Is there a default holiday schedule?

No single schedule applies to every Quebec family. Parents can agree, or a court can set child-focused terms.

Does the holiday schedule override weekends?

Usually yes, if the agreement or order says holiday terms take priority. Clear drafting should remove any doubt.

How should parents divide winter break?

Define exact exchange times and consider alternating halves or the entire break in alternating years. Account for school reopening and travel.

Can cultural holidays be included?

Yes. A plan can recognize the family's religious, cultural, linguistic, and community traditions when consistent with the child's interests.

Quebec, Canada

Quebec Holiday Schedules: A Parent's Guide

How to build a clear Quebec holiday parenting schedule for school breaks, celebrations, travel, and exchanges.

Legal sources reviewed: August 12, 2026

On this page

In short: A holiday schedule should override the regular rotation only for clearly defined periods. Identify the exact start and end time, exchange place, transport responsibility, and whether the holiday alternates annually or is fixed.

This guide is educational, not legal advice. The governing law, current order, safety concerns, and facts of the family can change the correct next step.

The Quebec framework

Quebec family law is rooted in the Civil Code of Québec. Parents generally continue to exercise parental authority after separation, even when the child lives mainly with one parent. The court distinguishes parental authority from physical custody and decides contested arrangements in the child's interests.

Parents may reach an agreement through family mediation and can ask the Superior Court to homologate appropriate agreed terms or decide contested issues. Married spouses divorcing also come within the federal Divorce Act, while Quebec civil-law rules remain central to parental authority and support.

What to put into practice

Use the child's school calendar, not assumptions about dates. Address long weekends, winter and spring breaks, summer blocks, birthdays, cultural and religious days, and travel notice. Add a tie-break rule for overlapping holidays.

Use precise dates, places, notice methods, and responsibility for costs. Avoid terms such as “reasonable” when parents do not already agree on what reasonable means. The parenting plan builder can organise clauses, and the custody schedule generator can test a calendar. These tools do not create a Quebec agreement or court order.

When agreement is difficult

Separate the issues that need an immediate answer from those that can be reviewed later. A narrow temporary arrangement may protect stability while parents obtain disclosure, legal advice, mediation, or a court date. Where family violence, coercive control, abduction risk, or urgent harm is alleged, ordinary negotiation may be unsafe and urgent legal advice is appropriate.

Keep proposals child-focused and practical. Explain how the requested result affects school, care, relationships, transport, health, and predictable routines. Courts decide under the applicable best-interests framework, not by rewarding the parent who communicates most aggressively.

Official Quebec resources

FAQ

Questions, answered

This information is provided for educational purposes only and is not legal advice. Family law varies by individual circumstances and may change over time. Consult a qualified attorney or appropriate official resource for advice about your situation.