Equity calendar

Year at a glance

Human Rights and Equity has curated a list of equity-related dates, compiled by cross-referencing ten calendars from across Canada from a variety of sources. This is not an exhaustive list and some dates may change from year to year, but can act as a reference. *Links to the various calendar dates will be added over time.

September

National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month | National Hispanic Heritage Month (Canada)

Sept. 6-12 Respectful Workplace Week
Sept. 7 Labour Day (Canada)
Sept. 8 World Literacy Day
Sept. 9 Fetal Alcohol Awareness Day
Sept. 10 World Suicide Prevention Day
Sept. 13-19 Take Back the Night Week
Sept. 13-19 Democracy Week
Sept. 14 Paryushana-parva ends / Samvatsari / Dashalakshani-parva begins (Jainism)
Sept. 15 New Brunswick Human Rights Day
Sept. 15 International Day of Democracy (UN)
Sept. 18 Take Back the Night (3rd Friday in September)
Sept. 18-20 Rosh Hashanah (Jewish)
Sept. 21 International Day of Peace (UN)
Sept. 23 Bisexual Visibility Day
Sept. 23-29 Gender Equality Week (Canada)
Sept. 24-25 First and Second Day of Sukkot (Judaism)
Sept. 25 Ksamavani (Jainism)
Sept. 26 World Contraception Day
Sept. 27-Oct. 3 International Right to Know Week
Sept. 27-28 Yom Kippur (Jewish)
Sept. 28 Right to Know Day
Sept. 30 National Day of Truth & Reconciliation | Orange Shirt Day (Canada)

October

Women's History Month | Islamic History Month<br/>Disability Employment Awareness Month | Healthy Workplace Month

Oct. 1 Mi'Kmaq Treaty Day
Oct. 1 Shmini Atzeret (Judaism)
Oct. 1 International Day of Older Persons (UN)
Oct. 2 International Day of Non-Violence - Global
Oct. 2 Simhat Torah (Judaism)
Oct. 3-10 Sukkot (Jewish)
Oct. 4 Sisters in Spirit Vigil
Oct. 4-10 Disability Awareness Week
Oct. 4-10 National Mental Health Week
Oct. 5 World Teachers’ Day
Oct. 5-11 National Family Week
Oct. 7 World Day for Decent Work
Oct. 10 World Mental Health Day
Oct. 10 Shemini Atzeret (Jewish)
Oct. 11 International Day of the Girl
Oct. 11 National Coming Out Day
Oct. 11 Simchat Torah (Jewish)
Oct. 12-16 A Week Without Gender Violence
Oct. 15 International Day of Rural Women (UN)
Oct. 17 International Day for the Eradication of Poverty (UN)
Oct. 18 Persons Day
Oct. 24 Childcare and Early Childhood Educators Day
Oct. 24 United Nations Day
Oct. 25 Dasara (Hindu)
Oct. 26 Intersex Awareness Day
Oct. 27 Diwali / Bandhi Chor Divas (Sikh)
Oct. 29 Mawlid an Nabi (Islam)
Oct. 31 Halloween
Red Shawl Campaign, to honour missing and murdered Indigenous women, occurs during the month of October

November

Native American History Month | Family Violence Prevention Month | Woman Abuse Prevention Month | National Community Safety and Crime Prevention Campaign

First Week Treaties Recognition Week
Nov. 1 All Saints Day
Nov. 2 International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists
Nov. 2 Día de los Muertos/ Day of the Dead (Mexico)
Nov. 7 Diwali (Hinduism)
Nov. 7 Mahavira Nirvana & Diwali (Jainism)
Nov. 7 Bandi Chhor Divas (Sikhism)
Nov. 8 National Indigenous Veterans Day (Canada)
2nd Week National Veterans Week
Nov. 9 - 10 Kristallnacht
Nov. 9 Birth of The Bab (Baha’i)
Nov. 10 Birth of Baha’u’llah (Baha’i)
Nov. 11 Remembrance Day
Nov. 12 Avtar (Birthday) of Guru Nanak (Sikh)
Nov. 13 World Kindness Day
Nov. 13 Jain New Year (Jain)
Nov. 16 Louis Riel Day
Nov. 16 International Day for Tolerance (UN)
Nov. 20 International Transgender Day of Remembrance
Nov. 20 National Child Day (also Universal Children's Day)
Nov. 23 Birthdate of Guru Nanak Dev Ji (Sikhism)
Nov. 24 Matyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji (Sikh)
Nov. 25 International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (UN)
Nov. 25 - Dec. 10 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence - Global (U.N.)
Nov. 26 Thanksgiving (Interfaith USA)
Nov. 26 - Dec. 6 National White Ribbon Campaign
Nov. 29 Birth of the Báb (Baha’i)
Nov. 30 St. Andrew’s Day (Christian)

