June 1, 2023
Please see the June 2023 Diversity Calendar attached. Whether you print a copy and post it in a communal area, keep it handy to refer to on your own, or use it to spark conversation with others about traditions and memories, we hope this calendar will help us connect to each other as we nurture communities where everybody belongs!
- Pride Month: Pride Season is a term that refers to the wide range of Pride events that take place over the summer (June to September) when 2SLGBTQI+ communities and allies come together to spotlight the resilience, celebrate the talent, and recognize the contributions of 2SLGBTQI+ communities. Although special attention is put on the Pride events during the summer months, they happen throughout the year in many communities. Historically, Pride gatherings emerged from the first large-scale protests for 2SLGBTQI+ rights.
- Intergenerational Day on June 1: a celebration of the mutual benefits of building relationships across generations.
- World Environment Day on June 5: encouraging awareness and action for the protection of the environment.
- Elder Abuse Awareness Day on June 15: an opportunity for communities around the world to promote a better understanding of the abuse older people suffer by raising awareness of the cultural, social, economic, and demographic processes affecting them. The theme this year is Addressing Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in Older Age.
- Father’s Day on June 18: A day to celebrate and honour fathers and recognize their contributions to their families and the community.
- World Refugee Day on June 20: A day which recognizes the rights of forcibly displaced persons be it refugees, asylum seekers, Internally Displaced Persons and to remind the public that refugees can contribute to society and that every action counts in the effort to create a more just, inclusive, and equal world.
- National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21: This is a day for all Canadians to recognize and celebrate the unique heritage, diverse cultures and outstanding contributions of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. Although these groups share many similarities, they each have their own distinct heritage, language, cultural practices, and spiritual beliefs.
- Dragon Boat Festival on June 22: a traditional Chinese holiday which falls on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month. China will have 3 days of public holiday from Thursday (June 22) to Saturday (June 24), and festivities include boat races and eating rice dumplings.
- Hajj (Muslim holiday) on June 26: an annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, the holiest city for Muslims. Hajj is a mandatory religious duty for Muslims that must be carried out at least once in their lifetime by all adult Muslims.
- Canadian Multiculturalism Day on June 27: celebrating Canada’s diverse cultures as well as our country’s commitment to equality, democracy, and mutual respect.
- Eid al-Adha (Muslim holiday) on June 28: also called the Feast of Sacrifice is the second of the two main holidays celebrated in Islam (the other being Eid al-Fitr). Part of their meat is consumed by the family which offers the animal, while the rest of the meat is distributed to the poor and the needy. Sweets and gifts are given, and extended family members are typically visited and welcomed.
The best thing about Christian Horizons is the people – both those who use services and those who provide services. Each person brings their own unique perspective, history, culture, faith, and identity; and there is so much beauty in that diversity!
Christian Horizons Diversity and Inclusion Working Group