Heritage Day - Jour du patrimoine

Heritage Day, known in French as Jour du patrimoine, is a provincial holiday in Nova Scotia observed on the third Monday of February. Unlike Family Day celebrated in other provinces on the same date, Nova Scotia chose to dedicate this day to celebrating the province's rich cultural heritage.

Each year, Heritage Day honours a different aspect of Nova Scotian culture, history, or a notable Nova Scotian. The featured theme is selected by the provincial government and becomes the focus of celebrations across the province.

Heritage Day was first observed in Nova Scotia on February 16, 2015, making it one of the newest provincial holidays in Canada. It was created through the Heritage Day Act passed in 2014 by the Nova Scotia Legislature.

The holiday was introduced in response to calls for Nova Scotia to adopt a February holiday, similar to Family Day in other provinces. Rather than simply copying the Family Day model, Nova Scotia chose to create a unique holiday that would celebrate the province's distinctive cultural heritage.

The first Heritage Day in 2015 honoured Viola Desmond, a Black Nova Scotian businesswoman who challenged racial segregation in 1946. Desmond later became the first Canadian woman to appear on a regularly circulating Canadian banknote (the $10 bill in 2018).

Annual Theme: Each year features a different honouree or cultural theme. Past themes have included Viola Desmond (2015), hockey heritage (2016), and various other aspects of Nova Scotian culture and history.

Community Events: Museums, cultural centres, and heritage sites across Nova Scotia often offer free or reduced admission on Heritage Day. Many host special exhibitions related to the year's theme.

Educational Programs: Schools use the days leading up to Heritage Day to teach students about Nova Scotian heritage and the featured theme. Art projects, presentations, and cultural activities are common.

Winter Activities: Like other February holidays, many Nova Scotians use the long weekend for winter outdoor activities including skating, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing.