There was lots of speculation on if the Queen’s funeral would be declared a holiday for federal employees.
During a media briefing in New Brunswick, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that Monday Sept. 19 will be a federal holiday and that his office is working with provinces and federal workers to give Canadians a chance to mourn the passing of our late sovereign.
Other commonwealth countries have already declared other dates next week as holidays, including Australia, New Zealand and of course the UK.
A commemorative ceremony will take place in Ottawa on Sept. 19 that will feature a memorial parade by the RCMP (a favourite of the Queen’s), Canadian Armed Forces with a special flyover by CF-18’s and a 96 gun salute.
The last time a mourning holiday was announced was in memory of Queen Elizabeth’s father, King George VI, in February 1952.