Days of Significance July 2020 - December 2021

Peel District School Board 2020-21 Days of Significance

This highlights secular and creed-based days of significance. It helps to identify some of the important days of significance, however it is not designed to be a complete listing of all secular and creed-based days. Do not use this calendar to determine creed-based accommodations.

Please note that every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of dates. Some dates are determined by external organizations. If a date falls on a red dot holy or holiday, schools are encouraged to participate on an alternate day. Changes and updates may occur throughout the year. Please check back regularly.

In addition to the days of significance listed below, the Board of Trustees approved the motion to recognize the United Nations Declaration that 2015 to 2024 be declared the International Decade of Peoples of African Descent, beginning September 2020 until the end of 2024.​​

This new Days of Significance format will be under review for the 2020-21 school year.

IMPORTANT NOTES:

Bahá’í, Judaism and Wicca – days of significance in these faiths begin at sunset on the evening prior to the date shown and end at sunset on the last day shown. Christianity – dates for Christianity are based on the unless specified as Julian (J). Islam – dates are tentative as some may vary based on the sighting of the moon. Sikhism – dates are based on the Original (O) and the Nanakshahi-Revised calendar (R). Zoroastrianism – dates are based on Fasli calendar (FC), Qadimi calendar (QC) and Shenshahi calendar (SC).

• (Red Dot) = Do not schedule events at any time on these days. ○= Do not schedule events on the evenings prior to these days. *Dates may vary +/- a day due to Canadian and Ontario holidays are recognized statutory holidays.

2015-2024 International Decade of Peoples of African Descent United Nations

MONTH DATE DAY OF SIGNIFICANCE REFERENCE July 2020 1 Canada Day Canadian Holiday 3-5 Jalsa Salana • Islam 4 Guru Purnima Hinduism 5 Day 5 Guru Purnima Jainsim 9 Martyrdom of the Báb Bahá'i 11 Imamat Day • Islam 17 Navroze (New Year) (QC) • Zoroastrianism 20 Global Day of Inclusion Special Olympics Ontario 22 Khordad Sal (QC) • Zoroastrianism 30 Waqfatu'Arafat Islam 30 Tishah B'Av Judaism 31 Eid-ul-Adha • * Islam

August 2020 1 or 2 Lughnasadh/Lammas Wicca 3 Civic Holiday (ON) Canadian Holiday 3 Raksha Bandhan Hinduism 4 Farvardegan (QC) Zoroastrianism 8 Avalokitesvara 's Enlightenment Buddhism 11 Sri Krishna Janmaashtami • Hinduism 15 Paryushan Parva begins 16 Navroze (New Year) (SC) • Zoroastrianism 19 Installation of Holy Scriptures of Guru Granth Sahib (R) Sikhism 20 New Year (Hijra) Islam 21 Ganesh/Vinayak Chauth • Hinduism 21 Khordad Sal (SC) • Zoroastrianism 22 /Paryushan Parva ends/Daslakshan Parva begins • Jainism 29 Ashura • Islam 31 Hinduism

September 2020 1 Anant Chaturdashi Jainism 1 Installation of Holy Scriptures of Guru Granth Sahib (O) Sikhism Days of Significance July 2020 - December 2021

2 Day/Ulambana Buddhism 2 /Daslakshan Parva ends • Jainism 3 Farvardegan (SC) Zoroastrianism 7 Canada 8 International Literacy Day United Nations 9 International FASD Awareness Day International community observance 11 Nayrouz (J) Christianity 19-20 • ○ Judaism 19 Powley Day Indigenous Worldview 22 Harvestide/Fall Equinox • ○ Wicca 25 Franco-Ontarian Day Government of Ontario 28 • ○ Judaism 29 Terry Fox National School Run Day (official date Sept. 30, changed due to conflict) Board event 30 Orange Shirt Day Board event 30 Rowan's Government of Ontario

October 2020 3-9 Sukkot Judaism Child Abuse Prevention 5 World Teachers' Day/Peel Teachers' Day United Nations/Staff Recognition International Walk to School Month 7 International Walk to School Day (1st Wednesday in October) Board event Islamic Heritage Month 8 Arbaeen Islam 10-11 Simchat Torah Judaism 10 World Mental Health Day World Health Organization 11 International Day of the Girl Child United Nations 12 Thanksgiving Canadian Holiday 14 Peel Principals and Vice Principals' Day Staff Recognition 17 Sharad Navratri begins Hinduism 17 International Day for the Eradication of Poverty United Nations 18 Birth of the Báb Bahá'i 19 Birth of Bahá'u'lláh • ○ Bahá'i 20 Installation of the Guru Granth as Guru (O) Sikhism 21 Bus Driver Apprectiation Day Staff Recognition 23 Durgaashtami Hinduism 25 Vijaya Dashmi/Dassehra • Hinduism 27 Ceremony/Pavarana Day Buddhism 27 Children's Aid Society Dress Purple Day Board event 28 Peel Teaching Assistant & Early Childhood Educators' Day Staff Recognition 29 Milad-un-Nabi Islam 31 Community observance

