2023 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.

1-31 |
Tamil Heritage Month |
1 |
Shogatsu/Gantan-sai (New Year’s) – Shinto |
4 |
World Braille Day |
5 |
Guru Gobindh Singh birthday – Sikh |
6 |
Dia de los Reyes (Three Kings Day) – Christian |
7 |
Feast of the Nativity – Orthodox Christian |
8 |
Feast of the Holy Family – Catholic Christian |
13 |
Black Excellence Day |
22 |
Lunar New Year |
24 |
World Day for African and Afrodescendant Culture |
27 |
International Holocaust Remembrance Day |
29 |
National Day of Remembrance of the Quebec City Mosque Attack and Action Against Islamophobia |
30 |
Mahayana New Year (three days) – Buddhism |

1-28 |
Black History Month |
2 |
Imbolc (Candlemas) – Wicca/Neo Pagan |
3 |
Setsebun – Shinto |
11 |
International Day of Women and Girls in Science |
14 |
Annual Women’s Memorial March |
15 |
Nirvana Day – Buddhist |
28 |
World Day of Social Justice |
21 |
International Mother Language Day |
22 |
Pink Shirt Day |

1 |
St. David of Wales – Christian |
8 |
International Women's Day |
17 |
St. Patrick's Day – Christian |
20 | Two-Spirit and Indigenous LGBTQIA+ Celebration and Awareness Day Learn more |
21 |
Norooz (New Year) – Persian/Zoroastrian |
22 |
Ramadan Begins – Islam |
24 |
World TB Day |
25 |
Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary – Christian |
26 |
Khordad Sal – Zoroastrian |
30 |
Magha Puja Day – Buddhism |
31 |
International Transgender Day of Visibility |

1-30 |
Sikh Heritage Month |
9 |
Easter – Christian |
10 |
Indigenous Nurses Day |
12 |
International Day of Pink |
14 |
Baisakhi (Vaisakhi) – Sikh |
16 |
Theravadin New Year – Buddhism |
22 |
Eid-ul-Fitr – Islam |
23 |
St. George's Day – Christian |
25 |
Saint Mark, Apostle and Evangelist – Christian |
28 |
National Day of Mourning |
30 |
St. James the Great Day – Orthodox Christian |

1 |
May Day/ International Worker's Day |
1-7 |
Mental Health Week |
1-31 |
Asian Heritage Month |
5 |
National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and Two-Spirit People |
8-14 |
National Nursing Week |
12 |
International Nurses Day |
14 |
Mothers Day |
15 |
International Day of Families |
16 |
International Day of Living Together in Peace |
17 |
International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia |
20 |
World Bee Day |
21 |
World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development |
22 |
Victoria Day |
23 |
International Day to End Obstetric Fistula |

1-30 |
LGBTQ Pride |
7 |
World Food Safety Day |
15 |
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day |
18 |
Father's Day |
21 |
National Indigenous Peoples Day |

1 |
Canada Day |
11 |
World Population Day |
14 |
International Non-Binary People’s Day |
18 |
Nelson Mandela International Day |
20 |
Birth of Frantz Fanon |
28 |
World Hepatitis Day |
30 |
International Day of Friendship |

1 |
Emancipation Day |
7 |
BC Day |
9 |
International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples |
12 |
International Youth Day |
19 |
World Humanitarian Day |
22 |
International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief |
23 |
International Day of the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition |
30 |
International Day for People of African Descent |
31 |
International Overdose Awareness Day |

4 |
Labour Day |
6-7 |
Krishna Janmashtami – Hindu |
10 |
World Suicide Prevention Day |
15 |
International Day of Democracy |
15 - 17 |
Rosh Hashanah – Judaism |
17 |
World Patient Safety Day |
18 |
International Equal Pay Day |
21 |
International Day of Peace |
21 - 29 |
Mabon – Pagan and Wiccan |
23 |
International Day of Sign Languages |
24 - 25 |
Yom Kippur – Judaism |
26 - 27 |
Mawlid – Islam |
29 |
Mid-Autumn Moon Festival |
30 |
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation |

2 |
World Habitat Day International Day of Non-Violence |
9 |
Thanksgiving |
10 |
World Mental Health Day |
11 |
International Day of the Girl Child National Coming Out Day |
15 - 24 |
Navaratri – Hindu |
16 |
World Food Day |
17 |
International Day for the Eradication of Poverty |
29 |
International Day of Care and Support |
31 |
Samhain – Pagan and Wiccan |
September 30
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
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