September 7: Ukrainian Heritage Day
Ukrainian Heritage Day is celebrated each year on September 7. It is the day when Ukrainian settlers arrived in Canada in 1891. For more information, visit https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/11u03

September 25: Franco-Ontarian Day
The Francophone community of Ontario is the largest French-speaking community in Canada outside Quebec. We celebrate the French language and heritage on September 25, the anniversary of the first unveiling of the Franco-Ontarian flag (in 1975). For more information, visit https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/10f04. 

September 30: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (Orange Shirt Day)
September 30th is a federal statutory holiday called the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. This day provides an opportunity for each public servant to recognize and commemorate the legacy of residential schools. For more information, visit https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/national-day-truth-reconciliation-canada-passes-senate-1.6054847

Islamic Heritage Month

Islamic History Month Canada aims to celebrate, inform, educate, and share with fellow Canadians the rich Muslim heritage and contributions to society: sciences, humanities, medicine, astronomy, and other disciplines that have greatly benefited human progress. For more information, visit http://www.ihmcanada.com/.

Women's History Month

This month Canadians celebrate the achievements of women and girls as trailblazers throughout our history. It is a time to learn about the contributions women have made that have shaped our way of life. For more information, visit http://www.swc-cfc.gc.ca/commemoration/whm-mhf/index-en.html.

October 1: National Seniors Day
National Seniors Day is celebrated across Canada each year on October 1st to acknowledge the contribution of seniors to Canadian society and to the Canadian economy. For more information visit https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/C-27.4/page-1.html

October 11: International Day of the Girl
International Day of the Girl is dedicated to championing girls’ rights around the world. For more  information, visit https://www.swc-cfc.gc.ca/commemoration/idg-jif/index-en.html. 

October 18: National Persons Day
National Persons Day marks the day in 1929 when the historic decision to include women in the legal definition of “persons” was handed down by Canada’s highest court of appeal. For more information visit https://women-gender-equality.canada.ca/en/commemorations-celebrations/womens-history-month/persons-day.html

Albanian Heritage Month

November is a significant month for the Albanian community. People of Albanian origin celebrate the Albanian Declaration of Independence and Liberation Day, the day that Albania was liberated from Nazi Germany forces, this month. For more information, visit https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/16a29. 

Hindu Heritage Month

Hindu Heritage Month is an opportunity to remember, celebrate and educate future generations about Hindu Canadians and the important role that they have played and continue to play in communities across Ontario. For more information, visit https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/16h35.

First Week of November: National Treaties Recognition Week
Treaties Recognition Week was introduced in 2016 by the province to honour the importance of treaties and to help Ontarians learn more about treaty rights and treaty relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. It is recognized during the first week of November every year. For more information, visit https://www.ontario.ca/page/treaties#section-4. 

November 5 - 11: Remembrance Week
The week preceding Remembrance Day each year is recognized as Remembrance Week and a time to unite in honouring the memory of veterans. For more information visit https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/16r21

November 11: Remembrance Day
Every year on November 11, Canadians pause in a silent moment of remembrance for the men and women who have served, and continue to serve our country during times of war, conflict and peace. For more information visit https://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/history/a-day-of-remembrance

November 20: National Child Day
National Child Day is celebrated on November 20th each year and has been celebrated across Canada since 1993 to commemorate the United Nations' adoption of two documents centered on children's rights. For more information visit https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/health-promotion/childhood-adolescence/national-child-day.html

November 27: Holodomor [Ukrainian Famine] Remembrance Day
The Holodomor is the name given to the genocide by famine that occurred in Ukraine from 1932 to 1933. The day provides an opportunity to reflect on and to educate the public about the enduring lessons of the Holodomor and other crimes against humanity. For more information, visit https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/09h07.

December 6: National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women

Established in 1991 by the Parliament of Canada, this day marks the anniversary of the murders in 1989 of 14 young women at l'École Polytechnique de Montréal. December 6 also represents an opportunity for Canadians to reflect on violence against women in our society. For more information, visit http://www.swc-cfc.gc.ca/commemoration/vaw-vff/remembrance-commemoration-en.html. 

Tamil Heritage Month

Tamils began migrating to Ontario as early as the 1940s. The province of Ontario recognizes the valuable contributions that Tamil Canadians have made to Ontario’s social, economic, political and cultural fabric. For more information, visit https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/14t04. 