November 2020 1 All Saints Day Christianity Indigenous Heritage Month 1 Samhain • ○ Wicca Hindu Heritage Month 3 Karva Chauth Hinduism 4 Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva's Pravrajya/Buddhist Joy Day Buddhism 8 Indigenous Veteran Affairs Canada 11 Remembrance Day Veteran Affairs Canada 14 • Hinduism 14 Diwali/Lord Mahavir • Jainism 14 Bandi Chhor Divas • Sikhism 15 New Year • Hinduism 15 New Year/Enlightenment day of Gautamswami • Jainism 15 National Philanthrophy Day Association of Fundraising Professionals 16 Louis Riel Day Indigenous Worldview 16 Installation of the Guru Granth as Guru (R) Sikhism 16-20 Rock Your Mocs Week Indigenous Worldview 19 Gnan Panchami Jainism 20 World Children's Day United Nations 24 Martyrdom of Guru Teg Bahadur (O) Sikhism 25 Day of the Covenant Bahá'i 27 Ascension of 'Abdu'l-Bahá Bahá'i 27 Peel Custodial & Maintenance Workers' Day Staff Recognition 28 First day of Advent (J) Christianity Days of Significance July 2020 - December 2021

29 First day of Advent Christianity 30 Dev Diwali Jainism 30 Birth of Guru Nanak • Sikhism

December 2020 3 International Day of Persons with Disabilities United Nations Christian Heritage Month 5 International Volunteer Day United Nations 6 National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women Government of Canada 7-11 Bullying Awareness & Prevention Week: Choose Action Board event 8 Buddhism 10 International Human Rights Day United Nations 11-18 Chanukah Judaism 13 Birthday of Imam Aga Khan Islam 19 Martyrdom of Guru Teg Bahadur (R) Sikhism 21 Yule/Winter Solstice • ○ Wicca 25 • Christianity 26 Zarathosht-no-diso (FC) Zoroastrianism 26 Boxing Day Canadian Holiday 26-Jan 1 African Canadian and American 30 or 31 Amitabha Buddha's Birthday Buddhism

January 2021 1 Temple Day Buddhism 1 New Year's Day • Christianity 5 Birth of Guru Gobind Singh (O) • Sikhism 6 Epiphany Christianity 7 Christmas (J) • Christianity 13 Lohri Hinduism 13 or 14 Maghi Sikhism 14 New Year's Day (J) • Christianity 14 Makar Sankranti Hinduism 19 Epiphany Christianity 20 Sakyamuni Buddha's Enlightenment Buddhism 20 Birth of Guru Gobind Singh (R) • Sikhism 21 Lincoln Alexander Day Government of Ontario 24 International Day of Education United Nations 27 Lantern Festival Buddhism 27 International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust United Nations 27 Family Literacy Day ABC Life LiteracyCanada

February 2021 1 or 2 Imbolc Wicca 12 Lunar New Year/ Bodhisattva's Birthday • Buddhism 15 (ON) Canadian Holiday 15 National Government of Canada 16 Vasant Panchami Hinduism 17 Ash Wednesday Christianity 25-28 Intercalary Days Bahá'i 26 Purim Judaism

March 2021 1-19 Bahá'i Fast Bahá'i 5 Peel Lunchroom Supervisor Appreciation Day Staff Recognition 8 International Women's Day Government of Canada 10 Isra'a and Mi'raj Islam 11 Mahashivratri • Hinduism 14 Sikh New Year Sikhism 15 Clean Monday (J) Christianity 19 International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (Officially Mar 21, changed due to weekend) United Nations 19 World Down Syndrome Day (officially March 21, changed due to weekend) United Nations 20 Naw Ruz (New Year) • ○ Bahá'i 20 Ladyday/Spring Equinox Wicca 21 Eid-e-Navroz Islam 21 Navroze (New Year) (FC) • Zoroastrianism 26 Khordad Sal (FC) • Zoroastrianism Days of Significance July 2020 - December 2021

27 Sakyamuni Buddha's Nirvana Day • Buddhism 28 - April 4 Pesach () • ○ Judaism 28 or 31 Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva's Birthday Buddhism 28 Holi Hinduism 29 Hola Mohalla Sikhism

