OPSEU/SEFPO is committed to the principle of freedom of religion and upholding the right to equal treatment on the basis of creed. In recognition of these rights and principles, which include respect for religious beliefs, practices and observances, the Member Equity Unit has compiled a calendar of religious observances. Major religious celebrations, which represent the holiest time of the year for many worshipers, have also been highlighted. It should also be noted that there are many other forms of religions and traditions that may fall outside the scope of the calendar provided.
In addition, key human rights and equity dates have also been included. These dates promote achievements of the labour movement, and human rights and community organizations who have worked proactively to defend and improve members’ rights and working conditions.
While the calendar is not exhaustive, it does provide guidelines to assist in planning and scheduling OPSEU/SEFPO meetings, activities and events. To encourage inclusion and full participation, consideration should be given when scheduling events that could fall around these times.
Every effort is made to include all recognized holidays, events and days of remembrance. For any questions, please contact the Member Equity unit at equity@opseu.org.
Diversity Calendar (Religious, Human Rights and Equity Observances)
International Year of Glass (United Nations)
August 2023
August 1 – Emancipation Day*
August 7 – Civic Holiday
August 9 – International Day of World’s Indigenous People* (UN)
August 12 – International Youth Day* (UN)
August 13 – Obon (Shinto-Buddhism) – MO/SH
August 19 – World Humanitarian Day* (UN)
August 23 – International Day for Remembrance of Slave Trade and its Abolition* (UN)
September 2023
September 4 – Labour Day – MO/SH
September 6 – Krishna Janmashtami (Hindu) – MO/SH
September 8 – International Literacy Day* (UNESCO) – MO/SH
September 11 – Paryushana Parva (Jain) – MO/SH
September 15 – International Day of Democracy* (UN)
September 15 – Rosh Hashanah (to Sept. 17) (Judaism) – MO/SH
September 21 – International Day of Peace* (UN)
September 24 – Yom Kippur (Judaism)
September 30 – Orange T-Shirt Day* (Indigenous)
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation*
October 2023
Women’s History Month
October 1 – International Day of Older Persons*(UN)
October 9 – Thanksgiving Day – MO/SH
October 10 – World Mental Health Day* (UN)
International Day of the Girl Child* (UN)
October 15 – Navaratri (to Oct. 24) (Hindu) – MO/SH
October 17 – International Day for the Eradication of Poverty* (UN)
October 24 – United Nations Day*
October 31 – Halloween*
November 2023
November 1 – Samhain – Litha* (Wicca/Pagan) – MO/SH
November 11 – Remembrance Day* – MO/SH
November 12 – Diwali (Hindu-Jain-Sikh) – MO/SH
November 13 – Jain New Year (Jain)
November 16 – Louis Riel Day* (Métis)
International Day for Tolerance* (UNESCO)
November 20 – Universal Children’s Day* (UN)
Transgender Day of Remembrance*
November 25 – International Day for Elimination of Violence Against Women* (UN)
November 27 – Guru Nanak Dev Sahib Birthday (Sikh) – MO/SH
December 2023
December 1 – World Aids Day* (UN)
December 2 – International Day for the Abolition of Slavery* (UN)
December 3 – Advent (to December 24) (Christian)
December 3 – International Day of Persons with Disabilities* (UN)
December 6 – National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women (Status of Women)*
December 7 – Hanukkah (to Dec. 15) (Judaism)
December 10 – Human Rights Day* (UN)
December 18 – International Migrants Day* (UN)
December 20 – International Human Solidarity Day* (UN)
December 24 – Christmas Eve*
December 25 – Christmas Day* (Christian) – MO/SH
December 26 – Boxing Day* – MO/SH
December 31 – New Year’s Eve*
International Year of Camelids (United Nations)
January 2024
January 1 – New Year’s Day* – MO/SH
Gantan-Sai (New Year’s) (Shinto)* – MO/SH
January 5 – Twelfth Night* (Christian)
January 6 – Epiphany* (Christian)
January 7 – Nativity of Christ* (Armenian – Orthodox Christian) – MO/SH
January 27 – International Day to Commemorate Memory of Victims of Holocaust* (UN)
February 2024
Black History Month
February 3 – Setsubun-sai* (Shinto) – MO/SH
February 10 to February 25 – Lunar New Year (Confucian, Daoist, Buddhist) – MO/SH
February 13 – Shrove Tuesday (Christian)
February 14 – Valentine’s Day*
February 14 – Ash Wednesday (Lent Begins) (Christian) – MO/SH
February 19 – Family Day – MO/SH
February 20 – World Day of Social Justice* (UN)
February 21 – International Mother Language Day* (UN)
February 24 – Magha Puja Day (Buddhism)
March 2024
March 1 – Zero Discrimination Day* (UNAIDS)
March 5 – Black Mental Health Day
March 8 – International Women’s Day* (UN)
March 10 – Ramadan Begins (Islam) – MO/SH
March 17 – St. Patrick’s Day* (Christian)
March 18 – Lent (Orthodox)
March 20 – Journée internationale de la francophonie* (UN)
UN French Language Day*
