Days of significance
Every year, many important days and months of note are marked around the world and right here in Canada. This calendar highlights these occasions that raise awareness about creating a more equitable, inclusive and just society.
To view provincial, national holidays and important dates related to the academic year, please visit the Academic dates calendar. To view dates related to major religious observances and holy days, please visit the Religious holidays calendar.
| Date | Observance |
|---|---|
| First Monday of September | Labour Day |
| September 8 | International Literacy Day |
| Fourth week of September | Gender Equality Week |
| September 30 | National Day for Truth and Reconciliation / Orange Shirt Day |
| Date | Observance |
|---|---|
| Month of October | 2SLGBTQIA History Month |
| Month of October | Women's History Month in Canada |
| October 1 | National Seniors Day |
| October 5 | World Teachers Day |
| October 10 | World Mental Health Day |
| Second Tuesday of October | Ada Lovelace Day |
| October 11 | International Day of the Girl |
| October 16 | World Food Day |
| Last full week of October | Asexual Awareness Week (Ace Week) |
| October 31 | World Cities Day |
| October 31 | Halloween |
| Date | Observance |
|---|---|
| First Sunday in November | Daylight savings time ends |
| November 8 | National Indigenous Veterans' Day |
| November 11 | Remembrance Day |
| November 20 | Transgender Day of Remembrance |
| November 25 - December 10 | 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence |
| November 25 | International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women |
| Date | Observance |
|---|---|
| January 1 | Public Domain Day |
| January 4 | World Braille Day |
| January 24 | International Education Day |
| January 27 | International Holocaust Remembrance Day |
| January 28 | Data Privacy Day |
| January 29 | National Day of Remembrance of the Québec City Mosque Attack and Action Against Islamophobia |
| Date | Observance |
|---|---|
| Month of February | Black History Month |
| Month of February | Heart Month |
| First full week in February | White Cane Week |
| February 4 | World Cancer Day |
| February 6 | Safer Internet Day |
| February 11 | Women and Girls in Science Day |
| February 13 | World Radio Day |
| February 14 | Valentines Day |
| February 15 | International Child Cancer Day |
| February 20 | Social Justice Day |
| February 28 | Pink Shirt Day |
| Date | Observance |
|---|---|
| Month of March | Women's History Month |
| Month of March | Nutrition Month |
| March 3 | World Hearing Day |
| March 3 | World Wildlife Day |
| March 8 | International Women's Day |
| March 20 | International Happiness Day |
| March 20 | Journée internationale de la Francophonie |
| March 21 | International Forests Day |
| March 21 | International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination |
| March 22 | World Water Day |
| March 23 | Earth Hour |
| Date | Observance |
|---|---|
| Month of April | National Poetry Month |
| Month of April | Earth Month |
| April 2 | World Autism Awareness Day |
| April 7 | World Health Day |
| April 12 | International Day of Human Space Flight |
| April 22 | Earth Day |
| April 23 | World Book and Copyright Day |
| April 24 | International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace |
| April 25 | World Malaria Day |
| April 26 | World Intellectual Property Day |
| April 28 | World Day for Safety and Health at Work |
| April 29 | International Dance Day |
| Date | Observance |
|---|---|
| Month of May | Asian Heritage Month |
| Month of May | Jewish American Heritage Month |
| May 5 | National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) |
| May 12 | International Nurses Day |
| May 15 | International Day of Families |
| May 17 | International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia |
| May 25 | Anniversary of the Murder of George Floyd |