The September 2024 Diversity and Inclusion Calendar is attached. Please print it to share with the people you serve, post it in a communal area, keep it handy to refer to on your own.
We love providing a monthly calendar to track days that may have special meaning for Karis’ team members and people who use services, all in one space: religious and spiritual days of significance, cultural celebrations, awareness days, and health promotion days. We encourage you to take some time to explore the calendar and learn more about Diversity. Staying aware of these days and scheduling activities around them will help us create an inclusive environment for everybody!
In the picture, there are hands of different colors connected with just one finger, showing unity while letting everyone be themselves. The ants crawling across the hands tell us that, like these tiny creatures, we can work together no matter our differences.
Download the September Diversity Calendar
In September, we celebrate and remember:
- Labour Day on September 2: Traditionally, it was an occasion to campaign for and celebrate workers’ rights during parades and picnics organized by trade unions. These still play a role in Labour Day for some Canadians, but many people see this Statutory Holiday as an opportunity to take a late summer trip, perhaps to their country cottage, or enjoy the company of family or friends at picnics, fairs, festivals, and fireworks displays. For students, the Labour Day long weekend is the last chance to enjoy summer before the new academic year.
- International Day of Charity on September 5: This is a United Nations’ designated day which promotes charitable efforts made to alleviate poverty worldwide and to encourage volunteer and philanthropic activities. The date of September 5th was chosen in order to commemorate the anniversary of the passing away of Mother Teresa of Calcutta, who received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 “for work undertaken in the struggle to overcome poverty and distress, which also constitute a threat to peace.”
- International Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) Awareness Day on September 9: Recognized around the world, the 9th day of the 9th month, is celebrated to raise awareness about the risks of drinking alcohol during pregnancy, highlight prevention and support efforts, and encourage individuals to learn more about FASD and its impacts. FASD is a lifelong disorder caused by prenatal alcohol exposure that can affect brain and body development, making it the leading cause of preventable developmental disabilities in Canada. While much of the research and discussion about FASD has focused on challenges, it is also important to recognize the unique strengths, talents, abilities, interests, and achievements of people with FASD. The 2024 theme is “Everyone Plays a Part:” Everyone plays a part in supporting healthy pregnancies; everyone plays a part in shaping a society that is inclusive of people with FASD!
- World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10: The purpose of this day is to raise awareness around the globe that suicide can be prevented and to promote action through proven means that will reduce the number of suicides and suicide attempts globally. The triennial theme for World Suicide Prevention Day for 2024-2026 is “Changing the Narrative on Suicide” with the call to action: “Start the Conversation.” This theme aims to raise awareness about the importance of reducing stigma and encouraging open conversations to prevent suicides.
- Ganesh Chaturthi on September 19: This Hindu festival honours of one of Hinduism’s major deities, Ganesh, the elephant-headed god. He is known as the ‘remover of all obstacles’ and is invoked at the beginning of all new undertakings.
- International Day of Sign Languages on September 23: Celebrated annually across the world, this day is a unique opportunity to support and protect the linguistic identity and cultural diversity of all deaf people and other sign language users. According to the World Federation of the Deaf, there are more than 70 million deaf people worldwide. More than 80% of them live in developing countries. Sign languages are visual languages. This year’s theme is “Building Inclusive Communities for All.” As well as Deaf people feeling connected to their Deaf community, they should also feel connected to wider society and those without a hearing impairment, contributing to positive change and breaking down stereotypical barriers.
- Gender Equality Week – September 22 to 28: The fourth week in September is an opportunity to raise awareness of the important contributions women and gender diverse communities have made to the growth, development, character, and identity of Canada; to celebrate the significant achievements and accomplishments that we have made in advancing gender equality; and to reconfirm our commitment to address persistent gender equality gaps in our country.
- Franco-Ontarian Day on September 25: A designated time to celebrate the Francophone community and its history. There are more than 622,000 Francophones and 1.5 million Ontarians who can speak French. This makes Ontario Canada’s largest Francophone community outside of Quebec; a community that has made and continues to make a significant contribution to the vitality of Ontario’s society. This linguistic, cultural, and economic contribution is enriched by Francophones originating from outside the province who have chosen Ontario as their home.
- National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30: The day honours the lost children and survivors of residential schools, their families, and communities. Public commemoration of the tragic and painful history and ongoing impacts of residential schools is a vital component of the reconciliation process. The creation of this federal statutory holiday was through legislative amendments made by Parliament. September 30 is also Orange Shirt Day, a day to wear an orange shirt as a way to remember the story of Phyllis (Jack) Webstad, whose orange shirt was taken away from her when she was sent to a residential school at age six. A commemorative day intended to raise awareness of the individual, family, and community inter-generational impacts of residential schools, and to promote the concept of “Every Child Matters.” The orange shirt is a symbol of the stripping away of culture, freedom and self-esteem experienced by Indigenous children over generations.
“The best thing about Karis Disability Services is the people – both those who use services and those who provide services. We honour the diverse, intersectional, and inclusive community we live in. We also celebrate each person’s unique perspective, history, culture, faith, and identity; and there is so much beauty in that diversity!”
Catalina Hernandez, on behalf of Karis Disability Services Diversity and Inclusion Working Group