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 |
United Nations |
February 2023
| Date | Observance | Observed by (including but not limited to) |
|---|---|---|
|
February |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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