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

DateObservanceObserved by (including but not limited to)
JanuaryTamil Heritage MonthCanada
January 1New Year's DayGregorian calendar
January 4World Braille DayUnited Nations
January 15Martin Luther King DayUnited States
January 21Lincoln Alexander DayCanada
January 24World Day for African and Afrodescendant CultureUnited Nations
January 27International Holocaust Remembrance DayUnited Nations
January 29National Day of Remembrance of the Quebec City Mosque Attack and Action against IslamophobiaCanada

 

February

DateObservanceObserved by (including but not limited to)
FebruaryBlack History MonthCanada and US
February 1World Hijab DayInternational
February 28Anti-Bullying/Pink Shirt Day
(Day of awareness of bullying in schools, workplaces, home, and online)
Canada
   

 

March

DateObservanceObserved by (including but not limited to)
MarchGreek Heritage MonthCanada
March 8International Women's DayUnited Nations
March 10Start of RamadanInternational
March 18-24

Neurodiversity Celebration Week

United Kingdom
March 21International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination United Nations
March 21Two-Spirit and Indigenous LGBTQQIA+ Awareness to Celebration DayCanada
March 25International Day of Remembrance for the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave TradeUnited Nations
March 29Good FridayChristian
March 31Easter SundayChristian

 

April

DateObservanceObserved by (including but not limited to)
AprilSikh Heritage MonthCanada
April 2World Autism Awareness DayUnited Nations
April 6International Asexuality DayInternational
April 9End of RamadanInternational
April 10

International Day of Pink

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

International
April 22Earth DayUnited Nations
April 30Journey to Freedom DayCanada

 

May

DateObservanceObserved by (including but not limited to)
MayAsian and South Asian Heritage MonthCanada
MayJewish Heritage MonthCanada
MaySexual Assault Prevention & Awareness MonthCanada
May 5

Red Dress Day

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

Canada
May 5South Asian Arrival DayCanada
May 15International Day of FamiliesUnited Nations
May 17International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and BiphobiaInternational
May 19Malcolm X DayUnited States
May 20 -24 

Anti-Racism Awareness Week

Canada
May 24International Pansexual and Panromantic Visibility DayInternational 
May 25Africa DayInternational
May 26 - June 1National AccessAbilityCanada

 

June

DateObservanceObserved by (including but not limited to)
JuneNational Indigenous History MonthCanada
JunePride MonthCanada
JuneFilipino Heritage MonthCanada
June 2-8Canadian Environment WeekCanada
June 10Action Anxiety DayCanada
June 12World Day Against Child LabourUnited Nations
June 13International Albinism DayUnited Nations
June 18International Day to Counter Hate SpeechUnited Nations
June 19International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in ConflictUnited Nations
June 19Juneteenth 
June 20World Refugee DayUnited Nations
June 21National Indigenous Peoples DayCanada
June 27Canadian Multiculturalism DayCanada

 

July

DateObservanceObserved by (including but not limited to)
July 1Canada DayCanada
July 18Nelson Mandela DayUnited Nations
July 28 World Hepatitis DayInternational
July 30World Day Against Trafficking in PersonsUnited Nations

 

August

DateObservanceObserved by (including but not limited to)
August 1Emancipation DayCanada
August 12International Youth DayUnited Nations
August 23International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its AbolitionUnited Nations

 

September

DateObservanceObserved by (including but not limited to)
September 1Labour DayCanada and US
September 21International Day of PeaceUnited Nations
September 23International Day of Sign LanguagesUnited Nations
September 23-29International Week of Deaf PeopleInternational
September 23Bi Visibility DayInternational
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

DateObservanceObserved by (including but not limited to)
OctoberWomen's History MonthCanada
OctoberIslamic History MonthCanada
OctoberDisability Employment Awareness MonthCanada
OctoberAutism Awareness MonthCanada
October

Alternative & Augmentative Communication Awareness Month

International 
OctoberMi’kmaq History MonthNova Scotia
October 1International Day of Older PersonsUnited Nations
October 2-4Rosh HashanahJewish
October 4National Day of Action for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and GirlsCanada
October 6-12Mental Illness Awareness Week Canada
October 10World Mental Health DayWorld Health Organization
October 11International Day of the Girl ChildUnited Nations
October 11National Coming Out DayInternational
October 11-12Yom KippurJewish
October 16International Pronouns DayInternational
October 20-26Invisible Disabilities WeekInternational
October 20-26Workplace Bullying Awareness WeekInternational
October 20-26Ace (Asexual) Awareness WeekInternational
October 22International Stuttering Awareness DayInternational
October 26Intersex Awareness DayInternational

 

November

DateObservanceObserved by
(including but not limited to)
NovemberHindu Heritage MonthCanada
NovemberDiabetes Awareness MonthInternational
NovemberIndigenous Disability Awareness MonthCanada
NovemberNational Domestic Violence Awareness MonthCanada
November 1DiwaliIndia
November 3 - 9Treaties Recognition WeekOntario
November 7Inuit DayCanada
November 8National Indigenous Veterans' DayCanada
November 11Remembrance DayCanada and US
November 14World Diabetes DayInternational
November 17-23Restorative Justice WeekCanada
November 20International Transgender Day of RemembranceInternational
November 25International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against WomenUnited Nations
November 25 - December 1016 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based ViolenceCanada
November 18 - 22Anti-Bullying Awareness and Prevention WeekOntario

 

December

DateObservanceObserved by (including but not limited to)
December Universal Human Rights MonthInternational
December 1World AIDS DayUnited Nations
December 2International Day for the Abolition of SlaveryUnited Nations
December 3International Day of Persons with DisabilitiesUnited Nations
December 6National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against WomenCanada
December 8Pansexual Pride DayInternational
December 10Human Rights DayUnited Nations
December 18International Migrants DayUnited Nations
December 25Christmas DayGregorian calendar and Christian
December 25Feast of the NativityOrthodox Christian
December 26 to January 1Kwanzaa
(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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