Mark Your Calendars: Key Dates for the Fall-Winter 2023 Semester

When is Halloween? When are midterms? Do you get days off in winter? Find out here.

Your first semester of studies in Canada is almost here, and there’s probably a whole lot on your mind. There will be a few important dates to remember though, some as a welcome break, others to help you prepare for your exams. We compiled a few you need to remember, for things happening inside as well as outside your classrooms.

Here are the key dates for fall and winter 2023 in Canada:

September 4: Labour Day

This marks the unofficial end of Canadian summer and is followed immediately by…

September 5-7 (depending on your school): The date your classes officially begin.

October 2: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

This day honours children who never returned home, survivors of residential schools, as well as their families and communities. Check with your college or university to find out if classes will be held.

October 9: Thanksgiving

This may be a big deal in the United States, but it’s more low-key in Canada. The dates are different, as are the ways in which both countries celebrate it. Canadian Thanksgiving was also less about celebrating the harvest and more about thanking God for keeping early explorers safe. Use it to relax, or spend quality time with friends. Either way, it’s a welcome day off.

October 9-13: Reading Week

Check with your school, because not all universities and colleges have Reading or Study Week at the same time. Some have it almost a month later. Either way, it’s a time of rejuvenation to help you catch up on the study work you may have put off.

October 31: Halloween

For international students, this is often a first taste of how imaginative their Canadian classmates can be. Halloween isn’t just about dressing up in a crazy costume though; it’s also about going out and having fun. If you’re lucky, you may score an invite to a great party.

Daylight Saving Time ends: November 5, 2023

It sounds complicated, but it isn’t. It’s Fall, which means our clocks go back by one hour. They ‘fall’ back, see?

November 11: Remembrance Day

Remembrance Day is a national holiday when Canadians commemorate those who lost their lives serving their country during armed conflicts. It is also referred to as Armistice Day in Newfoundland and Labrador. It is a statutory holiday in most provinces and a local holiday in others.

December: Apply for your next semester

This is when students thinking about extending their stay in Canada beyond a first program should start to apply. Check with a counsellor at IDP Canada for information related to your course or program. Seats to some institutions fill up quickly, so start your research early.

Early December: Final exams

Good luck!

December 22: End of semester

This date varies depending on your college or university schedule, so check in with them early if you are planning to take some time off. Most institutions break for the holidays around December 23 and reopen in the first week of January.