Nova Scotia Heritage Day: Holiday Pay Explained
Heritage Day is Nova Scotia’s paid holiday on the third Monday of February.
When is Heritage Day?
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Is Heritage Day a statutory holiday?
Yes. Heritage Day is one of Nova Scotia’s paid holidays under its labour standards.
Who gets paid for Heritage Day?
Most employees in Nova Scotia qualify for holiday pay on Heritage Day. Each jurisdiction sets its own eligibility rules, such as how long you have worked for your employer or whether you worked your scheduled shifts before and after the holiday. Part-time employees are often eligible as well.
What if you work on Heritage Day?
If you work on a statutory holiday, you are usually entitled to premium pay for the hours worked, commonly 1.5 times your regular rate, plus holiday pay. Some rules allow regular pay plus a substitute day off instead. The exact combination depends on your province or territory and on any collective agreement.
Background
First observed in 2015, Heritage Day honours a different Nova Scotian person, place or event each year.
Last reviewed: October 2026. Holiday pay rules change from time to time. For your exact entitlement, contact your provincial or territorial employment standards office.