December

Dec. 1 World AIDS Day
Dec. 2 International Day for the Abolition of Slavery (UN)
Dec. 3 International Day of Persons with Disabilities (UN)
Dec. 5 International Volunteer Day
Dec. 6 Day of Mourning National Day of Remembrance of Action on Violence Against Women (Canada)
Dec. 8 Bodhi Day (Rohatsu) (Buddhism)
Dec. 10 Human Rights Day (UN)
Dec. 10 - Dec. 18 Hanukkah (Jewish)
Dec. 18 International Migrants Day (UN)
Dec. 20 International Human Solidarity Day (UN)
Dec. 23 Martyrdom of Baba Ajeet Singh Ji / Baba Jujar Singh Ji (Sikh)
Dec. 25 Christmas (Christianity)
Dec. 25 Feast of the Nativity (Orthodox Christian)
Dec. 26 Death of Prophet Zarathustra (Zoroastrianism)
Dec. 27 Martyrdom of Baba Zoravar Singh Ji / Baba Fateh Singh Ji / Mata Gujar Kaur Ji (Sikh)
Dec. 31 New Year's Eve

January

Jan. 1 New Year's Day
Jan. 1 Gantan-sai (New Years) (Shinto)
Jan. 2 Mahayana New Year (Buddhist)
Jan. 5 Avtar (Birthday) of Guru Gobind Sing Ji (Sikh)
Jan. 6 Nativity of Christ (Armenian Orthodox)
Jan. 7 Feast of the Nativity (Orthodox Christian)
Jan. 10 - Jan. 12 Mahayana New Year (Buddhist)
Jan. 15 Maghi (Sikh)
Jan. 15 Makar Sankranti (Hindu)
Jan. 18 - Jan. 25 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (Christian)
Jan. 19 World Religion Day (Baha’i)
Jan. 20 Timkat (Ethiopian Orthodox Christian)
Jan. 21 Women's March - U.S. and Global
Jan .21 World Religion Day (Baha’i)
Jan. 22 Vasanta Panchami (Hindu)
Jan. 24 International Day of Education
Jan. 25 Chinese New Year (Confucian, Daoist, Buddhist)
Jan. 27 International Holocaust Remembrance Day (designated by the United Nations)
Jan. 27 Bell Let's Talk Day
Jan. 27 Family literacy Day
Jan. 29 National Day of Remembrance of 2017 Islamophobic Attack in Quebec
Jan. 31 Tu B’shevat (Jewish)

February

Black History Month | Aboriginal Storytelling Month

Feb. 1 World Interfaith Harmony Week (UN)
Feb. 2 Groundhog Day
Feb. 3 Setsebun Sai (Shinto)
Feb. 6 International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation - Global
Feb. 10 Tu B’shevat (Jewish)*
Feb. 12 Sexual and Reproductive Health Awareness Day - Canada (Canadian Federation for Sexual Health)
2nd Week Heritage Week (Canada)
Feb. 13 World Radio Day
Feb. 14 St. Valentine’s Day
Feb. 14 Maha Shivaratri (Hindu)
Feb. 14 Ash Wednesday – Lent begins (Christian)
Feb. 14 One Billion Rising - Global
Feb. 14 Have a Heart Day
Feb. 14 Women’s Memorial March
Feb. 14 Pink Triangle Day
Feb. 15 Nehan-e Nirvana Day (Buddhist)
Feb. 16 Lunar New Year: Year of the _______
Feb. 16 Tibetan New Year: Losar (Buddhism)
Feb. 17 Heritage Day
Feb. 17 Family Day
Feb. 17 Random Acts of Kindness Day
Feb. 18 Orthodox Sunday (Orthodox Christian)
Feb. 19 Family Day
Feb. 20 World Day of Social Justice (UN)
3rd Week Scout-Guide Week - Canada (Scouts Canada & Girl Guides of Canada)
Feb. 21 International Mother Language Day (UN)
Feb. 21 Maha Shivarantri (Hindu)
Feb. 26 Anti-Bullying / Pink Shirt Day (Canada)
Feb. 29 Repetitive Strain Injury Day
UNB Faculty of Arts Lecture occurs within the month of February