April 2021 1-4 Pesach (Passover) • ○ Judaism Autism Awareness Month 2 • Christianity Earth Month 2 World Autism Awareness Day United Nations Sikh Heritage Month 2 Mahavir Jayanti (Birthday) • Jainism 4 • Christianity 5 • Christianity 8 Farvardegan (FC) Zoroastrianism 12 New Year/Vasant Navratri begins Hinduism 13 or 14 New Year • Buddhism 13 or 14 Vaisakhi/Baisakhi Hinduism 13 New Year • Hinduism 13 or 14 Ramadan (fasting month)* Islam 13 or 14 Vaisakhi • Sikhism 20 First day of Ridvan • ○ Bahá'i 21 Shri Ramnavami • Hinduism 22 United Nations 23 Zarathosht-no-diso (QC) Zoroastrianism 23 International Day of Pink (official date April 14, changed due to conflict) Board event 28 Administrative Professionals' Day Staff Recognition 28 National Day of Mourning Government of Canada 28 Ninth day of Ridvan • ○ Bahá'i 29 Nisfu Sha'ban Islam 30 Good Friday (J) • Christianity

May 2021 1 Twelfth day of Ridvan • ○ Bahá'i Asian Heritage Month 1 Beltane Wicca Jewish Heritage Month 2 Easter (J) • Christianity 3 Easter Monday (J) • Christianity 3 Music Monday (1st Monday in May) Board event 2-8 Children's Mental Health Week Canadian Mental Health Association 6 Lailat-ul-Qadr Islam 7 Jumatul Widha Islam 12 Peel IT Support Staff and Media Support Services Appreciation Day Staff Recognition 13 Eid-ul-Fitr • * Islam 17-21 Education Week Board event 17 International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia IDAHOTB 17-18 Shavuot • ○ Judaism 17-23 Police Appreciation Week Board Community Partner Recognition 23 Declaration of the Báb Bahá'i 23 Pentecost Christianity 23 Zarathosht-no-diso (SC) Zoroastrianism 24 Victoria Day Canadian Holiday 26 Sakyamuni Buddha's Birthday Buddhism 26 Wesak/Buddha Day • Buddhism 28 Ascension of Bahá'u'lláh Bahá'i

June 2021 8 Crossing Guard Appreciation Day Staff Recognition Pride Month 14 Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev (R) Sikhism 16 Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev (O) Sikhism 18 World Sickle Cell Awareness Day (Official date 19, changed due to conflict) United Nations 20 Pentecost (J) Christianity 20 Litha/Summer Solstice • ○ Wicca 21 National Indigenous Peoples Day • Indigenous Worldview 24 Buddhism 27 Canadian Multiculturalism Day Government of Canada Days of Significance July 2020 - December 2021

27 All Saints Day (J) Christianity

July 2021 1 Canada Day Canadian Holiday 9 Martyrdom of the Báb Bahá'i 9-11 Jalsa Salana • Islam 11 Imamat Day • Islam 17 Navroze (New Year) (QC) • Zoroastrianism 18 Tishah B'Av Judaism 19 Waqfatu'Arafat Islam 20 or 21 Eid-ul-Adha • * Islam 20 Global Day of Inclusion Special Olympics Ontario 22 Khordad Sal (QC) • Zoroastrianism 23 Guru Purnima Hinduism and Jainism 24 Asalha Puja Day Buddhism 28 Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva's Enlightenment Buddhism

August 2021 1 or 2 Lughnasadh/Lammas Wicca 2 Civic Holiday (ON) Canadian Holiday 4 Farvadegan (QC) Zoroastrianism 10 New Year (Hijra) Islam 16 Navroze (New Year) (SC) • Zoroastrianism 18 or 19 Ashura • Islam 21 Raksha Bandhan Hinduism 21 Khordad Sal (SC) • Zoroastrianism 22 Dharma Day/Ullambana Buddhism 29 Sri Krishna Janmaashtami • Hinduism

September 2021 1 Installation of Holy Scriptures of Guru Granth Sahib (O) Sikhism 2 Paryushan Parva begins Jainsim 3 Farvardegan (SC) Zoroastrianism 6 Labour Day Canadian Holiday 7-8 Rosh Hashanah • ○ Judaism 7 Installation of Holy Scriptures of Guru Granth Sahib (R) Sikhism 8 International Literacy Day United Nations 9 Samvatsari/Paryushan Parva ends/Daslakshan Parva begins • Jainism 9 International FASD Awareness Day International community observance 10 Ganesh/Vinayak Chauth • Hinduism 11 Nayrouz (J) Christianity 16 Yom Kippur • ○ Judaism 18 Anant Chaturdashi Jainism 18 Kshamavani/Daslakshan Parva ends • Jainism 19 Powley Day Indigenous Worldview 19 Anant Chaturdashi Hinduism 21-27 Sukkot Judaism 25 Franco-Ontarian Day Government of Ontario 22 Harvestide/Fall Equinox • ○ Wicca 27 Arbaeen Islam 28-29 Simchat Torah Judaism TBD Terry Fox National School Run Day Board event TBD Orange Shirt Day Board event

