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Wellesley Institute works in research and policy to improve health and health equity in the GTA through action on the social determinants of health.

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Michael Shapcott

Another public holiday for Ontario?

One of the political parties contesting the October 10 election in Ontario has revived the age-old idea of an additional public holiday for the province in February (that rather bleak stretch between New Year and the spring that offers little relief). If adopted, that would bring to eight the number of public holidays in Ontario .

Internationally, however, Ontario would still be well below the rest of the league. Spain is at the top, with Spaniards enjoying a full 16 days of public holidays annually. Our partners among developed countries (France, Sweden, Germany, Japan) all offer from 9 to 14 days annually, as do Ireland and the United States. Even the relatively stringy Brits and Bulgarians already offer eight days – more than Ontarians currently have.

Just about the only country that has the same number of public holidays as Ontario is Romania…

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Michael Shapcott

Michael Shapcott

Michael Shapcott is Director, Affordable Housing and Social Innovation at Wellesley Institute. Michael has worked extensively in Toronto, in many parts of Canada, nationally and internationally on social innovation, the non-profit sector, civic engagement, housing and housing rights, poverty, social exclusion, urban health and health equity. He is recognized as one of Canada’s leading community-based housing and homelessness experts. He is currently on secondment to the Princes' Charities Canada.

Acknowledgement of Traditional Land

We wish to acknowledge this land on which the Wellesley Institute operates. For thousands of years, it has been the traditional land of the Huron-Wendat, the Seneca, and the Mississaugas of the Credit. Today, this meeting place is still the home to many Indigenous people from across Turtle Island and we are grateful to have the opportunity to work on this land.

Revised by the Ceremonial Committee at the University of Toronto Office of Indigenous Initiatives in April 2021.