Nova Scotia Heritage Day

Observed annually on the third Monday in February, Nova Scotia Heritage Day is a holiday that celebrates and honors the culture, people, and places of Nova Scotia. It became a statutory holiday in 2015 and serves as an annual reminder of the uniqueness of Nova Scotia’s culture.

This holiday is scheduled for the third Monday to ensure that businesses in Nova Scotia remain in sync with those in other regions that observe a February holiday. It provides state workers in the area with a paid day off and offers tourists an opportunity to visit this remarkable Canadian province.

The History of Nova Scotia Heritage Day

Nova Scotia Heritage Day was first introduced in 2015 to honor a specific person, event, or place in Nova Scotia. The honoree is typically chosen by schoolchildren in Nova Scotia.

The inaugural honoree was Viola Desmond, a Canadian civil rights activist of Black Nova Scotian descent. In 2021, Edward Francis Arab was honored. Arab fought at the Battle of the Scheldt during WWII and sacrificed his life in the process.

Facts About Nova Scotia

Below are some facts about Nova Scotia:

  • 150,000 tonnes of lobster are harvested from the waters of Nova Scotia every year.
  • The coldest temperature ever recorded in Nova Scotia was an extremely frigid -41.1 degrees Celsius.
  • Nova Scotia has over 23,000 kilometers of roads.
  • There are more than 7,400 kilometers of coastline in Nova Scotia.
  • The highest temperature recorded in Nova Scotia was 39 degrees Celsius.

Observing Nova Scotia Heritage Day

Nova Scotians who wish to celebrate this holiday can do so by taking time to learn more about the famous Nova Scotians featured for the year, or by exploring the stories of other notable Nova Scotians. People can also use the hashtag #NovaScotiaHeritageDay to spread the word about this holiday.

Where is it celebrated?
Canada (Common local holidays) - Nova scotia
When is it?
This year (2024)
February 19 Monday
Next year (2025)
February 17 Monday
Last year (2023)
February 20 Monday