Labour Day (Canada) versus Labor Day (US)

Having lived in Canada for 18 years, I have come to the conclusion that Canadians make more of Labour Day than do their American neighbours. Virtually everything is closed today in this country. Even newspapers do not generally publish, and no one would think of starting school or university classes the week before. By contrast, in the US schools regularly begin the last week or two of August. Why the difference? I don't know.