Ottawa public school board to start new school year before Labour Day

The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board sign at the board office on Greenbank Road. (CTV News Ottawa)

Students at Ottawa’s public school board will be heading back to class before Labour Day next school year.

The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board has posted the draft elementary and secondary calendars for the 2026-27 school year, which have been approved by supervisor Robert Plamondon.

According to the calendar, students in elementary and secondary schools will return to class on Tuesday, Sept. 1, six days before the Labour Day weekend.

The OCDSB winter break will run from Monday, Dec. 21, 2026, to Friday, Jan. 1, 2027, with students returning to class on Jan. 4.

The proposed OCDSB elementary school calendar shows students will get a four-day weekend in November, with Professional Activity Days scheduled for Nov. 20 and Nov. 23.

The last day of classes for elementary students will be Friday, June 25, 2027, while the last day for school for secondary students will be Wednesday, June 23, 2027.

Students with the OCDSB began the 2025-26 school year on Tuesday, Sept. 2 last year.

The Ottawa Catholic School Board will also begin classes for the 2026-27 school year on Tuesday, Sept. 1. Staff noted the late date for Labour Day means classes must begin before the unofficial final long weekend of summer.

“If the school year were to begin after the September long weekend, there would not be enough days remaining before June 30, 2027, to meet the Ministry’s required 194 days,” staff said in the report for trustees.

“When this happens, boards must look at starting the school year before Labour Day.”

The Ottawa Catholic School Board said the school year previously started before Labour Day for the 2009-10, 2015-16 and 2020-21 school years.

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