January 21: Lincoln Alexander Day
Each year in Ontario, January 21st is recognized as Lincon Alexander Day, celebrating one of the most outstanding and accomplished Ontarians of our time. For more information, visit https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/13l18?search=lincoln%20alexander

January 27: International Holocaust Remembrance Day
January 27th marks the anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi Concentration and Extermination Camp of Auschwitz-Birkenau by Soviet troops on 27 January 1945. For more information visit https://en.unesco.org/commemorations/holocaustremembranceday

Black History Month

Every February, Canadians are invited to participate in Black History Month festivities and events that honour the legacy of Black Canadians, past and present. Throughout our history, Black Canadians have played a key role in building and shaping the diverse, compassionate and prosperous country that we are proud to call home. For more information, visit visit https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/campaigns/black-history-month.html. 

February 15: National Flag of Canada Day

On February 15, 1965, Canada’s red and white maple leaf flag was raised for the very first time on Parliament Hill and on the same day in 1996, National Flag of Canada Day was declared. Our national flag is a symbol that unites all Canadians and reflects the common values we hold so dear — equality, diversity and inclusion. For more information, visit https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/campaigns/national-flag-canada-day.html

February 23: Pink Shirt Day (Anti-Bullying)
Pink Shirt Day falls on the last Wednesday of February every year and is a day aimed at raising awareness of bullying, as well as raise funds to support programs that foster children’s healthy self-esteem. For more information, visit https://www.pinkshirtday.ca/about

Bangladeshi Heritage Month

Bangladeshi Canadians from across the province have made significant contributions to Ontario’s scientific, athletic, cultural and political development, and they continue to help foster growth, prosperity and innovation throughout Ontario. For more information, visit https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/16b32. 

Hellenic Heritage Month

March is a significant month for the Hellenic community and March 25 is celebrated each year as Greek Independence Day.  Proclaiming March as Hellenic Heritage Month provides an opportunity to remember, celebrate and educate future generations about the outstanding achievements and contributions of the Hellenic Canadians in the province. For more information, visit https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/19h15. 

March 8: International Women's Day

International Women’s Day recognizes women’s achievements and acknowledge the challenges they continue to face in the quest for gender equality. For more information, visit http://www.swc-cfc.gc.ca/commemoration/iwd-jif/index-en.html.

March 14: Commonwealth Day
Commonwealth day is a day of observance by close to one billion persons of their common bonds and the contribution of the Commonwealth of Nations to the creation of a harmonious global environment. For more information, visit https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/services/important-commemorative-days/commonwealth-day.html

March 17: Irish Heritage Day

Irish immigrants brought Ontario and Canada their values of hard work, devotion to family, service to the community and the perpetual hope for a better future for themselves and their fellow citizens. For more information, visit https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/04i10.

Sikh Heritage Month

Sikh Heritage Month is an opportunity to remember, celebrate and educate future generations about Sikh Canadians and the important role that they have played and continue to play in communities across Ontario. For more information, visit https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/13s12.

April 9: Vimy Ridge Day

The Battle of Vimy Ride is widely regarded as a watershed moment in the evolution of Canada as an independent nation. The Battle marked the first time that Canadian Divisions fought together on the same battlefield under Canadian leadership to carry out Canadian strategy. For more information, visit https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/10v03. 

April 13: International Day of Pink

The International Day of Pink is a day where communities across the world can unite in celebrating diversity and raising awareness to stop homophobia, transphobia, transmisogyny and all forms of bullying. For more information, visit https://www.dayofpink.org/en/home


Late April/Early May: Yom Ha-Shoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day)
This day provides an opportunity to reflect on and educate about the enduring lessons of the Holocaust. It also serves as an opportunity to consider other instances of systematic destruction of peoples, human rights issues and multicultural reality of modern society. For more information, visit https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/98h25. 

Bill 94, Genocide Awareness, Education, Condemnation and Prevention Month
Ontario is a place that embraces diversity. Genocide has affected the lives of many Ontario families and communities. Ontario is home to many religious and ethnic communities who have been persecuted in the past. On April 24, 2015, the House of Commons of Canada passed a motion designating April as Genocide Remembrance, Condemnation and Prevention Month.
https://www.ola.org/en/legislative-business/bills/parliament-42/session-1/bill-94

 

Asian Heritage Month

This month recognizes and pays tribute to the contributions that people from Asian countries have made and continue to make to the development and general welfare of Ontario. For more information, visit https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/05a10.

