Simcoe County District School Board

Ukrainian Heritage Day (September 7)

Ukrainian Heritage Day is celebrated each year on September 7. It is the day when Ukrainian settlers arrived in Canada in 1891. For more information, visit https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/11u03.

Franco-Ontarian Day (September 25)

The Francophone community of Ontario is the largest French-speaking community in Canada outside Quebec. We celebrate the French language and heritage on September 25, the anniversary of the first unveiling of the Franco-Ontarian flag (in 1975). For more information, visit https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/10f04. 

Hispanic Heritage Month

Hispanic Heritage Month (also known as Latin Heritage Month) is an opportunity to remember, celebrate and educate future generations about the outstanding achievements and contributions of Hispanic people in the province. For more information, visit https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/15h04.

Islamic Heritage Month

Islamic History Month Canada aims to celebrate, inform, educate, and share with fellow Canadians the rich Muslim heritage and contributions to society: sciences, humanities, medicine, astronomy, and other disciplines that have greatly benefited human progress. For more information, visit http://www.ihmcanada.com/.

Women's History Month

This month Canadians celebrate the achievements of women and girls as trailblazers throughout our history. It is a time to learn about the contributions women have made that have shaped our way of life. For more information, visit http://www.swc-cfc.gc.ca/commemoration/whm-mhf/index-en.html.

Albanian Heritage Month

November is a significant month for the Albanian community. People of Albanian origin celebrate the Albanian Declaration of Independence and Liberation Day, the day that Albania was liberated from Nazi Germany forces, this month. For more information, visit https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/16a29. 

Hindu Heritage Month

Hindu Heritage Month is an opportunity to remember, celebrate and educate future generations about Hindu Canadians and the important role that they have played and continue to play in communities across Ontario. For more information, visit https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/16h35.

Treaties Recognition Week 

Treaties Recognition Week was introduced in 2016 by the province to honour the importance of treaties and to help Ontarians learn more about treaty rights and treaty relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. It is recognized during the first week of November every year. For more information, visit https://www.ontario.ca/page/treaties#section-4. 

Veteran's Week (November 5 - 11)

The people of Ontario must never forget the extraordinary courage and profound sacrifice made by the men and women who bravely and unselfishly gave their lives for Canada in wars and in peace support operations. As a gesture of respect for those who bravely and unselfishly gave their lives for Canada in wars and in peace support operations, the week preceding Remembrance Day each year is recognized as Veteran’s Week. For more information, visit https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/16r21.

Remembrance Day (November 11)

Remembrance Day commemorates the armistice signed to end the First World War at 11:00 a.m. on November 11, 1918, being the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of that year. Every year on November 11, Canadians pause in a silent moment of remembrance for the men and women who have served, and continue to serve our country during times of war, conflict and peace. For more information, visit http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/history/a-day-of-remembrance.

Holodomor Memorial Day (fourth Saturday in November)

The Holodomor is the name given to the genocide by famine that occurred in Ukraine from 1932 to 1933. The day provides an opportunity to reflect on and to educate the public about the enduring lessons of the Holodomor and other crimes against humanity. For more information, visit https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/09h07.

National Child Day (November 20)

Celebrating National Child Day is about celebrating children as active participants in their own lives and in communities, as active citizens who can and should meaningfully contribute to decision-making. For more information, visit http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/ncd-jne/index-eng.php.

16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence (November 25-December 10)

The 16 days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence begin on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (November 25) and end on International Human Rights Day (December 10). For more information, visit http://www.swc-cfc.gc.ca/commemoration/vaw-vff/index-en.html.

National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women (December 6)

Established in 1991 by the Parliament of Canada, this day marks the anniversary of the murders in 1989 of 14 young women at l'École Polytechnique de Montréal. December 6 also represents an opportunity for Canadians to reflect on violence against women in our society. For more information, visit http://www.swc-cfc.gc.ca/commemoration/vaw-vff/remembrance-commemoration-en.html. 

Tamil Heritage Month

Tamils began migrating to Ontario as early as the 1940s. The province of Ontario recognizes the valuable contributions that Tamil Canadians have made to Ontario’s social, economic, political and cultural fabric. For more information, visit https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/14t04. 

Black History Month

Every February, Canadians are invited to participate in Black History Month festivities and events that honour the legacy of Black Canadians, past and present. Throughout our history, Black Canadians have played a key role in building and shaping the diverse, compassionate and prosperous country that we are proud to call home. For more information, visit visit https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/campaigns/black-history-month.html. 

Bangladeshi Heritage Month

Bangladeshi Canadians from across the province have made significant contributions to Ontario’s scientific, athletic, cultural and political development, and they continue to help foster growth, prosperity and innovation throughout Ontario. For more information, visit https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/16b32. 

Hellenic Heritage Month

March is a significant month for the Hellenic community and March 25 is celebrated each year as Greek Independence Day.  Proclaiming March as Hellenic Heritage Month provides an opportunity to remember, celebrate and educate future generations about the outstanding achievements and contributions of the Hellenic Canadians in the province. For more information, visit https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/19h15. 

International Women's Day (March 8)

International Women’s Day recognizes women’s achievements and acknowledge the challenges they continue to face in the quest for gender equality. For more information, visit http://www.swc-cfc.gc.ca/commemoration/iwd-jif/index-en.html.

Irish Heritage Day (March 17)

Irish immigrants brought Ontario and Canada their values of hard work, devotion to family, service to the community and the perpetual hope for a better future for themselves and their fellow citizens. For more information, visit https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/04i10. 

