About Family Day in Alberta
Family Day is an Alberta holiday on the third Monday of February. Alberta first observed it in 1990, and other provinces later introduced February holidays of their own. In Alberta it is one of the general holidays under employment standards, so many workplaces, schools and government offices are closed and the weekend becomes a three-day one.
The idea is simple: a winter holiday for time with family, in the long stretch between New Year’s Day and Good Friday when there are no other general holidays.
How the date is worked out
The rule is to count the Mondays in February and take the third. That means Family Day always falls between February 15 and February 21, and the long weekend runs from the Saturday before to the Monday itself. Because the date shifts from year to year, this page works it out from the rule rather than storing a date, so the countdown is correct every year.
The countdown ends at the first moment of that Monday, in your device’s time zone. If you want to count to the start of the long weekend instead, set the Saturday yourself with the countdown to any date.
Other provinces, other rules
Several other provinces also have a holiday in February, but the name, the date and who is covered differ from province to province. If you are planning work or travel across a provincial border, check the rules for the province you will be in rather than assuming they match Alberta’s.
Planning the long weekend
Many Albertans use the weekend for skiing, skating or a winter trip, and accommodation near popular destinations can fill early, so a countdown helps you decide when to book. The countdown timer times an outing, the clock keeps the schedule, and you can embed the countdown on a school or club page. The Valentine’s Day countdown ends a few days earlier, and Easter brings Alberta’s next general holiday, Good Friday.
More countdowns
Need a different date? Use the countdown to any date or count up with time since a date.
Questions
What date is Family Day in Alberta this year?
Family Day is the third Monday of February, so it is always between February 15 and February 21. The countdown above always shows the next one, which means it is right for the current year without you looking anything up.
Is Family Day a statutory holiday in Alberta?
Yes. Family Day is one of Alberta’s general holidays. How it applies to you can depend on your job, your employer and whether you normally work that day, so check Alberta’s employment standards or ask your employer for the details.
Is Family Day on the same date across Canada?
No. Several provinces have a February holiday, but the name, the date and who is covered differ. Alberta’s is on the third Monday of February. Check the rules for the province you are in before planning around it.
Why is Family Day on a Monday?
A holiday on a Monday makes a three-day weekend, which makes time away from work easier to use. Alberta sets the date by counting Mondays rather than choosing a day of the month, so the weekday is always the same and the date moves.