Sikh Heritage Month
In 2013, April was proclaimed as Sikh Heritage Month by the Legislative Assembly of Ontario (Bill 52). The first of its kind in the world, Sikh Heritage Month is a celebration of arts, culture and heritage. See the 2025 calendar of events, beginning April 5.
Arab Heritage Month
Arab Heritage Month gives over 1-million Arab Canadians the space to showcase their culture and talents. It also provides the general Canadian public with the opportunity to learn more about the nuanced and diverse experiences and struggles that Arabs from coast-to-coast face. The Canadian Arab Institute provides a variety of digital library resource guides.
Autism Acceptance Month
Autism Acceptance Month recognizes that Autism is more than a diagnosis—it is identity, community, and a lived experience that encompasses both challenges and triumphs.
Autism IS campaign from the Autism Society.
Celebrate Diversity Month
Many organizations choose to observe Celebrate Diversity Month each April by honoring and learning more about diverse customs, cultures, and experiences. By doing so, we can better appreciate the unique backgrounds and identities of others and better leverage diverse perspectives for greater innovation, problem-solving, productivity, and collaboration.
Get a free guide to celebrating diversity in your organization.
Genocide Remembrance, Condemnation and Prevention Month
During this time, we remember the millions of victims who suffered and lost their lives to genocide. We honour the resilience and courage of all survivors and their descendants, as we strive to create a world where this atrocity is not only remembered but prevented.
Parkinson’s Awareness Month
Passion for Parkinson’s Foundation’s is dedicating the Month of April to raising awareness for Parkinson’s Disease. Parkinson’s Awareness Month is an opportunity to engage the public in expanding their understanding of Parkinson’s, and the profound effects it has on the lives of over 110,000 Canadians living with Parkinson’s.
The Passion for Parkinson’s Foundation’s “Light up Canada for World Parkinson’s Day” campaign on April 11 is an effort to raise awareness about Parkinson’s Disease (PD) and ways to make lives better for people with PD. Several cities across the country will light up buildings, bridges, towers and waterfalls in red to acknowledge this important day.
Some of the landmarks include Mississauga City Hall, the CN Tower, Niagara Falls, the Peace Bridge, the Olympic Stadium in Montreal, the Canada Place Sails of Light on Vancouver’s waterfront, and more.
If it is safe to do so, take a photo of a building below and post it on social media using #passionforparkinsons and #canadastandswithparkinsons
1 – April Fools’ Day
April Fools’ Day received its name from the custom of playing practical jokes on this day—for example, telling friends that their shoelaces are untied or sending them on so-called fools’ errands. There are variations between countries in the celebration of April Fools’ Day, but all have in common an excuse to make someone play the fool. In France, for example, the fooled person is called poisson d’avril (“April fish”), perhaps in reference to a young fish and hence to one that is easily caught; it is common for French children to pin a paper fish to the backs of unsuspecting friends. In Scotland the day is Gowkie Day, for the gowk, or cuckoo, a symbol of the fool and the cuckold, which suggests that it may have been associated at one time with sexual license; on the following day signs reading “kick me” are pinned to friends’ backs. In many countries newspapers and the other media participate—for example, with false headlines or news stories.
1 – National Caregiver Day
On this day, we honour and celebrate people in Canada who provide personal care, physical and/or emotional support to those in need. Caregivers make a difference in the lives of many people across the country. The support they provide contributes to a better quality of life for those they are caring for. The role of a caregiver takes many forms, from professional health care workers to unpaid caregivers who provide support to a family member or friend in need.
2 – World Autism Acceptance Day
Why does autism acceptance matter? Autism Acceptance is important for several reasons. It represents a shift in perspective from focusing on “awareness” to embracing and understanding the diversity of individuals on the autism spectrum. Acceptance challenges stereotypes, reduces stigma, and empowers individuals to express themselves confidently. Let’s celebrate neurodiversity and work towards a society that appreciates everyone’s uniqueness this World Autism Awareness Day.
2 – International Children’s Book Day
Since 1967, on or around Hans Christian Andersen’s birthday, 2 April, International Children’s Book Day (ICBD) is celebrated to inspire a love of reading and to call attention to children’s books. Learn more.
