Family Day - Journée de la famille

Family Day, known in French as Journée de la famille, is a statutory holiday celebrated on the third Monday of February in several Canadian provinces. It was created to provide families with a day off during the long stretch between New Year's Day and Easter.

The holiday is observed in Alberta, British Columbia, New Brunswick, Ontario, and Saskatchewan. Each province adopted the holiday at different times, and some have their own names for it, such as Louis Riel Day in Manitoba and Islander Day in Prince Edward Island.

Family Day was first established in Alberta in 1990, becoming Canada's newest statutory holiday at that time. Premier Don Getty introduced it partly in response to personal family challenges, recognizing the importance of family time.

Saskatchewan followed in 2007, then Ontario in 2008. British Columbia adopted Family Day in 2013, initially on the second Monday of February before moving it to the third Monday in 2019 to align with other provinces.

New Brunswick became the most recent province to adopt Family Day in 2018. Meanwhile, Manitoba celebrates Louis Riel Day on the same date, honoring the Métis leader, and Prince Edward Island calls it Islander Day.

Quality Family Time: The primary purpose is to spend time with family. Many families use the day for indoor activities, winter sports, or simply relaxing together at home.

Winter Activities: Skating, skiing, sledding, and other winter sports are popular ways to celebrate, especially at community events organized by municipalities.

Community Events: Many cities and towns host free family-friendly events including skating parties, winter festivals, and cultural celebrations.

Movie Marathons: With the holiday falling in the cold winter months, movie marathons and board game days are popular indoor activities.

Extended Weekend Trips: Some families use the long weekend for short winter getaways to ski resorts or nearby cities.