Discovery Day in 2025

When is Discovery Day?

Discovery Day is a provincial holiday celebrated on the third Monday in August in the Yukon.

It is also known as Klondike Gold Discovery Day.

Discovery Day replaces the Civic Holiday observed on the first Monday of August in other areas of Canada.

History of Discovery Day

George Washington Carmack discovered gold at Bonanza Creek, Yukon, on August 16th 1896, registering his claim on the day after. When news of the discovery reached cities such as San Francisco and Seattle in the summer of 1897, it triggered the famous 'gold rush'.

Hoping to find riches and secure their financial security, over 100,000 men tried to reach the Klondike goldfields, though only 40,000 of those actually made it. With few prospectors having mining experience, the gold rush proved a fruitless endeavour for the majority. The enthusiasm for the Klondike gold rush lasted until 1899 when disillusionment with the reality of the gold rush and discoveries of gold elsewhere reduced the attraction to go the Yukon.

The gold rush may have been short-lived, but the legacy on the population and cultural heritage of Yukon was significant. As a result, Yukon's Territorial Council declared Discovery Day as a public holiday in 1911.

Though there will be regional variations, typically banks and government offices will be closed on Civic Day and public transport may run on a reduced schedule.