Equity calendar

Year at a glance

The Human Rights & Positive Environment Office 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 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 Aboriginal Veterans Day (Canada)
2nd Week: National Veterans Week
Nov. 9 - 10 Kristalnacht
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 Birth date 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 (Men against Men’s Violence Against Women)
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 Naw-Rúz (New Year) (Baha’i)
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.

Additional resource:

In January 2022 Canada’s Department of National Defence released a multicultural calendar that has compiled hundreds of multicultural and religious holidays, festivals and observances occurring throughout the year, nationally and internationally. The calendar is interactive online but can also be imported or downloaded in pdf format.