Calendar

First Nations, Inuit, Métis

Wicca; Paganism

Christianity

December 25 – January 2, 2024
Judaism

African Canadian and American celebration

Shintō; Buddhism

First Nations, Inuit, Métis

Christianity

Christianity; Eastern Orthodox and Western

 Sikhism

Christianity – Russian/Eastern Orthodox

Christianity – Western, Catholic, Eastern Orthodox

Hinduism; Sikhism

Sikhism

Mahāyāna Buddhism

Hinduism

Eastern Orthodox Christian

January 14 – 17, 2025
Hinduism

January 20 – 24, 2025

Islam

Family Literacy Day is a national awareness initiative created by ABC Life Literacy Canada in 1999 and held annually on January 27 to raise awareness of the importance of reading and engaging in other literacy-related activities as a family. Taking time every day to read or do a learning activity with children is crucial to a child’s development. Even just 15 minutes a day can improve a child’s literacy skills dramatically, and can help a parent improve their skills as well.

The UN General Assembly designated January 27 — the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau—as International Holocaust Remembrance Day. On this annual day of commemoration, we should honor the victims of the Nazi era and develop educational programs to help prevent future genocides. For more information: http://www.un.org/en/holocaustremembrance/

Buddhism

Christianity

Hinduism

First Nations – Haudenosaunee

 Buddhism; Shintō

Buddhism

Orthodox Christianity – Julian calendar

On February 15, 1965 our national flag was raised for the first time on Parliament Hill. Every year since 1996, when Parliament declared February 15th as National Flag of Canada Day, we celebrate our beautiful flag.

Mahāyāna Buddhism

Hinduism

Anti-bullying awareness

Also known as Tibetan New Year. 
Buddhism

February 28 – March 29, 2025
Islam

March 1 – 19, 2025
Bahá’í

March 3 – 9, 2025

Christianity

March 5 – April 17, 2025
Christianity

The World Economic Forum predicts the gender gap won’t close entirely until 2186. This is too long to wait. Around the world, IWD is an important opportunity to drive driving greater change for women and to accelerate gender parity.

March 13 – 14, 2025
Judaism

March 14 – 16, 2025
Sikhism

Hinduism

Baháʼí

International

Wicca/Paganism

First Nations, Inuit, Métis

8:30 pm

Christianity

Islam

End of Ramadan
Islam

2SLGBTQIA+ 

Observed each year on March 31, International Transgender Day of Visibility is a day to celebrate the courage it takes to live openly and authentically, while also recognizing the leadership of transgender and gender nonconforming trailblazers who have led the charge in the fight for equality.

First Nations, Inuit, Métis

2SLGBTQIA+

Tomb Sweeping Day

Hinduism

2SLGBTQIA+

Jehovah’s Witness

April 12 – 20, 2025
Judaism

Christianity

Theravada Buddhism

Hinduism; Buddhism

Sikhism

Christianity; Orthodox Christianity

Bahá’í

Judaism

The National Day of Mourning, or Workers’ Mourning Day is observed in Canada on April 28. It commemorates workers who have been killed, injured or suffered illness due to workplace related hazards and incidents.

Hinduism

First Nations, Inuit, Métis

First Nations, Inuit, and Métis

2SLGBTQIA+ 

The International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia held on May 17 every year, is a rallying event offering an opportunity for people to get together and reach out to one another. Fondation Émergence promotes the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia and encourages organisations and individuals to highlight this event in their environment.

First Nations, Inuit, Métis

First Nations, Métis, Inuit

Midsummer, a festival honouring the summer solstice, has been marked by Nordic countries since Pagan times. With the spread of Christianity, the Feast of St. John the Baptist superseded the Pagan event, until the two rituals merged over time to form the unique secular Midsummer Day festival as it is celebrated today. Nordics mark it in various ways, but common events include huge bonfires, local food and drink, wildflower wreaths and decorations, and dancing long into the sunlit night!

Inti Raymi (Sun Festival) in the Andes is a centuries-old Inca celebration of the winter solstice in the Southern hemisphere. Begun in the 14th century, it was later banned by Spanish colonists in an attempt to eradicate Indigenous beliefs and culture. 

Nearly 400 years later Inti Raymi re-emerged thanks to efforts of historians and artists who sought to recover lost Indigenous traditions. Today, Inti Raymi has evolved into a grand theatrical re-enactment in which over 800 artists don costumes and engage in processions, rites, and traditional Inca dances, bringing the past to life.

Learn more: https://www.apus-peru.com/blog/inti-raymi-the-fascinating-sun-festival-in-peru/

Christianity

Quebec; Francophone Culture

June 25 – July 1

Ontario

Take part in the celebrations for Canadian Multiculturalism Day and discover the wealth of cultures that bring our country to life. http://www.canada.ca

Commonly held June – September.

Elements of the Scottish Highland Games can be traced back over 1,000 years, though the connection to the clan system didn’t evolve until the late Middle Ages. After being banned following the 18th c. Jacobite Rebellion, the Games returned in the early 1800’s and swiftly grew in popularity. Today, the modern Highland Games are a celebration of Scottish culture held across Scotland and in many countries with a large Scottish diaspora – including Canada.

International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples is observed each year to raise awareness and protect the rights of the world’s Indigenous population. Learn more: https://www.un.org/en/observances/indigenous-day

 Sikhism

Christianity

The day was first recognised in 2003, as an initiative of the International Association for Suicide Prevention and endorsed by the World Health Organization. World Suicide Prevention Day takes place each year on September 10.

Christianity

First Nations, Inuit, Métis

The International Day of Peace (Peace Day) is observed around the world each year on 21 September. Established in 1981 by unanimous United Nations resolution, Peace Day provides a globally shared date for all humanity to commit to Peace above al

2SLGBTQIA+

First Nations, Inuit, Métis

Ontario

Ontario

October is Women’s History Month in Canada! It’s a time for Canadians to celebrate the achievements of women and girls throughout our history and recognize the trailblazing women who have shaped our country and way of life.

Make your mark
When women and girls bring their passion, energy and talents to everything they do, there is no stopping them!

Looking back over the past 150 years since Confederation, countless women have done exactly that: harnessed their power, found their voice, and claimed their place in our country’s proud history.

Because of their efforts and those of the many women who have followed in their footsteps, we’ve made amazing strides toward gender equality and women’s empowerment over the past 150 years. But there is still more work to do: barriers still exist, and sexism and discrimination continue to impact and shape the lives of too many Canadians.

Change is possible, but we can’t do it alone.

As we look to the future, we must lift each other up so that everyone has the chance to claim their place and reach their full potential. Together, we can create a Canada where every woman and girl has the chance to let her unique power shine through and make her mark.

#ClaimYourPlace
Today, women, girls, men, and boys continue the quest for equality and inclusion in all areas of Canadian life.

Honour their actions and celebrate the courageous women and girls who inspire you to #ClaimYourPlace.

Join the conversation on social media by using the hashtag #ClaimYourPlace and share photos, videos and words of inspiration. Share your stories of finding your voice on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Tell the world how you #ClaimYourPlace!