Days of Recognition

National Volunteer Week runs from April 19 to 25, 2026. It is a time to recognize the people who give their time to strengthen communities across Canada. From cultural organizations to social services, volunteers play a central role in keeping programs active and accessible.

Each year, around the spring equinox, communities across Canada celebrate and raise awareness of 2SLGBTQIA+ Indigenous and Two-Spirit People. Observed on or near March 20, this day highlights the leadership, resilience, and cultural significance of Indigenous people who identify as Two-Spirit, as well as their place within the broader 2SLGBTQIA+ community.

Every October, purple takes over. Landmarks across Canada are lit in violet hues.School halls fill with purple shirts and ribbons. For one day, a single colour links millionsin a quiet act of solidarity. This year, Spirit Day falls on October 16. In 2010, Brittany McMillan, a high school student in British Columbia, read about aseries […]

September 30 is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. It’s a time to pause, reflect and learn about the legacy of Canada’s residential school system. For the Canadian Pride Historical Society, it’s also an opportunity to recognize a history that is often overlooked: the deep connection between Indigenous and 2SLGBTQIA+ communities through the role […]

The choice of date for Women’s Equality Day commemorates the signing of the 19thamendment on August 26th, 1920, a landmark addition to the American constitution that prohibitedfederal and state governments from restricting the right to vote based on sex. While this was amassive achievement only made possible by the work of dedicated activists, it is […]

Since 2012, International Non-Binary People’s Day has been celebrated every year on July 14th—the date chosen for its placement at the halfway mark between International Women’s Day and International Men’s Day. The day—and Non-Binary Awareness Week, which begins on the preceding Monday—is a time for us to recognize, celebrate, and uplift non-binary folks around the […]

This year, Non-Binary Awareness Week takes place from July 14 to 20, 2025. It is a time to highlight the experiences of non-binary people, challenge misconceptions, and encourage greater understanding across communities. While the term non-binary has become more familiar in recent years, the experiences and identities of non-binary people are not new.

You might have seen June 26 called “LGBT Equality Day” in some articles or social posts and there’s a reason for that. On June 26, 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage across the United States. That ruling (Obergefell v. Hodges) was a major moment in global LGBTQ+ history, and it’s often recognized as […]

According to the Canadian government, approximately four percent of the Canadian population is part of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. A portion of this population identifies as panromantic or pansexual. Considering panromantic and pansexual identities have not always received the same visibility or understanding as other orientations in the community, it is important to both acknowledge and […]

On April 26, 2025, celebrate Lesbian Visibility Day! This day is part of an entire week devoted to celebrating lesbians around the world, as part of Lesbian Visibility Week. Both Lesbian Visibility Day and Lesbian Visibility Week started in West Hollywood in 1990 and ran for a short two-year period. Lesbian Visibility Week was initially […]

April 6th is International Asexuality Day, a time for us all to come together to recognize the beauty and vibrancy of the Asexual community, uplift Asexual voices, and raise awareness of the many challenges Asexual people face due to living as themselves. Asexuals have always been an inextricable facet of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, and we […]

Every April, National Diversity Month invites us to take stock of the many communities, cultures and identities that shape Canada. For the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, it’s a chance to dig deeper—past rainbow headlines and into the roots of who we are, where we’ve been and who’s still waiting to be seen. Canada’s queer history has never […]

As headlines across the world are increasingly covering the legislation used to suppress and roll back the rights of trans, gender non-binary, and queer individuals, it is more important than ever for the global community to acknowledge these atrocities and become informed about ways to partner with allies, advocates, and members of the trans, gender […]

This post contains discussions of mental health, medical issues, and suicide. Please take care of yourself and skip this post if you find any of these topics triggering. From March 17th to March 21st, we recognize National 2SLGBTQIA+ Health Awareness Week, a time for all of us—The 2SLGBTQIA+ community, medical providers, and allies alike—to come […]

This March is the 12th Bisexual+ Health Month, an occurrence intended to remind us all of the inequities Bi+ folks face not only with their physical and mental health but also with the medical systems they navigate. Bisexual+ Health Month was first initiated in 2014 and is the brainchild of the Bisexual Resource Centre—an organization […]

In Canada, we recognize Pink Shirt Day every year on the third Wednesday in February, and we take this time to raise awareness of the pervasive and insidious nature of bullying, support those who have been victimized by it, and commit ourselves to do our part in creating safe, supportive communities for everyone. Pink Shit […]

February 7, 2025, is National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. Throughout the HIV/AIDS epidemic, black communities have faced inequitable barriers to preventative measures and care for the disease that continues to this day. The history of the virus is mired in inequities and inequalities, especially towards those in black and queer communities. Beginning in the early […]

Every year, on January 27, the world pauses to honour the lives lost during one of history’s darkest chapters: the Holocaust. This day is not just about remembering Jewish victims but also about reflecting on the persecution of other marginalized groups, including 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals. By revisiting these shared histories of suffering, we uncover lessons that […]

Trey Anthony Trey Anthony is an award-winning playwright, performer, and producer best known for her television series and play Da Kink in My Hair. Dr. OmiSoore Dryden, PhD is the fourth James R. Johnston Chair in Black Canadian Studies and the first queer person to occupy the position.