March

Women’s History Month

Mar. 1 Purim (Jewish)
Mar. 1 Zero Discrimination Day (UN)
Mar. 2 Holi (Hinduism)
Mar. 2 - Mar. 20 Nineteen Day Fast (Baha’i)
Mar. 8 International Women’s Day (UN)
Mar. 8 Orthodox Sunday (Orthodox Christian)
Mar. 9 Magha Puja Day (Buddhist)
Mar. 9 - Mar. 10 Purim (Jewish)
Mar. 10 Holi (Hindu)
Mar. 14 Chet – Beginning of the Sikh Calendar (Nanakshahi 552)
Mar. 17 St. Patrick's Day
Mar. 18 - Mar 26 Ramayana (Hindu)
Mar. 20 International Day of Happiness (UN)
Mar. 20 International Francophonie Day
Mar. 20 International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (UN)
Mar. 20 Holla Mohalla (Sikh)
Mar. 20 Persian New Year (Nowruz)
Mar. 21 Youth Day (New Brunswick)
Mar. 21 - Mar. 27(28) Week of Solidarity with the Peoples Struggling Against Racism and Racial Discrimination (UN)
Mar. 22 World Water Day
Mar. 25 Palm Sunday (Christianity)
Mar. 25 International Day of the Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery
Mar. 26 Ramanavami (Hindu)
Mar. 29 Mahavira-jayanti (Jainism)
Mar. 30 Holy (Good) Friday (University closed)
Mar. 31 First Day of Pesah (Passover) (Judaism)
Mar. 31 International Transgender Day of Visibility
Mar. 31 Equal Pay Day
UNB Peace and Treaty Days occur during the month of March

April

Disability Awareness Month

April 2 World Autism Awareness day
April 2 Rama Navami (Hindu)
April 3 Laylat al Mi’raj (Islam)
April 4 Refugee Rights Day (Canada)
April 5 Palm Sunday (Christian)
April 6 Orthodox Holy Friday (Orthodox Christian)
April 7 Passover (Final day)
April 7 World Health Day
April 8 Pascha (Orthodox Easter) (Orthodox Christian)
April 9 Mahavir Jayanti (Jain)
April 9 - April. 11 Theravadin New Year (Buddhist)
April 9 - April. 16: Pesach (Judaism)
April 10 Good Friday (Christian)
April 11 Vaisakhi Day Parade – Vancouver (Sikh)
2nd Wednesday International Day of Pink
April 12 Palm Sunday (Orthodox Christian) | Easter Sunday (Christian)
April 13 Easter Monday (Christian)
April 15 Vaisakhi (Baisakhi) – Birth of the Khalsa (Sikh)
3rd Wednesday Day of Pink
April 17 Equality Day (Anniversary of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms)
April 17 Holy Friday (Orthodox Christian)
April 21 First Day of Ridvan (Baha’i)
April 21 Lailat al Bara’ah (Islam)
April 22 Earth Day (UN)
April 23 St. George’s Day (Christian)
April 24 Ramadan begins (Islam)
April 28 National Day of Mourning for Injured Workers and World Day for Safety and Health at Work
April 28 Yom HaZikron (Jewish)
April 29 Ninth Day of Ridvan (Baha’i)
April 29 Yom Ha’Atzmaut (Jewish)
April 29 Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day)
April 30 Theravada New Year (Buddhist)
Last week National Victims of Crime Awareness Week - Canada (Justice Canada)
UNB Powwow occurs within the month of February

May

Asian/South Asian Heritage Month | Jewish Heritage Month

1st Week International Youth Week
1st Week National Mental Health Week
1st Week North American Occupational Health and Safety Week
May 1 International Workers Day
May 1 Lailat al Bara’at (Islam)
May 2 Last day of Ridvan (Baha’i)
May 3 Saints Philip & James (Christian)
May 3 World Press Freedom Day
May 7 National Youth and Child Mental Health Day
May 7 Visakha Puja (Buddha Day) (Buddhist)
May 8 - May 9 Days of Remembrance and Reconciliation (UN)
May 10 Mother’s Day | Parent's Day (North America)
May 12 Canada Health Day
May 14 National Indigenous Nursing Day
May 15 International Day of Families (UN)
May 16 International Day of Living Together in Peace - Global
May 17 International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia
May 18 Victoria Day (Canada)
May 19 - May 22 Aboriginal / Indigenous Awareness Week (Canada)
May 20 World Bee Day
May 21 World Day for Cultural Diversity
Third Wednesday Educational Support Staff Appreciation Day
May 23 Declaration of the Bab (Baha’i)
May 25 National Missing Children’s Day
May 25 Memorial Day
May 25 - May 31 National AccessAbility Week
May 29 Ascension of Baha’u’llah (Baha’i)
May 29 - May 30 Shavuot (Jewish)
May 31 Pentecost (Christian)

