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].
Diversity Calendar (Religious, Human Rights and Equity Observances)
International Year of Quantum Science and Technology (United Nations)
July 2025
July 1 – Canada Day* – MO/SH
July 10 – Asalha Puja Day (Buddhism) – MO/SH
July 18 – Nelson Mandela International Day* (UN)
August 2025
August 1 – Emancipation Day*
August 4 – 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 16 – Krishna Janmashtami (Hindu) – MO/SH
August 19 – World Humanitarian Day* (UN)
August 21 – Paryushana Parva (Jain) – MO/SH
August 23 – International Day for Remembrance of Slave Trade and its Abolition* (UN)
September 2025
September 1 – 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 22 – Navaratri (to Oct. 1) (Hindu) – MO/SH
September 22 – Rosh Hashanah (New Year) (to Sept 24) (Judaism) – MO/SH
September 28 – Confucius’ Birthday* (Confucian)
September 30 – Orange T-Shirt Day* (Indigenous)
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation*
October 2025
Women’s History Month
October 1 – International Day of Older Persons*(UN)
October 1 – Yom Kippur (to Oct 2) (Judaism) – MO/SH
October 10 – World Mental Health Day* (UN)
International Day of the Girl Child* (UN)
October 13 – Thanksgiving Day – MO/SH
October 17 – International Day for the Eradication of Poverty* (UN)
October 20 – Diwali (Hindu-Jain-Sikh) – MO/SH
October 23 – Jain New Year (Jain)
October 24 – United Nations Day*
October 31 – Halloween*
November 2025
November 1 – Samhain – Litha* (Wicca/Pagan) – MO/SH
November 3 – Holocaust Education Week (to Nov 9)
November 5 – Guru Nanak Dev Sahib Birthday (Sikh) – MO/SH
November 11 – Remembrance Day* – MO/SH
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)
December 2025
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 14 – Hanukkah (to Dec 22, 2025) (Judaism)
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 Rangelands and Pastoralists and the International Year of the Woman Farmer
January 2026
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 2026
Black History Month
February 3 – Setsubun-sai* (Shinto) – MO/SH
February 14 – Valentine’s Day*
February 16 – Family Day – MO/SH
February 17 to March 3 – Lunar New Year (Confucian, Daoist, Buddhist) – MO/SH
February 17 to March 19 – Ramadan (Islam) – MO/SH
February 17 – Shrove Tuesday (Christian)
February 18 – Ash Wednesday (Lent Begins) (Christian) – MO/SH
February 20 – World Day of Social Justice* (UN)
February 21 – International Mother Language Day* (UN)
February 23 – Lent (Orthodox)
March 2026
March 1 – Zero Discrimination Day* (UNAIDS)
March 2 – Black Mental Health Day
March 3 – Magha Puja Day (Buddhism)
March 8 – International Women’s Day* (UN)
March 17 – St. Patrick’s Day* (Christian)
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 25 – International Day of Remembrance to Victims of Slavery and Transatlantic Slave Trade* (UN)
March 19 – Hindu New Year
March 19 – Navaratri (to Mar.27) (Hindu) – MO/SH
March 19 – Eid al Fitr (Evening of Mar 19 to Mar 20) (Islam) – MO/SH
March 29 – Palm Sunday (Christian)
March 31 – Trans Day of Visibility*
March 31 – Mahavir Jayanti (Jain) – MO/SH
April 2026
April 1 – Pesach (Passover – to April 9) (Judaism) – MO/SH
April 2 – World Autism Awareness Day* (UN)
April 3 – Good Friday (Christian) – MO/SH
April 5 – Easter (Christian) – MO/SH
April 5 – Qingming Festival (Confucian)
April 5 – Palm Sunday (Orthodox)
April 6 – Easter Monday
April 7 – World Health Day* (UN)
April 8 – International Day of Pink
April 10 – Good Friday (Orthodox)
April 12 – Pascha (Easter) (Orthodox Christian)
April 13 – Holocaust Remembrance Day – Yom HaShoah
April 14 – Baisakhi (New Year)* (Sikh) – MO/SH
April 28 – National Day of Mourning* (CLC/Gov’t of Canada)
World Day for Safety and Health at Work*
May 2026
Asian Heritage Month
Jewish Heritage Month
May 1 – Beltane and Samhain* (Wicca/Pagan) – MO/SH
May Day/International Worker’s Day* (CLC)
May 1 – Visakha Puja – Buddha Day (Buddhism) – MO/SH
May 5 – National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (Red Dress Day)*
May 3 – Chongmyo Taeje (Confucian)
May 10 – Mother’s Day
May 17 – International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia* (IDAHO) (Fondation Émergence)
May 18 – 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
May 24 – Pentecost (Christian) – MO/SH
May 26 – Eid al Adha (to May 30) (Islam) – MO/SH
May 29 – Ascension of Baha’u’llah* (Baha’i) – MO/SH
June 2026
Pride Month
National Indigenous History Month
June 12 – World Day Against Child Labour* (UN)
June 20 – World Refugee Day* (UN)
June 21 – 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 2026
July 1 – Canada Day* – MO/SH
July 18 – Nelson Mandela International Day* (UN)
July 29 – Asalha Puja Day (Buddhism) – MO/SH
August 2026
August 1 – Emancipation Day*
August 3 – 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 2026
September 4 – Krishna Janmashtami (Hindu) – MO/SH
September 7 – Labour Day – MO/SH
September 8 – International Literacy Day* (UNESCO) – MO/SH
September 9 – Paryushana Parva (Jain) – MO/SH
September 11 – Rosh Hashanah (New Year) (to Sept 13) (Judaism) – MO/SH
September 15 – International Day of Democracy* (UN)
September 20 – Yom Kippur (to Sept 21) (Judaism) – MO/SH
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 2026
Women’s History Month
October 1 – International Day of Older Persons*(UN)
October 10 – World Mental Health Day* (UN)
International Day of the Girl Child* (UN)
October 12 – Thanksgiving Day – MO/SH
October 17 – International Day for the Eradication of Poverty* (UN)
October 24 – United Nations Day*
October 31 – Halloween*
November 2026
November 1 – Samhain – Litha* (Wicca/Pagan) – MO/SH
November 2 – Holocaust Education Week (to Nov 8)
November 8 – Diwali (Hindu-Jain-Sikh) – MO/SH
November 9 – Jain New Year (Jain)
November 11 – Remembrance Day* – MO/SH
November 16 – Louis Riel Day* (Métis)
– International Day for Tolerance* (UNESCO)
November 20 – Universal Children’s Day* (UN)
Transgender Day of Remembrance*
November 24 – Guru Nanak Dev Sahib Birthday (Sikh) – MO/SH
November 25 – International Day for Elimination of Violence Against Women* (UN)
December 2026
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 4 – Hanukkah (to Dec 12) (Judaism)
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
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:
2025-Observances-Calendar
2026-Observances-Calendar