2026 Calendar of Observances
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.
February
| 1-28 | Black History Month Learn more |
| 1-2 | Imbolc (Candlemas) – Wicca/Neo Pagan |
| 1-7 | World Interfaith Harmony Week Learn more White Cane Week Learn more |
|
1 |
Tu B'Shevat – Judaism World Hijab Day |
|
2 |
World Wetlands Day Learn more |
|
3 |
International Decade for People of African Descent: Milestones & Progress Symposium Setsuban – Shinto |
| 6 | International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation Learn more |
| 10 | Community Immunity Awareness Forum Learn more |
| 11 | International Day of Women and Girls in Science Learn more |
|
14 |
Annual Women’s Memorial March St.Valentine's Day – Christian National Have a Heart Day |
| 15 |
Maha Shivaratri– Hindu Parinirvana Day – Buddhist |
| 16 | Family Day |
| 17 | Lunar New Year |
| 18 | Ramadan Begins – Islam |
| 20 | World Day of Social Justice Learn more |
| 20-21 | Hoobiyee - Nisga’a New Year Learn more |
|
21 |
International Mother Language Day Mental Health Nurses' Day |
|
25 |
Pink Shirt Day |
|
28 |
Rare Disease Day |
March
| 1-31 | National Nutrition Month |
| 1 | Zero Discrimination Day Learn more |
| 3 | Lantern Festival Magha Puja – Buddhist |
| 8 | International Women’s Day Learn more |
|
15 |
International Day to Combat Islamophobia Learn more |
| 17 | St. Patrick’s Day – Christian |
| 19 |
Two Spirit Celebration and Awareness Day Eid-ul-Fitr – Islam |
|
20 |
Nowruz (New Year) – Persian/Zoroastrian Ostara – Wicca/Pagan Two-Spirit and Indigenous LGBTQIA+ Celebration and Awareness Day |
|
21 |
International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination World Down Syndrome Day |
|
22 |
World Water Day Learn more |
|
24 |
World TB Day Learn more |
|
25 |
Feast of the Annunciation – Christian International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade |
|
30 |
International Zero Waste Day Learn more |
|
31 |
National Indigenous Languages Day International Transgender Day of Visibility |
2026 Previous months
January
| 1-31 |
Tamil Heritage Month Alzheimer's Awareness Month |
| 1 |
Ochetookeskaw - Kissing Day - Hand Shaking Day – Métis Shogatsu/Gantan-sai (New Year’s) – Shinto |
|
3 |
Mahayana New Year – Buddhism |
|
4 |
Ribbon Skirt Day World Braille Day |
| 5 | Twelfth Night – Christian |
| 6 |
Dia de los Reyes (Three Kings Day) – Christian Guru Gobindh Singh Jayanti – Sikh |
| 7 | Feast of the Nativity – Orthodox Christian |
| 14 | Maghi – Hindu |
|
15 |
Black Excellence Day Learn more |
| 16 | Lailat Al Miraj – Islam |
| 23 | Vasant Panchami – Hindu |
|
24 |
International Day of Education World Day for African and Afrodescendant Culture |
|
26 |
International Day of Clean Energy Learn more |
|
27 |
International Holocaust Remembrance Day Lailat Al Miraj – Islam |
|
29 |
National Day of Remembrance of the Quebec City Mosque Attack and Action Against Islamophobia Learn more |
BCNU Support
Members can submit requests for support from our membership department and occupational health and safety department – prevention team on this BCNU Support page.