Days of Observance
As a hospital foundation proud to serve our community, we believe that diversity and inclusion is integral to our day-to-day life at home, at work, and in our community. This calendar is a celebration of the rich tapestry of cultures, traditions, and perspectives that make up our community. The calendar highlights important cultural events, religious holidays, and awareness days throughout the year, fostering understanding and inclusivity. By inspiring communities to support exceptional health care for all in Durham Region and beyond, we aim to honour these special days and learning more about the diverse world we live in. Together, we can build a more inclusive and compassionate society.
We are making every effort to learning and understanding with a commitment to create an environment where everyone feels valued and respected. By embracing this journey, we can foster a culture of growth, ensuring that progress is made every step of the way.
If you believe a correction is needed, please reach out to our Foundation team at foundation@lh.ca.
2025 Observances
Tamil Heritage Month | January |
New Year’s Day | January 1 |
January 4 | |
Epiphany | January 5 |
Guru Gobind Singh Gurpurab | January 6 |
Bodhi Day | January 7 |
Orthodox Christmas | January 7* |
Makar Sankranti | January 14* |
Maghi | January 15* |
January 17 | |
Orthodox Epiphany | January 19* |
Martin Luther King Jr. Day | January 19* |
Lincoln Alexander Day | January 21 |
January 24 | |
January 27 | |
National Day of Remembrance of the Quebec City Mosque Attack and Action against Islamophobia | January 29 |
Black History Month | February |
Have a Heart Day | February 14 |
Maha Shivarati | February 15 to 16* |
Family Day | February 16* |
Lunar New Year | February 17* |
Ash Wednesday | February 18* |
Lent | February 18 to April 2* |
Losar | February 18 to 20* |
February 21 | |
Pink Shirt Day | February 26 |
March | |
March | |
March | |
March | |
Purim | March 2 to 3* |
Sangha Day | March 3* |
World Hearing Day | March 3 |
Holi | March 4* |
Hola Mohalla | March 4 to 6* |
International Women’s Day | March 8 |
March 15 | |
March 17 | |
Two-Spirit Celebration & Awareness Day | March 19 |
Eid-al-Fitr | March 20* |
Nowruz | March 20* |
International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination | March 21 |
World Down Syndrome Day | March 21 |
World Water Day | March 22 |
International Transgender Day of Visibility | March 31 |
National Indigenous Languages Day | March 31 |
April | |
April | |
Passover | April 1 to 9* |
World Autism Awareness Day | April 2 |
Good Friday | April 3* |
Easter Sunday | April 5* |
Easter Monday | April 6* |
April 8* | |
April 9 | |
Orthodox Good Friday | April 10* |
Orthodox Easter Sunday | April 12* |
April 13 to April 14* | |
Vaisahki | April 14* |
Armenian Genocide Memorial Day in Canada | April 24 |
Speech and Hearing Month | May |
May | |
May | |
May | |
May | |
May | |
May | |
May | |
Vesak | May 1* |
May 5 | |
National Day of Awareness for Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (Red Dress Day) | May 5 |
May 12 to 18 | |
Moose Hide Campaign Day | May 16 |
International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia | May 17 |
Victoria Day | May 18* (on the Monday between 18 and 24) |
May 21 | |
Pentecost | May 24* |
Hajj | May 24 to May 29* |
Eid Al-Adha | May 26 to 30* |
National Indigenous History Month | June |
June | |
June | |
June | |
Launch of Pride Season | June |
Islamic New Year | June 16* |
Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev Sahib | June 18* |
Summer Solstice | June 20 |
National Indigenous Peoples Day | June 21 |
June 23 | |
June 24 | |
Ashura | June 25 to 26* |
June 25 to July 1 | |
June 27 | |
July | |
July | |
Canada Day | July 1 |
Nunavut Day | July 9 |
Huron Tract Treaty of 1827 Anniversary | July 10 |
Dharma Day | July 25* |
July 28 | |
August | |
August 1 | |
Civic Holiday | August 3* |
International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples | August 9 |
August 15 | |
Assumption of Mary | August 15 |
August 17 to 23 (Third Week of August)* | |
World Humanitarian Day | August 19 |
Krishna Janmashtami | September 4* |
September 7 | |
September 7 to 13 (Second week of September)* | |
September 11 | |
Rosh Hashanah | September 11 to 13* |
Powley Day | September 19 |
Yom Kippur | September 20 to 21* |
September 21 to 27 (Fourth week of September) * | |
September 25 | |
Sukkot (First Days) | September 25 to October 2* |
National Day of Truth and Reconciliation | September 30 |
October | |
October | |
October | |
October | |
October | |
October | |
National Seniors Day | October 1 |
Simchat Torah | October 3 to 4* |
National Day of Action for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit and gender diverse people | October 4 |
October 11 | |
Navrati | October 11 to 19* |
Thanksgiving Day | October 12* |
Durga Puja | October 17 to 21* |
October 18 | |
Haldimand Treaty of 1784 Anniversary | October 25 |
November | |
National Indigenous Disabilities Awareness Month | November |
First Week of November | |
November 5 to 11 | |
November 7 | |
Diwali | November 8* |
November 8 | |
Remembrance Day | November 11 |
Louis Riel Day (Ontario) | November 16 |
November 20 | |
Transgender Day of Remembrance | November 20 |
November 20 to 26 | |
November 22 (Fourth Saturday of November) | |
Guru Nanak Jayanti | November 24* |
International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women | November 25 |
November 25 to December 10 | |
Advent | November 30 to December 24 |
International Day of Persons with Disabilities | December 3 |
Hanukkah/Chanukah | December 4 to December 12* |
National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women | December 6 |
December 10 | |
December 11 | |
Anti-Bullying Day | December 17 |
Winter Solstice | December 21 |
Christmas | December 25 |
Kwanzaa | December 26 |
Those with an asterisk () do not take place on the same day every year.
References:
https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/services/important-commemorative-days.html
https://www.ontario.ca/page/ontarios-celebrations-and-commemorations
https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/calendar-health-promotion-days.html#m01
Days of Significance | Office of Indigenous Relations | University of Waterloo