October
November
December
Mental Illness Awareness Week
MENTAL ILLNESS AWARENESS WEEK is an annual national public education campaign designed to help open the eyes of Canadians to the reality of mental illness . This year ’ s theme was Awareness Access , and Parity for Mental Health and Substance Use Care in Canada .
About 1 in 5 Canadians experience Mental Illness each year . Over 20 % of Canadians in any given year will experience mental health concerns . Only a third of those people will seek help .
The Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health ( CAMIMH ) is advocating for a Canada where everybody has timely access to mental health programs , services and supports without barriers .
Life can affect an individual ’ s mental health in many ways . Awareness of your mental health , and utilizing information and resources available to you , can assist in improving and maintaining your mental health .
Day of the Dead ( Día de los Muertos )
A dedication to the deceased , Day of the Dead ( Dia De Los Muertos ) is a two-day holiday that reunites the living and dead . Families create ofrendas ( Offerings ) to honor their departed family members that have passed . These altars are decorated with bright yellow marigold flowers , photos of the departed , and the favorite foods and drinks of the one being honored . The offerings are believed to encourage visits from the land of the dead as the departed souls hear their prayers , smell their foods and join in the celebrations ! Day of the Dead is a holiday to remember loved ones by sharing a meal with them as one would when they were alive .
iStock . com / Rimma _ Bondarenko
Kwanzaa
Kwanzaa is an African-American cultural holiday that has been adopted around the world including in Canada to celebrate African family , community and culture . The name Kwanza is derived from a Swahili phrase ( matunda ya kwanza ) meaning “ first fruits .” It is a seven-day celebration that comprises traditional African harvest festivals and draws on activities from cultures across Africa . Since “ Kwanza ” had only six letters , an extra “ a ” was added to make seven letters to parallel the seven principles of nguzo saba of Kwanzaa : umoja ( unity ), kujichagulia ( self-determination ), ujima ( collective work and responsibility ), ujamaa ( co-operative economics ), nia ( purpose ), kuumba ( creativity ) and imani ( faith ). The celebrations also last seven days to represent these seven values . iStock . com / SeventyFour
Days of Significance in Q4
October
All Month : Autism Awareness Month , Canadian Islamic History Month , German Heritage Month , Women ’ s History Month
10 : World Mental Health Day
15 – 21 : Invisible disabilities week and Workplace bullying week .
15 – 24 : Navratri ( Hindu )
November
All Month : National Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Nov 2 : Día de los Muertos ( Day of the Dead )
Nov 5 – 11 : Treaties Recognition Week Nov 11 : Remembrance Day Nov 12 – 16 : Diwali
December
All Month : Universal Human Rights Month
Dec 2 : International Day for the Abolition of Slavery
Dec 8 – 15 : Chanukah / Hanukkah ( Judaism ) Dec 26-Jan 1 : Kwanzaa
Check out the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion 2023 Diversity Calendar for a comprehensive listing of days of significance .
Photo credit : iStock . com / BeritK
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