6 – International Asexuality Day
IAD is a coordinated worldwide campaign promoting the ace umbrella, including demisexual, grey-asexual and other ace identities. The four themes of IAD are: Advocacy, Celebration, Education, and Solidarity. Participation could be as simple as sharing a post on social media, but there are also organisations all over the world who are holding events, running campaigns and supporting causes. To get involved or find out about your local organizations, please see our Find Local Advocates page.
6 – National Tartan Day
Tartan Day is a chance for people around the world to celebrate their connections to Scotland. First recognized in Canada in 1987, the event is now marked around the world. Tartan Day was founded in Nova Scotia as an annual celebration of Scottish culture and heritage and has grown more popular every year.
6 – International Day of Sport for Development and Peace
Importantly, sport transcends boundaries and promotes tolerance, perseverance, and respect within and between cultures … to promote just, peaceful, and inclusive societies.”
The International Day of Sport for Development and Peace (IDSDP) is annually celebrated on 6 April, to recognize the power of sport in fostering positive change, bridging barriers, and transcending boundaries. IDSDP 2025 will focus on the theme of ‘Social Inclusion’, with a focus on the most marginalized groups as well as on age, gender, and race. This year’s theme aims to challenge stereotypes, promote equal opportunities, and enable inclusive sport for all, regardless of age, gender, or race. It highlights the role of sport as a unifying force that fosters inclusion and more equitable societies, while being a powerful platform for dialogue to tackle prejudices and inspire positive change across the world.
7 – World Health Day
World Health Day is celebrated annually and each year draws attention to a specific health topic of concern to people all over the world. The date of 7 April marks the anniversary of the founding of WHO in 1948. The theme of World Health Day 2025 is Healthy beginnings, hopeful futures.
7 – International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi in Rwanda
The date, 7 April, marks the beginning of the genocide perpetrated against members of the Tutsi minority by the Hutu extremist-led government. Within just over 100 days, more than 1 million Tutsi were systematically murdered. Moderate Hutu and others who opposed the massacres were also killed during this period. Every year, on or around that date, the United Nations organizes commemorative events at its Headquarters in New York and at United Nations offices around the world. Educational Resources
8 – Birthday of Buddha
Buddhists around the world use this time to not only celebrate, but also reflect on Buddha’s teachings and what it means to practice the faith. In many parts of Asia, the sacred day marks not just the birth, but also the enlightenment and passing of the Buddha. In most Asian cultures and the diaspora, Buddhists go to their local temples and participate in chanting, meditation and festivities all day. Families decorate their homes with lanterns and gather for feasts.
9 – Anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge
The Battle of Vimy Ridge began at 5:30 a.m. on Easter Monday, April 9, 1917. The first wave of 15,000-20,000 Canadian soldiers, many heavily laden with equipment, attacked through the wind-driven snow and sleet into the face of deadly machine gun fire. The Battle of Vimy Ridge proved to be a great success, but it only came at a heavy cost. Learn more about this epic battle we still acknowledge today.
9 – International Day of Pink
The International Day of Pink started in 2007 when a teenager faced homophobic bullying at a Nova Scotia high school for wearing a pink t-shirt. Students organized to wear pink as an act of solidarity. It is now a day of action on the second Wednesday in April every year. On International Day of Pink, take a stand against bullying and harassment. Wear pink and post a photo on social media with the #DayOfPink hashtag.
12-20 – Passover
Passover (Pesach) commemorates the emancipation of the Israelites from slavery in ancient Egypt. Pesach is observed by avoiding leaven, and highlighted by the Seder meals that include four cups of wine, eating matzah and bitter herbs, and retelling the story of the Exodus.
13 – Theravada New Year
In Theravada Buddhism, the new year is celebrated for three whole days starting from the first full moon in April. New Year’s celebrations have transformed over time and each country has their own unique traditions surrounding the holiday. Similar to many other religious holidays, Theravada New Year is celebrated with a variety of traditional celebrations in addition to more contemporary counterparts. In Buddhism, water symbolizes purity so it takes an important role in celebrating the New Year. Both old and new traditions heavily lean on the significance of water, as it is believed to symbolically “cleanse” any negativity brought about by the previous year and grant a fresh start.
