Mark Your Calendars: Key Dates for the Fall-Winter 2025 Semester

Need time to figure out your Halloween costume? Want to relax before your midterms? Wondering about how many days off you’re entitled to around Christmas? We have compiled a few important events and holidays that all international students need to remember.

Here are the key dates for fall and winter 2025 in Canada:

September 1: Labour Day

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

September 3-6: Classes begin

This depends upon your institution, but classes usually begin right after Labour Day.

September 30: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Originally and still colloquially known as Orange Shirt Day, this is a day to recognize the multi-generational effects of the Canadian Indian residential school system. Check with your college or university to find out if classes will be held.

October 13: Thanksgiving

The date is different from when the United States celebrates it, but the sentiment is similar. Canadian Thanksgiving is about thanking God for keeping early explorers safe. Use it to spend quality time with the people you love.

October 14-18: Fall Reading Week

Not all universities and colleges have Reading or Study Week at the same time, so check with your institution to find out when you get some time off.

October 31: Halloween

A time to party, dress up, have fun, or just stay indoors with a good book. For international students, this is a great peek at how imaginative your Canadian classmates can be.

November 2: Daylight Saving Time ends

It’s Fall, which means the clocks go back by one hour. Not too complicated.

November 11: Remembrance Day

A national holiday commemorating those who laid down their lives to serve Canada during armed conflicts. This holiday is also referred to as Armistice Day in Newfoundland and Labrador. This is a statutory holiday in most provinces and a local holiday in others.

December: Time to apply

If you’re thinking about extending your stay in Canada beyond your first program, this is the time to apply. Book an appointment with an IDP Canada counsellor for information or advice. Seats to some programs are filled quickly, so start your research early.

Early December: Final exams

Good luck with your program!

December 19: End of semester

This date varies, so check with your institution in advance before you plan any time off. Most institutions break for the holidays around December 22 and reopen in the first week of January.