard work of leading a classroom. This time off can be used to catch up on marking and lesson development, spend time with their families, and rest their minds (and vocal cords).

Families get to spend more time together, bonding and making memories.

There are 3 longer holidays for students in Canada, and 8 statutory holidays, which last a day each. Students also enjoy several days off every school year when teachers have “Professional Development Days”.

Each province and territory has variations on holiday dates. This article provides a complete overview of school holidays in Canada.

• Major school holidays in Canada
• Statutory holidays that affect the school year
• Professional development days and other school closures

Major school holidays in Canada

Winter Break (Christmas Holidays)

Winter break is the first major holiday of the school year. Students enjoy time off to celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah or the Winter Solstice with their loved ones, and the holiday includes New Year's Eve and Day.

Time off from school usually lasts 2 weeks—from the last Thursday or Friday before Christmas to the first Monday after New Year's Day.

Students and families can enjoy winter activities—such as sledging and building snowmen, shopping for gifts, preparing holiday foods, and attending private and community celebrations.

Spring Break (March / April)

Spring break usually falls in March, although some provinces have the break in April. It’s 5 full days off from school.

Some school districts arrange a Professional Development Day to fall in line with Spring Break. If you include the weekend days on each end and a Pro-D day, Spring Break can often end up being almost two weeks without school.

This time off at the beginning of the spring season allows families to spend time together. March in Canada is still cold, so many families use this break to travel to a warmer destination for a vacation.

Summer Vacation (June – September)

Summer break is the holiday that students (and teachers) look forward to the most. The break lasts over two months, starting at the end of June and lasting until the Tuesday after Labour Day in September.

Summer camps are popular in Canada—the perfect setting for children to socialise and focus on specific extracurricular activities and outdoor adventures.

Families often take vacations and camping trips during summer, enjoying all of the beautiful wilderness that Canada has to offer.

Statutory holidays that affect the school year

School is closed on certain statutory holidays in Canada. Here are the dates for the 2025 school year:

Professional development days and other school closures

Professional development days are designated days where teachers undergo training to augment their skills and knowledge.

Types of activities for teachers include:

• Educational conferences

• Online professional learning networks

• Coaching and instructional leadership programs

• Cross-school or cross-district collaboration

• Educational technology training

• Cultural competency and equity training

• Subject-specific conferences

• Workshops

• Online sessions

• Diversity and inclusion training

The start and end dates for major school holidays and professional development days differ in Canada according to the school district. Canada currently has 130 public school districts. You can find the exact holiday dates for your child’s school by following this link and finding the appropriate district. 

Keep in mind that schools may unexpectedly close for other reasons such as:

• Snow days

• Emergencies

• Natural Disasters

• Extremely low temperatures

• Power outages

Educational policies in Canada are continually evolving. Over time, school holidays may change alongside policy changes.