The following calendar of observances remind us of the rich diversity of our union and our communities and encourages us to be culturally aware when providing care to our patients. The calendar also invites us to reflect on how we might support initiatives to advance equitable access to the social determinants of health.
As you scroll through the calendar you will note the recognition of a number multi-faith and multicultural days (in black text) and the listing of various commemorative events or days (in berry text). This list is by no means exhaustive but reflects one aspect of the diversity of our membership (and our communities) and a few of the many celebrations and events that mark the year.
link-anchor-id-1
|
1-31
|
Tamil Heritage Month
Since 2016, Tamil Heritage Month is celebrated in January to increase awareness and appreciation for all the achievements and contributions of the Tamil people. Learn more
|
|
1
|
Shogatsu/Gantan-sai (New Year’s) – Shinto
|
|
4
|
World Braille Day
Learn more
|
|
5
|
Guru Gobindh Singh birthday – Sikh
Twelfth Night – Christian
|
|
6
|
Dia de los Reyes (Three Kings Day) – Christian
Epiphany – Christian
Feast of the Epiphany (Theophany) – Orthodox Christian
|
|
7
|
Feast of the Nativity – Orthodox Christian
|
|
8
|
Feast of the Holy Family – Catholic Christian
|
|
13
|
Black Excellence Day
Learn more
Maghi – Sikh
|
|
22
|
Lunar New Year
|
|
24
|
World Day for African and Afrodescendant Culture
Learn more
|
|
27
|
International Holocaust Remembrance Day
Learn more
|
|
29
|
National Day of Remembrance of the Quebec City Mosque Attack and Action Against Islamophobia
Learn more
|
|
30
|
Mahayana New Year (three days) – Buddhism
|
link-anchor-id-2
|
1-28
|
Black History Month
Learn more
|
|
2
|
Imbolc (Candlemas) – Wicca/Neo Pagan
Saint Brighid of Kildare – Christian
|
|
3
|
Setsebun – Shinto
|
|
11
|
International Day of Women and Girls in Science
Learn more
|
|
14
|
Annual Women’s Memorial March
Learn more
National Have a Heart Day
Learn more
St. Valentine's Day – Christian
|
|
15
|
Nirvana Day – Buddhist
|
|
28
|
World Day of Social Justice
Learn more
|
|
21
|
International Mother Language Day
Learn more
|
|
22
|
Pink Shirt Day
Learn more
|
link-anchor-id-3
|
1
|
St. David of Wales – Christian
|
|
8
|
International Women's Day
Learn more
|
|
17
|
St. Patrick's Day – Christian
|
| 20 |
Two-Spirit and Indigenous LGBTQIA+ Celebration and Awareness Day
Learn more |
|
21
|
Norooz (New Year) – Persian/Zoroastrian
Ostara – Wicca/Neo Pagan
International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
Learn more
World Down Syndrome Day
Learn more
|
|
22
|
Ramadan Begins – Islam
World Water Day
Learn more
|
|
24
|
World TB Day
Learn more
|
|
25
|
Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary – Christian
The International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade
Learn more
|
|
26
|
Khordad Sal – Zoroastrian
|
|
30
|
Magha Puja Day – Buddhism
|
|
31
|
International Transgender Day of Visibility
Learn more
|
link-anchor-id-4
|
1-30
|
Sikh Heritage Month
Learn more
|
|
9
|
Easter – Christian
|
|
10
|
Indigenous Nurses Day
Learn more
|
|
12
|
International Day of Pink
Learn more
|
|
14
|
Baisakhi (Vaisakhi) – Sikh
|
|
16
|
Theravadin New Year – Buddhism
|
|
22
|
Eid-ul-Fitr – Islam
Earth Day
Learn more
|
|
23
|
St. George's Day – Christian
|
|
25
|
Saint Mark, Apostle and Evangelist – Christian
World Malaria Day
Learn more
|
|
28
|
National Day of Mourning
Learn more
World Day of Safety and Health at Work
Learn more
|
|
30
|
St. James the Great Day – Orthodox Christian
|
link-anchor-id-5
|
1
|
May Day/ International Worker's Day
Beltane – Wicca/Neo Pagan
|
|
1-7
|
Mental Health Week
Learn more
|
|
1-31
|
Asian Heritage Month
Learn more
Jewish Heritage Month
Learn more
|
|
5
|
National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and Two-Spirit People
Learn more
Vesak Day – Buddhism
Learn more
|
|
8-14
|
National Nursing Week
Learn more
|
|
12
|
International Nurses Day
|
|
14
|
Mothers Day
|
|
15
|
International Day of Families
Learn more
|
|
16
|
International Day of Living Together in Peace
Learn more
|
|
17
|
International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia
Learn more
|
|
20
|
World Bee Day
Learn more
|
|
21
|
World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development
Learn more
|
|
22
|
Victoria Day
|
|
23
|
International Day to End Obstetric Fistula
Learn more
|
link-anchor-id-6
|
1-30
|
LGBTQ Pride
Indigenous History Month
|
|
7
|
World Food Safety Day
Learn more
|
|
15
|
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day
Learn more
|
|
18
|
Father's Day
|
|
21
|
National Indigenous Peoples Day
Learn more
|
link-anchor-id-7
|
1
|
Canada Day
|
|
11
|
World Population Day
Learn more
|
|
14
|
International Non-Binary People’s Day
Bastille Day
|
|
18
|
Nelson Mandela International Day
Learn more
|
|
20
|
Birth of Frantz Fanon
Learn more
|
|
28
|
World Hepatitis Day
Learn more
|
|
30
|
International Day of Friendship
Learn more
|
link-anchor-id-8
|
1
|
Emancipation Day
Learn more
|
|
7
|
BC Day
|
|
9
|
International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples
Learn more
|
|
12
|
International Youth Day
Learn more
|
|
19
|
World Humanitarian Day
Learn more
|
|
22
|
International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief
Learn more
|
|
23
|
International Day of the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition
Learn more
|
|
30
|
International Day for People of African Descent
Learn more
|
|
31
|
International Overdose Awareness Day
Learn more
|
|
link-anchor-id-9
|
4
|
Labour Day
|
|
6-7
|
Krishna Janmashtami – Hindu
|
|
10
|
World Suicide Prevention Day
|
|
15
|
International Day of Democracy
Learn more
|
|
15 - 17
|
Rosh Hashanah – Judaism
|
|
17
|
World Patient Safety Day
Learn more
|
|
18
|
International Equal Pay Day
Learn more
|
|
21
|
International Day of Peace
Learn more
|
|
|
21 - 29
|
Mabon – Pagan and Wiccan
|
|
23
|
International Day of Sign Languages
Learn more
|
|
|
24 - 25
|
Yom Kippur – Judaism
|
|
|
26 - 27
|
Mawlid – Islam
|
|
|
29
|
Mid-Autumn Moon Festival
|
|
|
|
30
|
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
Learn more
|
|
| |
|
link-anchor-id-10
|
2
|
World Habitat Day
Learn more
International Day of Non-Violence
Learn more
|
|
9
|
Thanksgiving
|
|
10
|
World Mental Health Day
Learn more
|
|
11
|
International Day of the Girl Child
Learn more
National Coming Out Day
|
|
15 - 24
|
Navaratri – Hindu
|
|
16
|
World Food Day
Learn more
|
|
17
|
International Day for the Eradication of Poverty
|
|
29
|
International Day of Care and Support
Learn more
|
|
|
31
|
Samhain – Pagan and Wiccan
|
UPDATED: September 26, 2023
2023 Calendar of Observances
