Manitoba Labour and Immigration advises that most workplaces employees will be entitled to 1.5 times their regular rate of pay in addition to general holiday pay for any hours worked on Louis Riel Day falls on Monday, Feb. 21.
Louis Riel Day is a general or statutory holiday for all employees who work in a provincially regulated business. Louis Riel Day does not affect employees who work for businesses regulated by the federal government, such as airlines and interprovincial trucking. All schools are closed as well.
In communities with a Sunday and holiday shopping bylaw, retail stores can be open Sunday shopping hours from noon to 6 p.m., on Louis Riel Day.
Manitoba’s eighth general holiday, which falls on the third Monday in February, was first marked in 2008 and was added to the other general holidays: New Year’s Day, Good Friday, Victoria Day, Canada Day, Labour Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
Schools in Manitoba were asked to submit one name that would be of relevance to Manitoba with reference to citizenship, history, culture, the arts, sports or a significant individual. Eleven schools submitted the name Louis Riel Day. Riel was a passionate Métis leader and the driving force behind Manitoba becoming Canada’s fifth province.
For further information, call the Employment Standards Branch at 945-3352 in Winnipeg or (toll-free) at 1-800-821-4307 outside Winnipeg. Information is also available online.
