Days of Significance

A note about designated days and months, e.g. International Day of Pink, and National Indigenous History Month. While these days and months are good reminders to celebrate underrepresented and marginalized groups, learn about their histories and the oppressions, inequities, and issues that they face, as well as take action, we must be mindful to be continuously commemorating these groups, educating ourselves, and standing-up in solidarity.

January 2023

Date Observance Observed by (including but not limited to)
January Tamil Heritage Month Canada

January 1

New Year's Day

Gregorian calendar

January 7

Feast of the Nativity

Eastern Orthodox Christian

January 22 Lunar New Year Lunar calendar

January 27

International Holocaust
Remembrance Day

United Nations

 

February 2023

Date Observance Observed by (including but not limited to)

February

Black History Month

Canada and US

February 5

Magha Puja Day
(Celebrates the first sermon delivered by the Buddha)

Buddhism

February 20

World Day of Social Justice

United Nations

February 23

Anti-Bullying/Pink Shirt Day
(Day of awareness of bullying in schools, workplaces, home, and online)

Canada

 

March 2023

Date Observance Observed by (including but not limited to)
March Greek Heritage Month Canada

March 8

International Women's Day

United Nations

March 8

Holi

(Festival of Spring)

Hinduism

March 21 International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination  United Nations

March 21

Nowruz

(Persian New Year)

Zoroastrianism

March 23 - April 22

Ramadan

Islam

 

April 2023

Date Observance Observed by (including but not limited to)
April Sikh Heritage Month Canada

April 2

World Autism Awareness Day

United Nations

April 4

Mahavir Jayanti

(Festival celebrating the birth of Mahavir, the founder of Jainism)

Jainism

April 12

International Day of Pink

(day of action against bullying, discrimination, homophobia, and transphobia)

International

April 6 - 13

Pesach / Passover

Judaism

April 7 Good Friday Gregorian calendar, Christian

April 9

Easter Sunday

Gregorian calendar, Christian

April 10

Easter Monday

Gregorian calendar, Christian
April 14 Sinhalese & Tamil New Year Theravada Buddhist, Hinduism, and Sri Lankan
April 16 Orthodox Easter Sunday Julian calendar, Orthodox Christian
April 22 Earth Day United Nations
April 22 Eid al-Fitr Islam

 

May 2023

Date Observance Observed by (including but not limited to)

May

Asian and South Asian Heritage Month

Canada

May Jewish Heritage Month Canada

May

Sexual Assault Prevention & Awareness Month

Canada

May 5

Red Dress Day

(day of awareness and action of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two Spirit People)

Canada

May 5

Vesak

(Buddha Day)

Buddhism

May 15

International Day of Families

United Nations

May 17 International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia International
May 28 - June 3 National AccessAbility Canada

 

June 2023

Date Observance Observed by (including but not limited to)
June National Indigenous History Month Canada

June

Pride Month

Canada

June Filipino Heritage Month Canada
June Italian Heritage Month Canada
June 12 World Day Against Child Labour United Nations
June 18 International Day to Counter Hate Speech United Nations
June 19 International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict United Nations
June 20 World Refugee Day United Nations

June 21

National Indigenous Peoples Day

Canada

June 27

Canadian Multiculturalism Day

Canada

June 29 - July 2 Eid al Adha Islam

 

July 2023

Date Observance Observed by (including but not limited to)

July 1

Canada Day

Canada

July 3

Asalha Puja Day

Buddhism

July 19 

Al-Hijra New Year

Islam

July 30 World Day Against Trafficking in Persons United Nations

 

August 2023

Date Observance Observed by (including but not limited to)
August 12 International Youth Day United Nations
August 13 Obon Buddhism
August 23 International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition United Nations

 

September 2023

Date Observance Observed by (including but not limited to)
September 1 Labour Day Canada and US
September 6 Krishna Janmashtami Hinduism

September 21

International Day of Peace

United Nations

September 25

Yom Kippur

Judaism

September 30

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

(A remembrance to grieve the Indigenous children who were stolen from their families and placed in residential schools across Canada, to pay respect to survivors and recognize the intergenerational trauma on survivors, and learn about the ongoing impacts on Indigenous communities.)

Canada

 

October 2023

Date Observance Observed by (including but not limited to)

October

Women's History Month

Canada

October

Islamic History Month

Canada

October

Disability Employment Awareness Month

Canada

October 1

International Day of Older Persons

United Nations

October 10 World Mental Health Day World Health Organization
October 11 International Day of the Girl Child United Nations

October 24

Dasara
(Festival celebrating the victory of good over evil)

Hinduism

 

November 2023

Date Observance Observed by
(including but not limited to)
November Hindu Heritage Month Canada
November 5 - 11 Treaties Recognition Week Ontario
November 7 Inuit Day Canada

November 8

National Indigenous Veterans' Day

Canada

November 11

Remembrance Day

Canada and US

November 12 - 16

Diwali
(Festival of lights and new beginnings)

Hinduism

November 20

International Transgender Day of Remembrance

International

November 25 International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women United Nations
November 27 Birthday of Guru Nanak Dev Sahib Sikhism
November 19 - 25 Anti-Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week Ontario

 

December 2023

Date Observance Observed by (including but not limited to)

December 1

World AIDS Day

United Nations

December 2

International Day for the Abolition of Slavery

United Nations

December 3

International Day of Persons with Disabilities

United Nations

December 6

National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women

Canada

December 8 - 15 Hanukkah (Festival of Lights) Judaism

December 10

Human Rights Day

United Nations

December 18

International Migrants Day

United Nations

December 25

Christmas Day

Gregorian calendar and Christian

December 25

Feast of the Nativity

Orthodox Christian

December 26 to January 1 Kwanzaa
(Although Kwanzaa is primarily an African American holiday, it is also celebrated in Canada, the Caribbean and other countries where there are descendants of African people.)
Canada and US

* Dates may vary

 

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