March 21 – Naw Ruz* (Baha’i) – MO/SH
International Day for Elimination of Racial Discrimination* (UN)
March 22 – World Water Day*
March 24 – International Day for Truth Regarding Gross Human Rights violations and dignity of victims* (UN)
March 24 – Palm Sunday (Christian)
March 25 – International Day of Remembrance to Victims of Slavery and Transatlantic Slave Trade* (UN)
March 29 – Good Friday (Christian) – MO/SH
March 31 – Trans Day of Visibility*
– Easter (Christian) – MO/SH
April 2024
April 1 – Easter Monday
April 2 – World Autism Awareness Day* (UN)
April 7 – World Health Day* (UN)
April 9 – Hindu New Year
April 9 – Eid al Fitr (sunset to April 10) (Islam) – MO/SH
April 12 – International Day of Pink
April 14 – Baisakhi (New Year)* (Sikh) – MO/SH
April 21 – Mahavir Jayanti (Jain) – MO/SH
April 22 – Pesach (Passover – to April 30) (Judaism) – MO/SH
April 28 – National Day of Mourning* (CLC/Gov’t of Canada)
– Palm Sunday (Orthodox)
World Day for Safety and Health at Work
May 2024
Asian Heritage Month
May 1 – Beltane and Samhain* (Wicca/Pagan) – MO/SH
May Day/International Worker’s Day* (CLC)
May 3 – Good Friday (Orthodox)
May 5 – National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (Red Dress Day)*
May 5 – Pascha (Easter) (Orthodox Christian)
May 12 – Mother’s Day
May 17 – International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia* (IDAHO) (Fondation Émergence)
May 19 – Pentecost (Christian) – MO/SH
May 20 – Victoria Day – MO/SH
May 21 – World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development* (UN)
May 23 – Declaration of the Bab* (Baha’i) – MO/SH
– Visakha Puja – Buddha Day (Buddhism) – MO/SH
May 29 – Ascension of Baha’u’llah* (Baha’i) – MO/SH
June 2024
Pride Month
National Indigenous History Month
June 12 – World Day Against Child Labour* (UN)
June 16 – Eid al Adha (to June 19) (Islam) – MO/SH
June 18 – Father’s Day – MO/SH
June 20 – World Refugee Day* (UN)
June 21 – National Indigenous Peoples Day*
June 23 – United Nations Public Service Day*
June 27 – Multiculturalism Day* (Gov’t of Canada)
July 2024
July 1 – Canada Day* – MO/SH
July 18 – Nelson Mandela International Day* (UN)
July 21 – Asalha Puja Day (Buddhism) – MO/SH
August 2024
August 1 – Emancipation Day*
August 5 – Civic Holiday
August 9 – International Day of World’s Indigenous People* (UN)
August 12 – International Youth Day* (UN)
August 13 – Obon (Shinto-Buddhism) – MO/SH
August 19 – World Humanitarian Day* (UN)
August 23 – International Day for Remembrance of Slave Trade and its Abolition* (UN)
August 26 – Krishna Janmashtami (Hindu) – MO/SH
August 31 – Paryushana Parva (Jain) – MO/SH
September 2024
September 2 – Labour Day – MO/SH
September 8 – International Literacy Day* (UNESCO) – MO/SH
September 15 – International Day of Democracy* (UN)
September 21 – International Day of Peace* (UN)
September 30 – Orange T-Shirt Day* (Indigenous)
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation*
October 2024
Women’s History Month
October 1 – International Day of Older Persons*(UN)
October 2 – Rosh Hashanah (to Oct 4) (Judaism) – MO/SH
October 3 – Navaratri (to Oct. 12) (Hindu) – MO/SH
October 10 – World Mental Health Day* (UN)
International Day of the Girl Child* (UN)
October 11 – Yom Kippur (Judaism)
October 14 – Thanksgiving Day – MO/SH
October 17 – International Day for the Eradication of Poverty* (UN)
October 18 – Jain New Year (Jain)
October 24 – United Nations Day*
October 31 – Halloween*
– Diwali (Hindu-Jain-Sikh) – MO/SH
November 2024
November 1 – Samhain – Litha* (Wicca/Pagan) – MO/SH
November 11 – Remembrance Day* – MO/SH
November 15 – Guru Nanak Dev Sahib Birthday (Sikh) – MO/SH
– International Day for Tolerance* (UNESCO)
November 16 – Louis Riel Day* (Métis)
November 20 – Universal Children’s Day* (UN)
Transgender Day of Remembrance*
November 25 – International Day for Elimination of Violence Against Women* (UN)
December 2024
December 1 – World Aids Day* (UN)
– Advent (to December 24) (Christian)
December 2 – International Day for the Abolition of Slavery* (UN)
December 3 – International Day of Persons with Disabilities* (UN)
December 6 – National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women (Status of Women)*
December 10 – Human Rights Day* (UN)
December 18 – International Migrants Day* (UN)
December 20 – International Human Solidarity Day* (UN)
December 24 – Christmas Eve*
December 25 – Christmas Day* (Christian) – MO/SH
December 26 – Boxing Day* – MO/SH
– Hanukkah (to Jan 2, 2025) (Judaism)
December 31 – New Year’s Eve*
Note: This calendar only highlights religious celebrations which represent the holiest time of the year for many worshipers. Major religious observances and statutory holidays are denoted as – MO/SH. The asterisk (*) indicates observances and/or events which fall on the same day annually.
Compiled by the Member Equity Unit, OPSEU/SEFPO
Download the calendar here:
2023-Observances-Calendar
2024-Observances-Calendar-