UPPER CANADA DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD

Special Recognition Days

In accordance with Special Recognition Days Policy 455, the UCDSB acknowledges and/or promotes special recognition days that meet two or more of the following criteria:

• The special day or event has a demonstrable educational value (such as “teachable moments” that can be incorporated in the curriculum before, during, and after the event);
• The special day or event has a clear connection to the board’s mission, values, strategic plan; or
• The special day or event is understood to promote the general benefit of the community.

The 2024-2025 Special Recognition Dates are:

September

17 - International IT Professionals' Day
25 - Franco-Ontarian Day
27 - Terry Fox National School Run Day
30 - National Day for Truth and Reconciliation / Orange Shirt Day

October

2 - Custodial & Facilities Staff Appreciation Day 
5 - World Teachers' Day
6-12 - Fire Prevention Week
10 - World Mental Health Day
20-26 - Local Government Week
21-25 - National Bus Safety Week
23 - School Bus Driver Appreciation Day
24 - Child Care Worker & Early Childhood Educator (ECE) Appreciation Day
25 - Dress Purple Day (supporting vulnerable children, youth, and families)

K-12 Cyber Awareness Month

November

3-9 - Treaties Recognition Week
8 - Indigenous Veterans Day
17-23 - Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week
25-29 - UCDSB Holocaust Education Week

December

6 - National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women

January

20 - Martin Luther King Day
21 - Lincoln Alexander Day 
27 - International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust

February

15 - National Flag of Canada Day
26 - Pink Shirt Day: Anti-Bullying

Black History Month

March

8 - International Women's Day
11 - National Pandemic Observance Day
21 - World Down Syndrome Day
23 - National School Crossing Guard Appreciation Day

April

2 - World Autism  Day
9 - International Day of Pink (LGBTQ+)
22 - Earth Day
23 - Administrative Professionals Day
27 - 4 (May) - National Volunteer Week 

May

1 - School Principals' & Vice-Principals' Day
3 - Education & Professional Support Staff Appreciation Day
5-9 - Education Week
5-11 - Mental Health Week
5 - Red Dress Day - National Day of Awareness of Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls
9 - School Communicators Day 
17 - International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia
18 - Speech language pathologist day
21 - Ontario Flag Day
26-1 (June) - National AccessAbility Week 

Speech and Hearing Month
Asian Heritage Month
Canadian Jewish Heritage Month

June

National Indigenous History Month
Pride Month

The 2024-2025 Significant Faith Days are:

October

2*-4 - Rosh Hashanah (Judaism)
11*-12 - Yom Kippur (Judaism)

November

1 - Diwali (Hindu/Sikh/Jain)

December

25*-2 (January) - Hanukkah (Judaism)
25 - Christmas Day (Christian)

January

29 - Lunar New Year (Multiple)

February

28*-29 (March) - Ramadan (Muslim)

March

14 - Holi (Hindu)
19*-20 - Naw Ruz (Persian)
29*-30 - Eid-al-Fitr (Muslim)

April

12*-20 - Passover (Judaism)
14 - Vaisakhi (Sikh)
18 - Good Friday (Christian)
20 - Easter Sunday (Christian)

June

6*-10 - Eid al-Adha (Muslim)


*Begins at sundown.