4th of July Holiday in Canada?

[kkelso]

Feels like I've asked this before - getting old sucks.

Seems like some U.S. holidays translate over to Canada (intentionally or not), perhaps due to holidays for U.S. businesses? Anyway, I'm coming to the GTA the week of the 4th of July holiday (Monday the 5th is holiday here) and was wondering if there will be any impact on agencies being open that week, etc?

Thanks - KK

 

[randygirl]

I would say not.

 

[TheNiteHwk]

most likely just the opposite....

most will be booking on extra staff to service all the American tourist coming up here for their long week-end.

 

[Don]

Our holiday is July 1st. So some ladies in business go away for vacations and stuff. Since July 4th is close, there is some overlap with ladies still on vacation

 

[Mr. Lucky]

Only in Toronto, not the rest of Canada

 

[Aardvark154]

4th of July Holiday in Canada? Seems like some U.S. holidays translate over to Canada (intentionally or not), perhaps due to holidays for U.S. businesses? Anyway, I'm coming to the GTA the week of the 4th of July holiday (Monday the 5th is holiday here) and was wondering if there will be any impact on agencies being open that week, etc?

Ok, Canada Day is July 1, ask yourself are many U.S. Businesses closed on that day? Why would Canadian Businesses be closed on U.S. Independence Day unless they are small and just plain feel like being really generous to their employees?

Hope this doesn't sound sarcastic that is not my intention.

 

[kkelso]

Ok, Canada Day is July 1, ask yourself are many U.S. Businesses closed on that day? Why would Canadian Businesses be closed on U.S. Independence Day unless they are small and just plain feel like being really generous to their employees?

Hope this doesn't sound sarcastic that is not my intention.

No offense taken.

I have been in Canada on our three big summer holidays (Memorial Day, 4th of July and Labor Day) and have been told by agencies that they were closed due to the U.S. holiday. Maybe these were agencies that are unusually impacted by the lack of U.S. business travel.

Thanks.

 

[Aardvark154]

No offense taken.

I have been in Canada on our three big summer holidays (Memorial Day, 4th of July and Labor Day) and have been told by agencies that they were closed due to the U.S. holiday. Maybe these were agencies that are unusually impacted by the lack of U.S. business travel.

Thanks.

Curious, Labour Day (same day holiday) seems obvious. I suppose that one could say that Canada Day and Independence day are but three days apart, still. . . . While Memorial Day is generally an entire week after Victoria Day.

 

[dj1470]

Offense taken.

Get your head on straight, please.

July 4th means nothing to Canadians except we have to watch American parades on TV.

 

[Don]

While they don't necessarily close, a lot of Canadian businesses will give unofficial days off on major American holidays or people will take a vacation day. It is those offices that do a lot of business with the US (like Canadian offices of American companies). Since productivity is down because the US is off, a lot of employees will decide that it is a good day to take off. I work in such an office and I often take those days off and encourage my staff to do so or will sponser some team activity on that day.

 

[oldjones]

Just like we have different money, you guys have your holidays, we have ours. Where cross border business is a major consideration, the non-holidaying side adjusts either to attract the spenders, or shuts down, because it's a stay-at-home holiday. You'll notice it most the closer you are to the border and the more you stick to the tourist trail. Same with taking your funny foreign cash.

But there's no more generality about all Canadian businesses aping American holidays like the Glorious Fourth than there will be down your way in October when we do Thanksgiving. It'll vary.

 

[Keebler Elf]

Yeah, this is weird to me too. The only thing I notice on American holidays is increased traffic and even that is more common near the border. I can't ever recall stores being closed or anything like that due to an American holiday (unless it was a store that somehow relied on American stores being open to do business...).

 

[someone]

No offense taken.

I have been in Canada on our three big summer holidays (Memorial Day, 4th of July and Labor Day) and have been told by agencies that they were closed due to the U.S. holiday. Maybe these were agencies that are unusually impacted by the lack of U.S. business travel.

Thanks.

I think that both countries have the same labour day but I was surprised when I worked at a liberal arts college in Kentucky to find that they did not take labour day off. I always get the two American holidays for Remembrance confused. If Memorial Day is the November 11 one, it is the same as what is Remembrance Day in Canada (as both countries were involved in WW1 both have a holiday on November 11), which is a provincial holiday in many but not all provinces. There is also a separate “Memorial Day” in Newfoundland on July 1 but that deals with their history before they became part of Canada. Other common holidays would be Christmas, New Year’s and Easter Sunday (Given how religious Americans are, I was also surprised when I worked in the U.S. that Good Friday was not a formal holiday). Other than that, I cannot think of any common holidays. Even Thanksgiving is on a different date in the two countries.

 

[Nickelodeon]

Offense taken.

Get your head on straight, please.

July 4th means nothing to Canadians except we have to watch American parades on TV.

Why the attitude? We like American tourists. Come to Toronto, enjoy a show, have dinner and sample the multicultural delights that make up our SP's. I would make sure to fit a good cross-section of the girls when you're in town.

