The keyword term "Quebec" is a proper noun. This part of speech is the main point because it specifies the unique geographic and political jurisdiction in question, distinguishing the holiday from others with a similar name. In the context of Quebec, National Patriots' Day (Journe nationale des patriotes) is a statutory provincial holiday. It is not a federal holiday in Canada; the federal holiday celebrated on the same date is Victoria Day.
National Patriots' Day is observed annually in Quebec on the Monday preceding May 25. The holiday was officially established by the provincial government in 2002 to replace the informal celebration of the Fte de Dollard. Its purpose is to commemorate the Patriotes of the Lower Canada Rebellion of 18371838, who fought for democratic and republican ideals against British colonial rule. While the rest of Canada celebrates the birthday of the reigning sovereign (Victoria Day), Quebec uses this statutory day off to honor a pivotal moment in its own distinct political and national history.
In practical terms, National Patriots' Day is a public holiday for the vast majority of workers and students under provincial jurisdiction in Quebec. However, employees in federally regulated industries, such as banking, telecommunications, and federal civil service, technically observe Victoria Day. This distinction highlights the division of powers in Canada, where provinces have the authority to establish their own public holidays separate from the national federal holidays.
