Minister Dover advised that in the past when November 11 occurred on a week day, schools did close for the day; however, when Remembrance Day fell on a weekend, there was no school holiday. “The situation has changed as a result of recent changes to the Employment Standards Act which have made Remembrance Day a statutory holiday for all workers in our province. Accordingly, schools will be closed November 13 to enable students and school staff to commemorate the holiday,” she said.

The school calendar is set well in advance by a school calendar committee which includes representatives of the Department of Education, the school boards, the Teacher’s Federation and CUPE. The calendar is set based on past practices. Recently, the calendar committee recognized the fact that the calendar did not identify the Remembrance Day holiday this year. Accordingly, they have put arrangements in place for schools to close November 13.

According to the Prince Edward Island School Act, there must be a minimum of 195 teaching days in the school year. There are 196 teaching days designated in the 2006-2007 school calendar, meaning that there are sufficient days in the calendar to allow for Remembrance Day and to accommodate existing requirements under the School Act, the regulations and collective agreements.

Students also have the day off Friday, November 10 as it is a professional development day for teachers.

The statutory holidays in Prince Edward Island are New Year's Day, Good Friday, Canada Day, Labour Day, Christmas Day and Remembrance Day.