October 2021 5 World Teacher's Day/Peel Teacher's Day United Nations/Staff Recognition Child Abuse Prevention Month 6 Sharad Navratri begins Hinduism International Walk to School Month 6 International Walk to School Day (1st Wednesday in October) Board event Islamic Heritage Month 10 World Mental Health Day World Health Organization 11 International Day of the Girl Child United Nations 11 Thanksgiving Canadian Holiday 13 Durgaashtami Hinduism 14 Vijaya Dashmi/Dassehra • Hinduism 17 International Day for the Eradication of Poverty United Nations 18 Milad-un-Nabi Islam Days of Significance July 2020 - December 2021

20 Kathina Ceremony/Pavarana Day Buddhism 20 Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva's Pravrajya Buddhism 20 Installation of Guru Granth as Guru (O) Sikhism 23 or 24 Karva Chauth Hinduism 31 Halloween Community observance TBD Peel Principals and Vice Principals' Day Staff Recognition TBD Bus Driver Appreciation Day Staff Recognition TBD Peel Teaching Assistant & Early Childhood Educators' Day Staff Recognition TBD Children's Aid Society Go Purple Day Board event

November 2021 1 All Saints Day Christianity Hindu Heritage Month 1 Samhain • ○ Wicca Indigenous Heritage Month 4 Diwali • Hinduism 4 Diwali/Lord Mahavir • Jainism 4 Bandi Chhor Divas • Sikhism 5 New Year • Hinduism 5 New Year/Enlightenment day of Gautamswami • Jainism 6 Birth of the Báb Bahá'i 6 Installation of Guru Granth as Guru (R) Sikhism 7 Birth of Bahá'u'lláh • ○ Bahá'i 8 Indigenous Veterans Day Veteran Affairs Canada 9 Gnan Panchami Jainism 11 Remembrance Day Canada 15 National Philanthropy Day Association of Fundraising Professionals 16 Louis Riel Day Indigenous Worldview 19 Birth of Guru Nanak • Sikhism 20 World Children's Day United Nations 20 Dev Diwali Jainism 24 Martyrdom of Guru Teg Bahadur (O) Sikhism 25 Day of the Covenant Bahá'i 27 Ascension 'Abdu'l-Bahá Bahá'i 28 First Day of Advent Christianity 29 to Dec Chanukah Judaism TBD Bullying Awareness & Prevention Week: Choose Action Board event TBD Rock Your Mocs Week Indigenous Worldview TBD Peel Custodial & Maintenance Workers' Day Staff Recognition

December 2021 1-6 Chanukah Judaism Christian Heritage Month 3 International Day of Persons with Disabilities United Nations 5 Birth of Guru Gobind Singh (O) • Sikhism 5 International Volunteer Day United Nations 6 National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women Government of Canada 8 Bodhi Day Buddhism 8 Martyrdom of Guru Teg Bahadur (R) Sikhism 10 International Human Rights Day United Nations 13 Birthday of Imam Aga Khan Islam 19 or 20 Amitabha Buddha's Birthday Buddhism 21 Yule/Winter Solstice • ○ Wicca 25 Christmas • Christianity 26-Jan 1 Kwanzaa African Canadian and American 26 Zarathosht-no-diso (FC) Zoroastrianism 26 Boxing Day Canadian Holiday Days of Significance July 2020 - December 2021

IMPORTANT NOTES:

Bahá’í, Judaism and Wicca – days of significance in these faiths begin at sunset on the evening prior to the date shown and end at sunset on the last day shown. Christianity – dates for Christianity are based on the Gregorian calendar unless specified as Julian (J). Islam – dates are tentative as some may vary based on the sighting of the moon. Sikhism – dates are based on the Original Nanakshahi calendar (O) and the Nanakshahi-Revised calendar (R). Zoroastrianism – dates are based on Fasli calendar (FC), Qadimi calendar (QC) and Shenshahi calendar (SC).

• (Red Dot) = Do not schedule events at any time on these days. ○= Do not schedule events on the evenings prior to these days. *Dates may vary +/- a day due to lunar calendar Canadian and Ontario holidays are recognized statutory holidays.