February Diversity Calendar

Download the February Diversity Calendar

In February, we celebrate and remember:

• Black History Month: Every February, people across Canada participate in Black History Month events and festivities that honour the legacy of Black people in Canada and their communities. The theme for Black History Month 2024 is “Black Excellence: A Heritage to Celebrate; a Future to Build”.
• World Hijab Day on February 1: Recognizing the millions of Muslim women who choose to wear the hijab, a day created to foster religious tolerance and understanding by inviting women (non-Hijabi Muslims/non-Muslims) to experience the hijab for one day.
• World Interfaith Harmony Week – February 1 to 7: An annual event observed during the first week of February, pointing out that mutual understanding and interreligious dialogue constitute important dimensions of a culture of peace. A way to promote harmony between all people regardless of their faith.
• World Cancer Day on February 4: an international day to raise awareness of cancer and to encourage its prevention, detection, and treatment.
• White Cane Week – February 5 to 10: A significant annual event in Canada that aims to raise awareness about the independence and mobility of persons who are blind or visually impaired. This initiative serves as a platform to highlight the importance of the white cane as a symbol of empowerment and a tool for navigation. The week-long campaign not only educates the public about the challenges faced by those with visual impairments but also celebrates their resilience and ability to lead fulfilling lives.
• Lunar New Year on February 10: This signifies the first new moon of the lunar calendar. It’s a time rich in traditions and cultural festivities, often featuring family gatherings, special foods and diverse cultural rituals that differ from country to country, including performances, special decorations, and the giving of good-luck gifts.
• Ash Wednesday on February 14: A holy day of prayer and fasting in many Western Christian denominations. It is preceded by Shrove Tuesday and marks the first day of Lent, the six weeks of penitence before Easter. The name is derived from the symbolic use of ashes to signify penitence.
• Valentine’s Day on February 14: Across Canada and in other places around the world, candy, flowers and gifts are exchanged between loved ones, all in the name of St. Valentine.
• National Flag of Canada Day on February 15: At the stroke of noon on February 15, 1965, Canada’s red and white maple leaf flag was raised for the very first time on Parliament Hill. Our national flag is a symbol that unites Canadians and reflects the common values we take pride in — equality, freedom and inclusion.
• Family Day on February 19: There are no established traditions surrounding Family Day. But, as the name implies, many Canadians take advantage of the three-day weekend in February to spend extra time with loved ones. Road trips, winter sports outings, and extended family gatherings are all popular ways to observe the holiday. Celebrants find ways to overcome the cold and have a warm and cozy Family Day!
• World Social Justice Day on February 20: An international day recognizing the need to promote social justice, which includes efforts to tackle issues such as poverty, exclusion, gender inequality, unemployment, human rights, and social protections.
• International Mother Language Day on February 21: a worldwide annual observance to promote awareness of linguistic and cultural diversity and to promote multilingualism.
• Anti-Bullying Day (Pink Shirt Day) on February 28: celebrated every February across Canada to raise awareness about the negative impacts of bullying and to promote anti bullying initiatives, particularly in schools. Encourage everyone to practice kindness by wearing pink to symbolize that you do not tolerate bullying.