Sikh Heritage Month

Sikh Heritage Month is an opportunity to remember, celebrate and educate future generations about Sikh Canadians and the important role that they have played and continue to play in communities across Ontario. For more information, visit https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/13s12.

Vimy Ridge Day (April 9)

The Battle of Vimy Ride is widely regarded as a watershed moment in the evolution of Canada as an independent nation. The Battle marked the first time that Canadian Divisions fought together on the same battlefield under Canadian leadership to carry out Canadian strategy. For more information, visit https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/10v03. 

Holocaust Memorial Day, Yomha-Shoah (April/May - determined by the Jewish lunar calendar)

This day provides an opportunity to reflect on and educate about the enduring lessons of the Holocaust. It also serves as an opportunity to consider other instances of systematic destruction of peoples, human rights issues and multicultural reality of modern society. For more information, visit https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/98h25. 

Asian Heritage Month

This month recognizes and pays tribute to the contributions that people from Asian countries have made and continue to make to the development and general welfare of Ontario. For more information, visit https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/05a10.

Dutch Heritage Month

Dutch Heritage Month recognizes the important contributions that Dutch Canadians have made to the economic, political, social and cultural fabric of our society. For more information, visit https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/11d04.

Jewish Heritage Month

Jewish Heritage Month is an opportunity to remember, celebrate and educate future generations about the inspirational role that Jewish Canadians have played, and continue to play, in communities across Ontario. For more information, visit https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/12j01. 

South Asian Arrival Day (May 5)

For South Asians, the month of May has been a time of celebration and commemoration of their arrival from the Indian subcontinent to the Americas beginning on May 5, 1838. For more information, visit https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/01s29.

South Asian Heritage Month

South Asian immigrants began arriving in Ontario at the start of the 20th century. Today, South Asians make up a significant proportion of Ontario’s population and are proud to draw upon their heritage and traditions, contributing to many aspects of culture, commerce and public service across this province.For more information, visit https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/01s29. 

Italian Heritage Month

Italian Heritage Month recognizes the important contributions immigrants have made in building Ontario’s communities and the economic, political, social and cultural achievements of Italian Canadians throughout the province. For more information visit https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/10i17.

National Indigenous History Month

June is National Indigenous History Month. The history of First Nations, Inuit and Métis is essentially the very history of our country as they are the first peoples of Canada and continue to play important roles in its development and its future. For more information, visit http://www.aadnc-aandc.gc.ca/eng/1466616436543/1466616481533. 

Portuguese History and Heritage Month

Portugal played a pioneering and leading role in the discoveries of the 15th and 16th centuries that contributed to the passing from an age of closed worlds into an age of space exploration. For the past 500 years, people of Portuguese heritage have settled and made their homes in Canada. For more information, visit https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/01c22. 

Portugal Day (June 10)

The month of June and the day of June 10, in particular, have always been a great time of celebration by the Portuguese community. The celebrations honour the life of Luis de Camoes and his famous poems, the Lusiads, with cultural performances, history seminars, poem recitals, street parades, and many other activities. For more information, visit https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/01c22.

United Empire Loyalists' Day (June 19)

The people of Ontario recognize and celebrate their heritage of loyalty to the Crown. One of the earliest groups to demonstrate that loyalty were the United Empire Loyalists who emigrated to Ontario from the United States of America so that they could continue to live under the Crown after the United States gained their independence in 1783. For more information, visit https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/97u42. 

National Indigenous Peoples Day (June 21)

National Indigenous Peoples Day is a day for all Canadians to recognize and celebrate the unique heritage, diverse cultures and outstanding contributions of First Nations, Inuit and Metis peoples. In cooperation with Indigenous organizations, the Government of Canada chose June 21, the summer solstice, for National Indigenous Peoples Day. For more information, visit http://www.aadnc-aandc.gc.ca/eng/1100100013718/1100100013719.

St. Jean Baptiste Day (June 24)

The cultural pride and rich heritage of Canada’s Francophones are expressed in the colourful parades and lively festivities that mark Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day. Francophones and Francophiles across the country celebrate Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day—especially in Quebec, where June 24 has been officially declared the National Holiday. For more information, visit https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/campaigns/celebrate-canada-days/baptiste-day.html.

Canadian Multiculturalism Day (June 27)

Canadian Multiculturalism Day is an opportunity to celebrate our diversity and our commitment to democracy, equality and mutual respect and to appreciate the contributions of the various multicultural groups and communities to Canadian society. For more information, visit https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/campaigns/celebrate-canada-days/multiculturalism-day.html.

Canada Day (July 1)

Canada Day is an opportunity to gather in our communities to proudly celebrate all we have in common. It is an opportunity to celebrate our achievements, which were born in the audacious vision and shared values of our ancestors, and which are voiced in nearly all of the languages of the world through the contribution of New Canadians. For more information, visit https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/campaigns/celebrate-canada-days/canada-day.html.

Canada History Week (July 1-7)

Canada History Week provides Canadians throughout the country with opportunities to learn more about the people and events that have shaped the great nation that we know today. All Canadians, from the youngest to the oldest, are invited to participate in history-related activities organized by museums, historical societies and cultural organizations. For more information, visit http://canada.pch.gc.ca/eng/1467113851440.​

Emancipation Day (August 1)

Emancipation Day recognizes the heritage of Ontario’s Black community and the contributions that it has made and continues to make to Ontario. It is also important to recall the ongoing international struggle for human rights and freedom from repression for persons of all races. For more information, visit https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/08e25.