OPSEU 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 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 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 Equity unit at equity@opseu.org.
Download the Equity Calendar: September 2021 to December 2022
Diversity Calendar (Religious, Human Rights and Equity Observances)
International Year for the Elimination of Child Labour (United Nations)
International Year of Peace and Trust, Creative Economy Sustainable Development and of Fruits and Vegetables (United Nations)
October 2021
Women’s History Month
October 1 – International Day of Older Persons*(UN)
October 7 – Navaratri (to Oct. 14) (Hindu) – MO/SH
October 10 – World Mental Health Day* (UN)
October 11 – Thanksgiving Day – MO/SH
International Day of the Girl Child* (UN)
October 17 – International Day for the Eradication of Poverty* (UN)
October 24 – United Nations Day*
October 31 – Halloween*
November 2021
November 1 – Samhain – Litha* (Wicca/Pagan) – MO/SH
November 4 – Diwali (Hindu-Jain-Sikh) – MO/SH
November 11 – Remembrance Day* – MO/SH
November 13 – Jain New Year (Jain)
November 16 – Louis Riel Day* (Métis)
International Day for Tolerance* (UNESCO)
November 19 – Guru Nanak Dev Sahib Birthday (Sikh) – MO/SH
November 20 – Universal Children’s Day* (UN)
Transgender Day of Remembrance*
November 25 – International Day for Elimination of Violence Against Women* (UN)
November 29 – Hanukkah (to Dec. 6) (Judaism)
December 2021
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
December 31 – New Year’s Eve*
2022
International Year of Glass (United Nations)
International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture (United Nations)
January 2022
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 2022
Black History Month
February 1 – Chinese New Year (Confucian, Daoist, Buddhist) – MO/SH
February 3 – Setsubun-sai* (Shinto) – MO/SH
February 14 – Valentine’s Day*
February 16 – Magha Puja Day (Buddhism)
February 21 – Family Day – MO/SH
February 20 – World Day of Social Justice* (UN)
February 21 – International Mother Language Day* (UN)
March 2022
March 1 – Zero Discrimination Day* (UNAIDS)
March 1 – Shrove Tuesday (Christian)
March 2 – Ash Wednesday (Lent Begins) (Christian) – MO/SH
March 7 – Lent (Orthodox)
Black Mental Health Day
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 31 – Trans Day of Visibility*
April 2022
April 1 – Hindu New Year
April 2 – World Autism Awareness Day* (UN)
– Ramadan Begins (Islam) – MO/SH
April 7 – World Health Day* (UN)
April 10 – Palm Sunday (Christian)
April 13 – International Day of Pink
April 14 – Baisakhi (New Year)* (Sikh) – MO/SH
– Mahavir Jayanti (Jain) – MO/SH
April 15 – Good Friday (Christian) – MO/SH
April 15 – Pesach (Passover – to April 23) (Judaism) – MO/SH
April 17 – Easter (Christian) – MO/SH
– Palm Sunday (Orthodox Christian)
April 18 – Easter Monday
April 22 – Good Friday (Orthodox)
April 24 – Pascha (Easter) (Orthodox Christian)
April 28 – National Day of Mourning* (CLC/Gov’t of Canada)
World Day for Safety and Health at Work
May 2022
Asian Heritage Month
May 1 – Beltane and Samhain* (Wicca/Pagan) – MO/SH
May Day/International Worker’s Day* (CLC)
May 2 – Eid al Fitr (sunset to May 4) (Islam) – MO/SH
May 5 – National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (Red Dress Day)*
May 8 – Visakha Puja – Buddha Day (Buddhism) – MO/SH
Mother’s Day
May 17 – International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia* (IDAHO) (Fondation Émergence)
May 21 – World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development* (UN)
May 23 – Declaration of the Bab* (Baha’i) – MO/SH
Victoria Day – MO/SH
May 29 – Ascension of Baha’u’llah* (Baha’i) – MO/SH
June 2022
Pride Month
National Indigenous History Month
June 5 – Pentecost (Christian) – MO/SH
June 12 – World Day Against Child Labour* (UN)
June 19 – 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 2022
July 1 – Canada Day* – MO/SH
July 9 – Eid al Adha (to July 13) (Islam) – MO/SH
July 13 – Asalha Puja Day (Buddhism) – MO/SH
July 18 – Nelson Mandela International Day* (UN)
August 2022
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 18 – Krishna Janmashtami (Hindu) – MO/SH
August 19 – World Humanitarian Day* (UN)
August 23 – International Day for Remembrance of Slave Trade and its Abolition* (UN)
September 2022
September 1 – Paryushana Parva (Jain) – MO/SH
September 5 – 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 25 – Rosh Hashanah (to Sept. 27) (Judaism) – MO/SH
September 26 – Navaratri (to Oct. 4) (Hindu) – MO/SH
September 30 – Orange T-Shirt Day* (Indigenous)
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation*
October 2022
Women’s History Month
October 1 – International Day of Older Persons*(UN)
October 4 – Yom Kippur (Judaism)
October 10 – World Mental Health Day* (UN)
October 11 – Thanksgiving Day – MO/SH
International Day of the Girl Child* (UN)
October 17 – International Day for the Eradication of Poverty* (UN)
October 26 – Jain New Year (Jain)
October 24 – Diwali (Hindu-Jain-Sikh) – MO/SH
United Nations Day*
October 31 – Halloween*
November 2022
November 1 – Samhain – Litha* (Wicca/Pagan) – MO/SH
November 8 – 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)
November 27 – Advent (to December 24) (Christian)
December 2022
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 – Hanukkah (to Dec. 26) (Judaism)
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 Equity Unit, OPSEU
Download the calendar here: