Observances calendar

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 [email protected].

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.

Download the 2027 Observances calendar

2027 – International Year of Sustainable and Resilient Tourism

January 2027

• January 1 – New Year’s Day* – MO/SH
• January 1 – 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 2027

• Black History Month
• February 3 – Setsubun-sai* (Shinto) – MO/SH
• February 5 to February 20 – Lunar New Year (Confucian, Daoist, Buddhist) – MO/SH
• February 7 to March 8 – Ramadan (Islam) – MO/SH
• February 9 – Shrove Tuesday (Christian)
• February 10 –  Ash Wednesday (Lent Begins) (Christian) – MO/SH
• February 14 – Valentine’s Day*
• February 15 – Family Day – MO/SH
• February 20 – World Day of Social Justice* (UN)       
• February 21 – International Mother Language Day* (UN)
• February 21 – Magha Puja Day (Buddhism)

March 2027

• March 1 – Zero Discrimination Day* (UNAIDS)
• March 1  – Black Mental Health Day 
• March 8 – International Women’s Day* (UN)
• March 9 – Eid al Fitr (Evening of Mar 9 to Mar 10) (Islam) – MO/SH
• March 15 – Lent (Orthodox)
• March 17 – St. Patrick’s Day* (Christian)
• March 20 – Journée internationale de la francophonie* (UN)
• March 20 – UN French Language Day*
• March 21 – Palm Sunday (Christian)
• March 21 – Naw Ruz* (Baha’i) – MO/SH
• March 21 –  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 25 – International Day of Remembrance to Victims of Slavery and Transatlantic Slave Trade* (UN)
• March 26  – Good Friday (Christian) – MO/SH
• March 28 – Easter (Christian) – MO/SH
• March 29 – Easter Monday
• March 31 – Trans Day of Visibility*

April 2027

• April 2 – World Autism Awareness Day* (UN)
•  April 5 – Qingming Festival (Confucian)
• April 7 – World Health Day* (UN)
• April 7 – Hindu New Year
• April 7 – Navaratri (to April 15) (Hindu) – MO/SH
• April 14 – International Day of Pink
• April 14 – Baisakhi (New Year)* (Sikh) – MO/SH
• April 19  – Mahavir Jayanti (Jain) – MO/SH
• April 21 – Pesach (Passover – to April 29) (Judaism) – MO/SH
• April 25 – Palm Sunday (Orthodox)
• April 28 – National Day of Mourning* (CLC/Gov’t of Canada)
• April 30 – Good Friday (Orthodox)
• April 30 – World Day for Safety and Health at Work*

May 2027

• Asian Heritage Month
• Jewish Heritage Month
• May 1 – Beltane and Samhain* (Wicca/Pagan) – MO/SH
• May Day/International Worker’s Day* (CLC)
• May 2   – Pascha (Easter) (Orthodox Christian)
• May 2 –  Chongmyo Taeje (Confucian) 
• May 3 – Holocaust Remembrance Day – Yom HaShoah
• May 5 – National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (Red Dress Day)*
• May 9 – Mother’s Day
• May 16 – Eid al Adha (to May 19) (Islam) – MO/SH
• May 16 – Pentecost (Christian) – MO/SH
• May 17 – International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia* (IDAHO) (Fondation Émergence)
• May 20 – Visakha Puja – Buddha Day (Buddhism) – MO/SH
• May 21 – World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development* (UN)
• May 23 –Declaration of the Bab* (Baha’i) – MO/SH
• May 24 – Victoria Day – MO/SH
• May 29 – Ascension of Baha’u’llah* (Baha’i) – MO/SH

June 2027

• Pride Month
• National Indigenous History Month
• June 12 – World Day Against Child Labour* (UN)
• June 20 – World Refugee Day* (UN)
• June 20 – Father’s Day – MO/SH
• June 21 – National Indigenous Peoples Day*
• June 23 – United Nations Public Service Day*
• June 27 – Multiculturalism Day* (Gov’t of Canada)

July 2027

• July 1 – Canada Day* – MO/SH
• July 10 – Asalha Puja Day (Buddhism) – MO/SH
• July 18 – Nelson Mandela International Day* (UN)

August 2027

• August 1 – Emancipation Day*
• August 2 – 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 25 – Krishna Janmashtami (Hindu) – MO/SH
• August 27 – Paryushana Parva (Jain) – MO/SH

September 2027

• September 6 – 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 28 – Confucius’ Birthday* (Confucian)
• September 30 – Orange T-Shirt Day* (Indigenous)
• National Day for Truth and Reconciliation*

October 2027

• Women’s History Month
• October 1 – International Day of Older Persons*(UN)
• October 1 – Rosh Hashanah (New Year) (to Oct 3) (Judaism) – MO/SH
• October 10 – World Mental Health Day* (UN)
• October 10 – Yom Kippur (to Oct 11) (Judaism) – MO/SH
• October 10 – International Day of the Girl Child* (UN)
• October 11 – Thanksgiving Day – MO/SH
• October 17 – International Day for the Eradication of Poverty* (UN)
• October 24 – United Nations Day*
• October 29 – Diwali (Hindu-Jain-Sikh) – MO/SH
• October 30  – Jain New Year (Jain)
• October 31 – Halloween*

November 2027

• November 1 – Samhain – Litha* (Wicca/Pagan) – MO/SH
• November 4 – Holocaust Education Week (to Nov 10)
•  November 11 – Remembrance Day* – MO/SH
• November 14 – Guru Nanak Dev Sahib Birthday (Sikh) – MO/SH
• November 16 – Louis Riel Day* (Métis)
• November 16 – International Day for Tolerance* (UNESCO)
• November 20 – Universal Children’s Day* (UN)
• November 20 – Transgender Day of Remembrance*
• November 25 – International Day for Elimination of Violence Against Women* (UN)
• November 28  – Advent (to December 24) (Christian)

December 2027

• December 1 – World Aids Day* (UN)
• 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 – Hanukkah (to Jan 1) (Judaism)
• December 24 – Christmas Eve*
• December 25 – Christmas Day* (Christian) – MO/SH
• December 26 – Boxing Day* – MO/SH
• December 31 – New Year’s Eve*