You may have heard the news: B.C. will get its own Family Day statutory holiday on the second Monday in February, starting February 11, 2013. (If you’re counting, that makes 10 annual stat holidays in B.C., the same as Saskatchewan and Ontario.)
Premier Christy Clark announced the new holiday on Monday, after asking B.C. citizens to “vote” online (between May 8 – 22) for which Monday in February they wanted the new holiday to fall on. Out of 31,146 votes, 18,202 voted for the second Monday, which is great for ski/snow sport tourism, since the third Monday is already a high-traffic holiday for the U.S. (President’s Day) and Alberta (Albertan Family Day). By avoiding competing with those holidays directly, B.C. Family Day should enable B.C. families to take advantage of our nearby ski resorts without the resorts being overcrowded.
But the new Family Day is not without controversy:
According to The Vancouver Sun, many small business owners (working outside the tourism/hospitality industry) are opposed to the holiday due to increased labour costs.
On the other hand, Sarah Lusk, a spokeswoman for Grouse Mountain, told The Vancouver Sun that, “For us and tourism, it’s a great thing. Now there are two fun weekends in February for families to get together.”
What do you think? Will B.C.’s own Family Day be a boon for business and a great chance for families to get away for a three-day mini-vacation, or is this one new holiday too many? Please share your thoughts in the comments!
12:26 am
Sounds like a great weekend for a Spanish-in-Three-Days course!
3:10 pm
I think it is a great idea to have this day as a family day because there’s never enough time to have fun with the family when people r working everyday. It is good for a family to get together and have some fun whether its going out for lunch going skiing swimming hiking playing board games and maybe taking a little stress off yourself.. I love Canada.. I’m glad I was born in this country. Its the best country in the world to me……….