Louis Riel Day2026 · Date · History
Province of Manitoba
About Louis Riel Day
Louis Riel Day in Manitoba is a provincial general holiday observed on the third Monday in February.
This page covers the Manitoba statutory holiday. The same name is also used by Métis organizations for a separate November 16 commemoration of Louis Riel; that November observance has a different date and commemorative basis.
Why Louis Riel Day matters
Manitoba’s February holiday commemorates Louis Riel’s role in the history and creation of Manitoba and provides a winter public holiday for people in the province.
Its legal status is specific to Manitoba and should not be generalized as a Canada-wide statutory holiday.
History of Louis Riel Day
In 2007, Manitoba created a new February statutory holiday. Students were invited to suggest names, and the winning proposal was Louis Riel Day.
The Statutory Holidays Act (Various Acts Amended), S.M. 2007, c. 18 received Royal Assent on November 8, 2007 and added Louis Riel Day, the third Monday in February, to Manitoba holiday legislation.
The first Manitoba Louis Riel Day was celebrated on February 18, 2008.
Separately, Métis organizations commemorate Louis Riel on November 16, the anniversary of his execution in 1885. That use of the name is historically related to Riel but is not the same statutory holiday as Manitoba’s February general holiday.
How the observance developed
This timeline uses documented milestones from reviewed sources. Missing stages are left out rather than guessed.
Government of Manitoba, with the holiday name selected through a Manitoba student competition
Provincial releases document creation of the new February holiday and the student process that selected the name Louis Riel Day.
Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
The Statutory Holidays Act (Various Acts Amended), S.M. 2007, c. 18
First documented observance
Manitoba government materials identify 2008 as the first celebration, with the first date falling on 18 February.
Government of Manitoba
Current Manitoba government pages maintain the provincial holiday information.
What the evidence establishes
Confirmed institutional roles and milestones are shown first. Details that could not be established from the reviewed sources are listed separately below.
2 fields not established in reviewed sources
How to Observe Louis Riel Day
Check current Manitoba government information for employment-standard, retail-opening and service impacts that may apply on the holiday.
Learn about Louis Riel, the Red River era, the creation of Manitoba and Métis history from museums, archives and Métis institutions.
Attend local cultural or educational events where they are open to the public and follow organizer guidance.
When publishing calendars, label the February Manitoba holiday clearly so it is not confused with November 16 commemorations using the same name.
Louis Riel Day Facts
In Manitoba, Louis Riel Day falls on the third Monday in February.
The holiday was established through Manitoba legislation assented to on November 8, 2007.
The first Manitoba observance was February 18, 2008.
The holiday’s name was selected through a student naming process.
A distinct November 16 Métis commemoration is also called Louis Riel Day; it should not be treated as the same legal holiday.
Topic and context
What this page does not assume
- Keep the source-defined country, community, organizer or institutional scope; do not silently broaden it.
- Do not treat the title alone as proof of government recognition or public-holiday status.
- Do not add a creator, founding story or origin claim unless the supporting evidence establishes it.
Evidence & sources
Sources used across the guide are gathered here. Labels show how each source supports the page, and contextual references are kept separate from primary evidence.
Manitoba Residents Portal — Louis Riel Day (opens in a new tab)
Provincial Government Service Page
Province of Manitoba — S.M. 2007, c. 18 (opens in a new tab)
Province of Manitoba — Louis Riel Day (opens in a new tab)
Provincial Government Holiday Page
Métis Nation of Ontario — Louis Riel Day (opens in a new tab)
Province of Manitoba — 25 September 2007 naming announcement (opens in a new tab)
Understand it, compare it, then explore further
Start with the most common factual questions, then compare closely related observances and explore useful connections.
Frequently asked questions
When is Louis Riel Day?
Third Monday of February The documented recurrence rule is: Third Monday of February.
Does Louis Riel Day fall on the same date every year?
It follows a recurring calendar rule, so the Gregorian date can change from year to year.
Is Louis Riel Day an official public holiday?
The reviewed sources verify it within this scope: Manitoba annual general holiday. That recognition does not by itself make it a statutory public holiday; the site only makes public-holiday claims when reliable evidence explicitly does so.
Who established or recognizes Louis Riel Day?
The reviewed sources identify Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as the proclaiming or establishing body. The proposer or originator is recorded separately as Government of Manitoba, with the holiday name selected through a Manitoba student competition. Current facilitation or coordination is recorded as Government of Manitoba.
Is Louis Riel Day international or country-specific?
No single country is assigned to this observance. Its documented scope is: Manitoba annual general holiday. Use that scope rather than assuming worldwide or country-specific status.
How is this page verified?
The factual information is checked against reviewed sources, including the date pattern, scope and institutional history. This page was checked on 2026-09-05.
When is Louis Riel Day in Manitoba?
It is the third Monday in February.
Is Louis Riel Day a statutory holiday across Canada?
This page refers to Manitoba’s provincial general holiday. Its legal status should not be generalized to every Canadian jurisdiction.
When was Manitoba’s Louis Riel Day first observed?
The first Manitoba Louis Riel Day was February 18, 2008.
Why do some calendars show Louis Riel Day on November 16?
Métis organizations also use Louis Riel Day for a separate November 16 commemoration marking the anniversary of Riel’s execution in 1885. That observance is distinct from Manitoba’s third-Monday-in-February statutory holiday.
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