June

Pride Month (Global) | National Aboriginal History Month (Canada)

1st Week Canadian Environment Week
June 1 Injured Workers’ Day
June 2 National Health and Fitness Day
June 5 Poson (Buddhist)
June 5 - June. 7 Eid al Fitr (Islam)
June 7 Trinity Sunday (Christian)
June 7 Pentecost (Orthodox Christian)
June 7 Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev Ji (Sikh)
June 8 World Oceans Day
June 10 Equal Pay Act Anniversary (USA)
June 11 National Day of Reconciliation
June 12 World Day Against Child Labour
June 14 All Saints (Orthodox Christian)
June 19 International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict - Global
June 20 Summer Solstice
June 20 World Refugee Day
June 21 National Indigenous Peoples Day (Canada) America)
June 21 Father’s Day | Parent's Day (North America)
June 23 Public Service Day (UN)
June 24 Rahmat (Baha’i)
June 24 St. Jean Baptiste Day (Quebec)
June 26 United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture
June 27 Multi-culturalism Day (Canada)
June 29 Ghambar Maidyoshem begins (Zarathushti)

July

July 1 Canada Day (Canada)
July 1 Sant Teja Singh Day (Sikh)
July 2 Holiday in lieu of Canada Day
July 4 Guru Purnima / Chaturmas begins (Hindu)
July 5 Asalha Puja Day (Buddhist)
July 9 Martyrdom of the Bab (Baha’i)
July 11 World Population Day (UN)
July 15 World Youth Skills Day
July 18 Nelson Mandela International Day (UN)
July 22 Tish’a B’Av (Jewish)
July 24 International Self-Care Day - Global
July 27 Asalha Puja Day and Vassa begins (Buddhist)
July 28 August 2 Day of Hajj (Islam)
July 30 Tisha B’Av (Jewish)
July 30 International Day of Friendship (UN)
July 30 World Day Against Trafficking in Persons (UN)
July 31 - August 3 Eid al Adha (Islam)

August

Aug. 1 Lammas
Aug. 1 Kamal (Baha’i)
Aug. 3 Raksha Bandhan (Hindu)
Aug. 3 Heritage Day (Alberta)
Aug. 8 -Aug. 17 Fravardegahn Days (Zarathushti Shenshai)
Aug. 9 International Day of the World’s Indigenous People (UN)
Aug. 10 Waqf al Arafa (Islam)
Aug. 12 International Youth Day
Aug. 13 - August. 15 Obon (Ulambana) (Buddhist/Shinto)
Aug. 15 National Acadian Day (Acadia)
Aug. 15 Paryushana Parvarambha (Jain)
Aug. 18 Nowruz (Zarathushti Shenshai)
Aug. 18 National Women's Equality Day
Aug. 18 Anniversary of the 19th Amendment - U.S.
Aug. 19 World Humanitarian Day
Aug. 20 Day of Hajj (Islam)
Aug. 20 Asma’ (Baha’i)
Aug. 20 Hijri (New Year) (Islam)
Aug. 21 id al-Adha (Muslim)
Aug. 22 Samvatsari Parva / Dashalakshani-parva (Jain)
Aug. 23 International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition
Aug. 23 Krishna Janmashtami (Hindu)
Aug. 24 Birth of Prophet Zarathustra (Shensai)
Aug. 26 Women's Equality Day - Canada
Aug. 26 Guru Purnima / Chaturmas begins
Aug. 26 Raksha Bandhan (Hindu)
Aug. 29 Ashura (Islam)
Aug. 31 First Installation of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji (Sikh)

Sources:

Women's Equality Branch - GNB
NB Human Rights Commission
The University of Alberta
University of British Columbia
Women's March Global
Women's Issues Ontario
United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW)
Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario (EFTO)
UNIFOR
Public Service Alliance of Canada.

If you see missing days of significance, contact Human Rights and Equity at humanrights@unb.ca.