Days of Significance
Okanagan College is committed to growing our understanding of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Social Justice (EDISJ) and to ensuring all feel welcomed, included, and have a sense of belonging. The purpose of the Days of Significance is to highlight important dates around the world and in Canada to bring awareness of the larger diverse community we live in.
2024 Calendar
This is a dynamic calendar, and members of the Okanagan College community are welcome to reach out with additions and updates, or to let us know about any errors. To send an inquiry about the calendar, please email edisj@okanagan.bc.ca.
To view provincial/national holidays and important dates related to the academic year, please visit the applicable student and employee websites. To view dates related to major religious observances and holy days, please refer to the 2024 Interfaith Calendar.
January
- January 1-30: Sexual Assault Awareness Month
- January 4: World Braille Day
- January 24: World Day for African and Afrodescendant Culture
- January 27: International Holocaust Remembrance Day
- January 29: National Day of Remembrance of the Quebec City Mosque Attack and Action Against Islamophobia
February
- Feb 1: World Hijab Day
- Feb 1-28: Black History Month
- First full week in Feb: White Cane Week
- Feb 10: Lunar New Year
- Feb 11: International Day of Women and Girls in Science
- Feb 14: Missing Women 's Memorial March
- Feb 16 National Caregivers Day
- Feb 20: World Day of Social Justice
- Feb 28: Pink Shirt Day
- Feb 25 week: United Islam Awareness Week
March
- Mar 1: Self-harm Awareness Day
- Mar 8: International Women 's Day
- Mar 13 - Apr 15: Deaf History Month
- Mar 20: International Day of La Francophonie
- Mar 21: 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
- Apr 2: World Autism Awareness Day
- Apr 6: International Asexuality Day
- Apr 7: World Health Day
- Apr 12: INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PINK
- Apr 22: Earth Day
- Apr 28: National Day of Mourning
- Apr 30: Journey to Freedom Day
May
- May 1-30: Asian Heritage Month
- 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
- May 23-29: Anti-Racism Awareness Week BC
- May 25: Africa Day
- Beginning the last Sunday of May: BC AccessAbility Week
June
- June 1-30: Pride Season
- June 1-30: National Indigenous History Month
- June 2: International Sex Worker 's Day
- June 19: International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict
- June 20: World Refugee Day
- June 21: National Indigenous Peoples Day - Canada.ca
- June 23: National Day of Remembrance for Victims of Terrorism
- June 27: Canadian Multiculturalism Day
July
- July 1-31: Disability Pride Month
- 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 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 1-31: Disability Employment Awareness 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 16: International Pronouns Day
- Oct 17: International Day for the Eradication of Poverty
- Oct 18: Persons Day
- Oct 26: International Intersex Awareness Day
November
- Nov 1-30: Indigenous Disability Awareness Month
- Nov 8: Intersex Solidarity Day
- Nov 8: Indigenous Veterans 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
Calendar Archives
To view provincial/national holidays and important dates related to the academic year, please visit the applicable student and employee websites. To view dates related to major religious observances and holy days, please refer to the 2023 Interfaith Calendar.
January
Sexual Assault Awareness Month
- 4: World Braille Day
- 22: Lunar New Year
- 24: World Day for African and Afrodescendant Culture
- 27: International Holocaust Remembrance Day
- 29: National Day of Remembrance of the Quebec City Mosque Attack and Action Against Islamophobia
February
- 1: World Hijab Day
- 1-28: Black History Month
- First full week in Feb.: White Cane Week
- 11: International Day of Women and Girls in Science
- 14: Missing Women's Memorial March
- 17: title="National Caregivers Day">National Caregivers Day
- 20: World Day of Social Justice
- Third Monday: Louis Riel Day (Manitoba)
- 22: Pink Shirt Day (anti-bullying)
- 25 (week of): United Islam Awareness Week
March
- 1: Self-harm Awareness Day
- 8: International Women's Day
- March 13 to April 15: Deaf History Month
- 20: International Day of La Francophonie
- 20: Nowruz
- 21: International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
- 22: World Water Day
- 25: International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade
- 31: National Indigenous Languages Day
- 31: International Transgender Day of Visibility
April
- 2: World Autism Awareness Day
- 6: International Asexuality Day
- 7: World Health Day
- 12: International Day of Pink
- 22: Earth Day
- 28: National Day of Mourning
- 30: Journey to Freedom Day
May
- 5: National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) (Red Dress Day)
- 11: Moose Hide Campaign Day
- 15: International Day of Families
- 17: International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia
- 21: World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development
- 23-29: Anti-Racism Awareness Week BC
- 24: Indigenous Awareness Week
- 25: Africa Day
- Beginning the last Sunday of May: BC AccessAbility Week
June
National Indigenous History Month
Pride Month
Pride Season (June-Sept)
- 2: International Sex Worker's Day
- 19: International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict
- 20: World Refugee Day
- 21: National Indigenous Peoples Day
- Summer Solstice (on or near the 22nd)
- 23: National Day of Remembrance for Victims of Terrorism
- 27: Canadian Multiculturalism Day
July
Pride Season (June-Sept)
Disability Pride Month
August
Pride Season (June-Sept)
- 1: Emancipation Day
- 9: International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples
- 19: World Humanitarian Day
- 31: International Overdose Awareness Day
September
- 10: World Suicide Prevention Day
- 21: International Day of Peace
- Autumnal Equinox (on or near the 23rd)
- 30: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation | Orange Shirt Day (note that the week before Sept. 30 is typically dedicated to Truth and Reconciliation initiatives)
October
Islamic History Month Canada
Women's History Month
Disability Employment Awareness Month
LGBT History Month
- 4: National Day of Action for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women & Girls (MMIWF) | Sisters in Spirit Vigil
- 10: World Mental Health Day
- 11: National Coming Out Day
- 11: International Day of the Girl Child
- 17: International Day for the Eradication of Poverty
- 18: Persons Day
- 19: International Pronouns Day
- 26: International Intersex Awareness Day
November
Indigenous Disability Awareness Month
- 7: International Inuit Day
- 8: Intersex Solidarity Day
- 8: Indigenous Veterans Day
- 16: Louis Riel Day
- 20: Transgender Day of Remembrance
- 25: International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women
December
- 1: World AIDS Day
- 3: International Day of Persons with Disabilities
- 6: National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women in Canada
- 10: Human Rights Day
- 17: International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers
- Winter Solstice (on or near the 22nd)
- 6: Candlelight Vigil (anniversary of the École Polytechnique Massacre)
- 26 to Jan 1: Kwanzaa