Dutch Heritage Month

Dutch Heritage Month recognizes the important contributions that Dutch Canadians have made to the economic, political, social and cultural fabric of our society. For more information, visit https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/11d04.

Jewish Heritage Month

Jewish Heritage Month is an opportunity to remember, celebrate and educate future generations about the inspirational role that Jewish Canadians have played, and continue to play, in communities across Ontario. For more information, visit https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/12j01. 

South Asian Heritage Month

South Asian immigrants began arriving in Ontario at the start of the 20th century. Today, South Asians make up a significant proportion of Ontario’s population and are proud to draw upon their heritage and traditions, contributing to many aspects of culture, commerce and public service across this province.For more information, visit https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/01s29.

May 21: Ontario Flag Day

First recognized on May 21st, 1965, the Ontario flag symbolizes each of these contributions as well as our rich history, diverse heritage, distinct values and shared successes. Paying tribute to the Ontario flag allows us to celebrate all Ontario citizens and their countless contributions while honouring our history, heritage, values and successes. For more information, visit https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/15o21?search=ontario+flag+day

Tamil Genocide Education Week
The seven-day period in each year ending on May 18 is proclaimed as Tamil Genocide Education Week. During this period, all Ontarians are encouraged to educate themselves about, and to maintain their awareness of, the Tamil genocide and other genocides that have occurred in world history. For more information, read Bill 104: An Act to proclaim Tamil Genocide Education Week.
 

Italian Heritage Month

Italian Heritage Month recognizes the important contributions immigrants have made in building Ontario’s communities and the economic, political, social and cultural achievements of Italian Canadians throughout the province. For more information visit https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/10i17.

National Indigenous History Month

June is National Indigenous History Month. The history of First Nations, Inuit and Métis is essentially the very history of our country as they are the first peoples of Canada and continue to play important roles in its development and its future. For more information, visit http://www.aadnc-aandc.gc.ca/eng/1466616436543/1466616481533. 

Portuguese History and Heritage Month

Portugal played a pioneering and leading role in the discoveries of the 15th and 16th centuries that contributed to the passing from an age of closed worlds into an age of space exploration. For the past 500 years, people of Portuguese heritage have settled and made their homes in Canada. For more information, visit https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/01c22. 

Pride Month/Season
Pride Season is a unifying term that refers to the period between June and September when LGBTQ2 communities and allies come together at different times throughout the summer to spotlight the resilience, talent, and contributions of LGBTQ2 communities in many Canadian cities. For more information, visit https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/campaigns/pride-season.html

Filipino Heritage Month
Filipino Heritage Month in Ontario provides all Ontarians, both today and in future generations, with an opportunity to learn about and celebrate the rich heritage and histories of the Filipino Canadian community. For more information, visit https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/21f15?search=filipino+heritage

June 21: National Indigenous Peoples Day
National Indigenous Peoples Day is a day for all Canadians to recognize and celebrate the unique heritage, diverse cultures and outstanding contributions of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. In cooperation with Indigenous organizations, the Government of Canada chose June 21, the summer solstice, for National Indigenous Peoples Day. For more information, visit http://www.aadnc-aandc.gc.ca/eng/1100100013718/1100100013719

June 24: St-Jean-Baptiste Day (patron of French-Canadians)
The cultural pride and rich heritage of Canada’s Francophones are expressed in the colourful parades and lively festivities that mark Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day. Francophones and Francophiles across the country celebrate Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day—especially in Quebec, where June 24 has been officially declared the National Holiday. For more information, visit https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/campaigns/celebrate-canada-days/baptiste-day.html.

June 25 to July 1: Somali Heritage Week
During Somali Heritage Week, the Province of Ontario recognizes the economic, political, social and cultural achievements and contributions of Somali Canadians in all aspects of Ontario society. For more information, visit https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/20s22

June 27: Canadian Multiculturalism Day

Canadian Multiculturalism Day is an opportunity to celebrate our diversity and our commitment to democracy, equality and mutual respect and to appreciate the contributions of the various multicultural groups and communities to Canadian society. For more information, visit https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/campaigns/celebrate-canada-days/multiculturalism-day.html.