Days of Significance
Calendar of Awareness
The purpose of the calendar is to encourage a culture of acceptance and inclusivity.
We strive to be compassionate and understanding of individuals from all backgrounds, identities, and abilities.
Together, we honor the transformative power of mentorship, nurturing relationships that transcend barriers and empower every individual to thrive.
January 2023
Tamil Heritage Month Canada
January 1 New Year’s Day
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
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
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
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 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 12 International Day of Pink (day of action against bullying, discrimination, homophobia, and transphobia) International
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
Asian and South Asian Heritage Month Canada
Jewish Heritage Month Canada
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
National Indigenous History Month Canada
Pride Month Canada
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
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
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
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 Canada (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.)
October 2023
Women’s History Month Canada
Islamic History Month Canada
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
Hindu Heritage Month Canada
November 5 – 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
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.)