Days of Significance
Days and months of significance are a way to raise awareness and action about historical, cultural and equitable practices that will help create a more inclusive and just society. Over the past few years, days of significance are increasingly being shared across social media platforms as a way for organizations to connect with their communities and share their values and priorities.
The following list is a resource for the SFU community and has been sourced from current and previous events as well as operational activities at the university, federal government important and commemorative events and international days and weeks currently observed by the United Nations. If you have any questions about this resource, please connect with us at edi@sfu.ca.
To view provincial/national holidays and important dates related to the academic year, please visit the Student Services website. To view dates related to major religious observances and holy days, please visit the Multifaith Centre website.
2024
January
- January 1-30: Sexual Assault Awareness Month
- January 4: World Braille Day
- January 27: International Holocaust Remembrance Day
February
- Feb 1-28: Black History Month
- First full week in Feb: White Cane Week
- Feb 1: World Hijab Day
- Feb 10: Lunar New Year
- Feb 11: International Day of Women and Girls in Science
- Feb 14: Missing Women’s Memorial March
- Feb 20: World Day of Social Justice
- Feb 22: Pink Shirt Day
March
- Mar 1: Self-harm Awareness Day
- Mar 8: International Women’s Day
- Mar 20: International Day of La Francophonie
- Mar 19: Nowruz
- Mar 21: International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
- Mar 22: World Water Day
- Mar 25: International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade
- Mar 31: International Transgender Day of Visibility
April
- April 1-30: Arab Heritage Month (Canada)
- April 1-30: Sikh Heritage Month BC
- First Tuesday of Apr: National Caregiver Day
- Apr 2: World Autism Awareness Day
- Apr 6: International Asexuality Day
- Apr 7: World Health Day
- Apr 13: International Day of Pink
- Apr 22: Earth Day
- Apr 28: National Day of Mourning
- Apr 30: Journey to Freedom Day
May
- May 1-31: Asian Heritage Month
- May 1-31: Jewish Heritage Month
- May 1-7: Mental Health Week
- May 5: National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG)
- May 15: International Day of Families
- May 17: International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia
- May 21: World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development
- Beginning the last Sunday of May: BC AccessAbility Week
June
- June 1-30: National Indigenous History Month
- June 1-30: Pride Month
- June 19: International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict
- June 20: World Refugee Day
- June 21: National Indigenous Peoples Day
- June 23: National Day of Remembrance for Victims of Terrorism
- June 27: Canadian Multiculturalism Day
July
- July 1-31: Disability Pride Month
- July 14: Mad Pride Day
- July 14: International Non-Binary People’s Day
- July 21: Drug Users Remembrance Day
August
- Aug 1: Emancipation Day
- Aug 9: International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples
- Aug 19: World Humanitarian Day
- Aug 31: International Overdose Awareness Day
September
- Sept 10: World Suicide Prevention Day
- Sept 21: International Day of Peace
- Sept 30: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation | Orange Shirt Day
October
- Oct 1-31: Islamic History Month Canada
- Oct 1-31: Women’s History Month
- Oct 4: Sisters in Spirit Vigil
- Oct 10: World Mental Health Day
- Oct 11: National Coming Out Day
- Oct 11: International Day of the Girl Child
- Oct 17: International Day for the Eradication of Poverty
- Oct 18: Persons Day
- Oct 19: International Pronouns Day
- Oct 26: International Intersex Awareness Day
November
- Nov 1-30: Indigenous Disability Awareness Month
- Nov 8: Indigenous Veterans Day
- Nov 8: Intersex Solidarity Day
- Nov 20: Transgender Day of Remembrance
- Nov 25: International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women
December
- Dec 1: World AIDS Day
- Dec 3: International Day of Persons with Disabilities
- Dec 6: National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women in Canada
- Dec 10: Human Rights Day
- Dec 17: International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers
- Dec 26 - Jan 1: Kwanzaa