Perhaps the most famous of the contemporary celebrations is the water fight in Thailand. During the Thai New Year celebrations, also known as the Songkran Festival, thousands take to the streets to participate in massive, friendly water fights using squirt guns, buckets, and hoses. Cities will shut down entire streets to allow for these events to take place, which are also often accompanied by music, dancing, alcohol, and a general party atmosphere. In Bangkok, the fire department will even spray participants with fire hoses! All of these water-themed celebrations are viewed as a welcome escape from the April heat, since it’s the hottest month of the year in Thailand.
16 – Equal Pay Day
Since 1976, the non-partisan Equal Pay Coalition has been the main advocate for women’s pay equity in Ontario, uniting 40+ women’s groups, trade unions, community groups and business organizations representing hundreds of thousands of women and gender diverse people across the province.
18 – Good Friday
Good Friday, also known as Black Friday, Holy Friday, or Great Friday, is a Christian holy day commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus and his death at Calvary. It is observed during Holy Week.
18 – World Heritage Day
The objective of World Heritage Day is to emphasize the importance of safeguarding various sites around the world that have achieved world heritage status and the challenges involved in protecting these sites. This year’s theme is “Heritage under Threat from Disasters and Conflicts: Preparedness and Learning from 60 years of ICOMOS Actions”.
21 – Easter Monday
Canadians commonly refer to Easter as the period from Good Friday through Easter Monday. Good Friday (and /or Easter Monday) is a statutory holiday in Canada. For many Christians, the celebration of Easter is preceded by Lent, a 40-day period of penance that begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Saturday.
21 – World Creativity and Innovation Day
There may be no universal understanding of creativity. The concept is open to interpretation from artistic expression to problem-solving in the context of economic, social and sustainable development. Therefore, the United Nations designated 21 April as World Creativity and Innovation Day to raise awareness of the role of creativity and innovation in all aspects of human development.
22 – Earth Day
The theme for Earth Day 2025 is Our Power, Our Planet, inviting everyone around the globe to unite behind renewable energy, and to triple the global generation of clean electricity by 2030. How? By joining in on Earth Action Day, encouraging all to take action—educate, advocate, and mobilize. Pledge an Earth Action on social media. Attend/plan/register a local event. Integrate Earth Day lessons into your curricula. Donate to support our efforts. Look here for resources (plus quizzes, fact sheets, articles and more) to help you take action this Earth Day, April 22nd, and every day.
23 – National Administrative Professional Day
According to the latest Canadian census, there are more than 1.8 million office and administrative professionals working in Canada. Their roles are incredibly diverse and are found throughout the private and public sectors.
Celebrate Administrative Professionals Day! Show your team members that you have noticed and appreciate how much they contribute to your organization’s success.
23 – World Book Day
World Book Day encourages more children and families to find the fun and enjoyment in reading, because reading for pleasure changes lives.
Check out these ideas for educators to celebrate World Book Day plus resources for supporting reading for pleasure all year round.
24 – Yom HaShoah
The internationally recognized date for Holocaust Remembrance Day corresponds to the 27th day of Nisan on the Hebrew calendar. It marks the anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. In Hebrew, Holocaust Remembrance Day is called Yom Hashoah.
24 – Take Your Child To Work Day
Take Your Child To Work Day is an annual career exploration event and work experience program that allows grades 9, 10, 11 or 12 students to experience the ins and outs of a real work environment by observing a parent or guardian host at their place of work.
24 – International Girls in Information and Telecommunications Technologies Day
International Girls in ICT Day 2025 will be celebrated on 24 April under the theme “Girls in ICT for inclusive digital transformation”. Everyone is invited to celebrate Girls in ICT Day in their countries and communities across the globe. Check the toolkit that provides specific guidelines and creative ways to organize your event for Girls in ICT.
24-30 – World Immunization Week
Over the last 50 years, essential vaccines have saved at least 154 million lives. That’s 6 lives a minute, every day, for five decades.
