Mark Your Calendars: Key Dates for the Spring-Summer 2024 Semester

What’s the difference between Victoria Day and Canada Day? Why do some provinces have holidays while others do not? These are some of the questions that may start to crop up as you begin the new year as an international student. Winter still has a few short months to go, especially if you're up North, but here’s what you can look forward to along with some much-needed sunshine.

Here are key dates to remember for the spring and summer of 2024 in Canada:

January 1: New Year's Day

First day of the year. No description is necessary, obviously.

January 2-3: Welcome Day

Not all colleges and universities begin on the same day, but most do, right after the first day of the year. Keep checking your inbox for an official email from your college or university.

Family Day: February 19

This isn’t a national statutory holiday, given that it is only observed in New Brunswick, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Saskatchewan and British Columbia. Fun fact though: it was created to give people time to spend with families, but also because it gives us a day off between New Year's Day and Good Friday, which are around three months apart.

February 21-26: Reading Break

This is usually a period of study offered by most colleges and universities, but the dates may be deferred, so remember to check with your institution.

Daylights Saving Time: Sunday, March 10

Here’s another way of figuring this out. The clocks ‘spring’ forward, which means they move one hour ahead. Easy.

Saint Patrick’s Day: March 17

Yes, it’s a Sunday, which means we don’t get a day off. It’s still a great day to celebrate though, irrespective of whether you identify as Irish or not.

Good Friday: March 29

A day of reflection, this is a statutory holiday in Canada, followed by:

Easter Monday: April 1

Also a federal statutory holiday.

April 11: Last day of classes

This date may vary depending on your college or university, but classes usually cease around this period.

April 13-24: Exams

Again, this depends entirely upon your institution, so make sure you check in advance to give you enough time to prepare.

Victoria Day: May 20

A statutory holiday honouring Queen Victoria's birthday celebrated on the Monday preceding May 25. If you happen to be in Quebec, the holiday is called National Patriotes Day or, to be specific, Journée nationale des patriotes.

Canada Day: July 1

Canada’s birthday! Our country became a new federation with its own constitution by signing the Constitution Act on this day, back in 1867.

Civic Holiday: August 5

Always celebrated on the first Monday of August, this is a public holiday in some provinces and territories. It isn’t a statutory holiday, but your college or university may still choose to give students time off, so remember to check.