 

[Aardvark154]

I think that both countries have the same labour day but I was surprised when I worked at a liberal arts college in Kentucky to find that they did not take labour day off.

That's academia - schools that start before labour day often don't take it off, but take an extra day at U.S. Thanksgiving. Likewise with some of the Winter and Spring Federal and State Holidays.

I always get the two American holidays for Remembrance confused. If Memorial Day is the November 11 one, it is the same as what is Remembrance Day in Canada (as both countries were involved in WW1 both have a holiday on November 11), which is a provincial holiday in many but not all provinces.

That is Veterans Day. The problem is that Memorial Day was there before the First World War (commemoration of those killed in the U.S. Civil War) Then along came the First World War, ok now there was also Armistice Day, then the Second World War came and they didn't want to create a entirely new Holiday, changed the name of Armistice Day and the confusion really took hold.

Given how religious Americans are, I was also surprised when I worked in the U.S. that Good Friday was not a formal holiday.

It is not a national holiday and so it depends upon the part of the U.S. you work in. In a fair number of places it is a half day with offices closing at 11:45 or noon.

 

[rama putri]

I have been in Canada on our three big summer holidays (Memorial Day, 4th of July and Labor Day) and have been told by agencies that they were closed due to the U.S. holiday. Maybe these were agencies that are unusually impacted by the lack of U.S. business travel.

What? Maybe that's their code for not wanting to service an ignorant American?

 

[MrPrezident]

Feels like I've asked this before - getting old sucks.

Seems like some U.S. holidays translate over to Canada (intentionally or not), perhaps due to holidays for U.S. businesses? Anyway, I'm coming to the GTA the week of the 4th of July holiday (Monday the 5th is holiday here) and was wondering if there will be any impact on agencies being open that week, etc?

Thanks - KK

This thread is not answering the intent of the question. We know the difference between the two holidays. Having spent most of the 4th of Julys in Canada for many years hobbying and enjoying Toronto I think the following points apply:

1. Many agencies and SPs may think that their married or divorced clients will be spending the 4th of July or Canada Day weekends with their families. They frequently anticipate slower business because of this and might have a lighter schedule. Since the weather is usually pretty good, it has been my experience that many SPs and MPAs take advantage of that fact and take some time off. We all need some some sunshine after a long winter.

2. Many Canadians and Americans who own their own businesses or are professionals or workaholics take part of this weekend off. The US stock markets are closed on Monday. Canadian markets are open but many senior people will be on holiday and trading will probably be on the light side.

3. Those of us with no family obligations may find this an ideal time to hobby and do some clubs, go shopping, see some theatre, or visit some favorite restaurants, especially with the 5th falling on a Monday this year.

4. What kkelso is asking is that if you indeed view Monday as just another work day or if your Sunday is just another summer Sunday and not part of a summer break, would you please let us know? Try to put on schedule who is working Monday so that we might book ahead prior to traveling. It is usually more difficult to have a good plan A, plan B, etc. in place for this weekend because many agencies will not have a Monday schedule in place on Fiday. Organized clients tend to book ahead and show up on time.

5. From many years of booking Toronto hotels I can tell you that this feels like a very busy holiday for tourism. You should be much busier than last year. If Monday will be a regular day / night here I would like nothing better than to stay an extra night and have more choices. How many providers would be available if they knew they had the bookings in place for Monday vs. how many would just prefer to take a long weekend? Either way is OK.

6. Many of us keep coming back here because we like Toronto and Canadians. Try to see our inquiries in that light.

 

[oldjones]

I think it's like this: July 4 means nothing to us; it's just another day on the calendar. Not even printed in red. So when someon asks, "Are you guys doing anything special for the fourth?", it's kind of out of left field. Why would we do anything different from the third or the fifth? "Oh, waittaminit! You're American right? You guys have some sorta holiday then, right?" But we don't. An assumption that we would nevertheless alter our behaviour, is as provoking as seeing tourists get off the plane at JFK dressed as cowboys and asking which way to the Indian village. There's likely to be a certain malicious glee in the answer.

Not to say the more financially tuned-in haven't figured the whole thing out and developed a strategy to fleece the traveller anyway, but they're obviously a minority or we'd all be Chiefs. And own tourist businesses. The rest of us just live here, and we'll likely be working.

Perhaps a politer response might have been, "Not so's we've noticed. Not a holiday here." However a wiser research strategy might have been to enquire of MP management rather than ask for general members' observations on a day we don't observe.

But the info's sprinkled thru the thread, especially in MrP's post above. And we can hope we're all a tad wiser for the discussion.

 

[Dougal Short]

Here's a thought. Rather than debate the mutual recognition of holidays, why don't you contact the agency in question and ask them.

 

[ready2rock]

Yeah, this is weird to me too. The only thing I notice on American holidays is increased traffic and even that is more common near the border. I can't ever recall stores being closed or anything like that due to an American holiday (unless it was a store that somehow relied on American stores being open to do business...).

I agree, Keebler. The US holidays just mean more American's up here & more American money for our business's. I'm all for it. Sure they drive too fast, but they help the OPP meet their revenue goals.

R2R