World Immunization Week, celebrated in the last week of April, aims to highlight the collective action needed and to promote the use of vaccines to protect people of all ages against disease.
Through its convening power, WHO works with countries across the globe to raise awareness of the value of vaccines and immunization and ensures that governments obtain the necessary guidance and technical support to implement high quality immunization programmes.
The ultimate goal of World Immunization Week is for more people – and their communities – to be protected from vaccine-preventable diseases.
World Immunization Week 2025: Immunization for All is Humanly Possible
27-3 – National Volunteer Week
Together, we create ripples of change
#VolunteersMakeWaves #NVW2025
The theme for National Volunteer Week 2025 is Volunteers Make Waves. It highlights the power, impact and importance of individual and collective volunteer efforts across Canada. Like a wave, volunteering is movement building. Water is in constant motion, always flowing, shifting, and transforming with every powerful wave or quiet ripple. And so is each volunteer’s contribution toward creating impact in our communities. Each individual volunteer contribution, big or small, creates momentum and has the power to influence and inspire, joining a wave of positive change.
During National Volunteer Week 2025, we come together to recognize and celebrate all the ways volunteers make waves from coast to coast to coast. Together we create ripples of change. And through the power of our amplified impact, Volunteers Make Waves.
28 – National Day of Mourning for Injured Workers
Marked annually in Canada on April 28, the National Day of Mourning is dedicated to remembering those who have lost their lives, suffered injury or illness on the job, or experienced a work-related tragedy. #DayofMourning
Traditionally on April 28, the Canadian flag flies at half-mast on Parliament Hill and on all federal government buildings. Employers and workers observe Day of Mourning in a variety of ways. Some light candles, lay wreaths, wear commemorative pins, ribbons or black armbands, and pause for a moment of silence.
We encourage organizations, employees, communities, and individuals to hold or support an event, or to simply observe a moment of silence at 11 a.m. on April 28. Consider sharing or playing our moment of silence video in your workplace to honour those who have died or suffered injury or illness due to a work-related tragedy.
Employers and individuals can also show their support and commitment to a safe workplace by promoting the social media cards and messages provided on this page. By sharing these messages, you remind more people to put health and safety at the forefront of their work and help to prevent further work-related injuries and loss of life.
From ETFO: On this day, dedicated to remembering those who have been injured, made ill, or killed on the job, ETFO reaffirms our commitment to fighting alongside our partners in labour for safe workplaces. All workers deserve to return home at the end of their workday, free of workplace injury or illness.
ETFO sharables to raise awareness of the day are available on the website. Information about Day of Mourning events can be found at the Workers Health and Safety Centre and the Canadian Labour Congress.
“Mourn for the dead, fight for the living.”
28 – World Day for Safety and Health at Work
This year’s World Day for Safety and Health at Work 2025 focuses on “Revolutionizing health and safety: the role of AI and digitalization at work“. This theme will examine various new technologies through an occupational safety and health lens, including:
- Advanced robots
- Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning
- Exoskeletons
- Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)
- Internet of Things (IoT)
- Virtual and Augmented Reality
The campaign will also shed light on new work practices, such as automation of tasks, big data analysis, smart digital systems and workers management through AI.
New technologies have also given rise to new types of work, such as digital platform work and remote work/hybrid work/telework, which will be further examined.
30 – Journey to Freedom Day
Every year on April 30, Canadians mark the modern beginning of this country’s Vietnamese community. It is inspired by a journey to freedom that began 40 years ago, after the fall of Saigon.
On April 30, 1975, Saigon fell to Communist forces, setting the stage for what was then the largest mass migration in modern history. More than 2 million people fled their war-torn country in search of freedom.
The sea was their only escape; refugees took to the water by whatever means possible; over 250,000 perished on the seas in search of a brighter future, while others wound up in refugee camps in South-East Asia.
Amid this chaos, Canada welcomed over 120,000 refugees with open arms — it remains the greatest influx of refugees Canada has ever welcomed. Canada is now home to more than 300,000 Vietnamese-Canadians, three proud generations who celebrate an important heritage in a great nation and contribute to Canadian society’s growth and prosperity.
