Diversity Calendar
If you would like dates added to the 2026 edition of the calendar, please e-mail us at communications@gandercanada.com.
It is the intent of the Town of Gander to use this document as a guide to identify various events of significance to Gander's residents, allowing Council to recognize the diversity of its people, culture, and traditions.
It is important to note that the list is not exhaustive. Council will attempt to emphasize some events that have relevance in our community, but not each event. Should a member or segment of our populations desire special mention, it is suggested that they contact us at the above email to explore avenues to create awareness and education on a specific topic.
Diversity Calendar 2026
January
Tamil Heritage Month (Canada)
| Date | Holiday/Observance | Affiliation/Community |
|---|---|---|
| January 1 | New Years’ Day | International |
| January 1 | Feast Day of St Basil | Orthodox Christian |
| January 1 | Shogatsu / Gantan-sai (New Years) New Year (正月, shōgatsu) | Shinto (Japan) |
| January 1 | Independence Day | Sudan |
| January 1 | Independence Day | Haiti |
| January 1 | Independence Day | Myanmar |
| January 3 | Mahayana New Year | Buddhist |
| January 6 | Epiphany/Three King’s Day | Christian |
| January 7 | Orthodox Christmas Day | Orthodox Christian |
| January 12 | Swami Vivekananda Jayanti | Hindu |
| January 13 | Lohri (Winter Solstice) | India |
| January 13 | Maghi/Magha Ra Saza | Northern India |
| January 14 | International Kite Day | International |
| January 14 | Orthodox New Year | Orthodox Christian |
| January 14-17 | Pongal | Hindu |
| January 14 | Makar Sankranti | Hindu |
| January 15 | Magh Bihu | Hindu |
| January 15-16 | Lailat al-Mi’raj | Muslim |
| January 17 | Birthday of Guru Gobind Singh | Sikh |
| January 19 | World Religion Day | International |
| January 19 | Timkat | Ethiopian |
| January 19 | Martin Luther King Jr. Day | Many Regions |
| January 21 | Lincoln Alexander Day | Canada |
| January 23 | Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Jayanti | India |
| January 24 | World Day for African and Afrodescendant Culture (WDAC) | International |
| January 24 | International Day of Education | International |
| January 26 | Australia Day | Australia |
| January 27 | The International Holocaust Remembrance Day | International |
| January 27 | Lailat al-Mi’raj | Muslim |
| January 29 | National Day of Remembrance and Action on Islamophobia | Canada |
February
Black History Month (International)
| Date | Holiday/Observance | Affiliation/Community |
|---|---|---|
| February 1 | World Hijab Day | International |
| February 1-2 | Imbolc (The Feast of Waxing Light) | Paganism |
| February 1-7 | World Interfaith Harmony Week | International |
| February 2 | Groundhog Day | North America |
| February 2 | Tu B’Shevat (Arbor Day) | Jewish |
| February 2-3 | Lailat al Bara’ah | Muslim |
| February 3 | Chinese Lantern Festival | China |
| February 3 | Magha Puja Day | Buddhist |
| February 6 | International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation | International |
| February 12 | Kumbha Sakranti | Hindu |
| February 14 | Valentine’s Day | Many Regions |
| February 14 | Pink Triangle Day | Canada |
| February 15 | Maha Shivaratri | Hindu |
| February 15 | Lui-Ngai-N | Manipur India |
| February 15 | Flag Day | Canada |
| February 15 | Nirvana Day | Buddhist |
| February 16 | Family Day | Canada |
| February 17 | Chinese New Year/Lunar New Year | Southeast Asia |
| February 17 | Pancake Day/Shrove Tuesday | Christian |
| February 18 | Ash Wednesday | Christian |
| February 18 | Losar | Tibetan |
| February 18 (Sundown) | Ramadan (Starts) | Muslim |
| February 19 | Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti | India |
| February 21 | International Mother Language day | International |
| February 25 - March 1 | Ayyám-i-Há (Intercalary Days) | Baha’i |
| February 25 - April 2 | Lent | Christian |
| February 26 | Pink Shirt Day | Canada |
| February 27 | Dominican Independence Day | Dominican Republic |
March
Multiculturalism Month (Newfoundland and Labrador)
Women’s History Month (International)
Irish Heritage Month (Canada)
| Date | Holiday/Observance | Affiliation/Community |
|---|---|---|
| March 1 | Zero Discrimination Day | Many Regions |
| March 1-19 | Nineteen Day Fast | Baha’i |
| March 2 | Ta’anit Ester (Fast of Queen Ester) | Jewish |
| March 2-3 | Purim | Jewish |
| March 3 | Chötrul Düchen | Tibetan |
| March 4 | Holi | Hinduism/Sikhism |
| March 4-6 | Hola Mohalla | Sikhism |
| March 6 | Independence Day | Ghana |
| March 8 | International Women’s Day | International |
| March 9 | Commonwealth Day | Many regions |
| March 10 | Harriet Tubman Day | USA |
| March 14 | Holi | Hinduism/Sikhism |
| March 15 | Laylatul Qadr (Night of Power) | Muslim |
| March 15 | International Day to Combat Islamophobia | International |
| March 17 | St. Patrick’s Day | Many Regions |
| March 19 | Chahar Shanbe Soori | Iran |
| March 19 | Ramadan (Ends) | Muslim |
| March 20 | Eid al-Fitr | Muslim |
| March 20 | International Francophonie Day | International |
| March 20 | International Day of Happiness | International |
| March 20 | Two Spirt and Indigenous LGBTQQIA+ Awareness to Celebration Day | International |
| March 20 | Ostara | Wicca/Pagan |
| March 20 | Nowrooz | Iran, Persian |
| March 21 | International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination | International |
| March 21 | World Down Syndrome Day | International |
| March 21 | Naw-Rúz The Bahá’í New Year | Baha’i |
| March 23 | Pakistan Resolution Day | Pakistan |
| March 24 | International Day for the Right to the Truth Concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims | International |
| March 25 | International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade | International |
| March 26 | Rama Navami | Hindu |
| March 26 | Independence Day | Bangladesh |
| March 26 | Khordad Sal | Zoroastrianism |
| March 27 | Muslim Women’s day | International |
| March 31 | Mahavir Jayanti | Jain |
| March 31 | International Transgender Day of Visibility | International |
April
Sikh Heritage Month (Canada)
Genocide Remembrance, Condemnation, and Prevention Month (Canada)
| Date | Holiday/Observance | Affiliation/Community |
|---|---|---|
| April 1 | April Fool’s Day | International |
| April 1 | Pesach/Passover (Start) | Jewish |
| April 2 | World Autism Awareness Day | International |
| April 2 | Sizdah Be Dar (Nature Day) | Iran |
| April 3 | Good Friday | Christian |
| April 5 | Easter Sunday | Christian |
| April 6 | Easter Monday | Christian |
| April 6 | National Tartan Day | Scottish |
| April 7 | Rwandan Genocide Memorial Day | Rwanda |
| April 7 | World Health Day | International |
| April 8 | International Day of Pink | International |
| April 8 | International Roma Day | International |
| April 9 | Last Day of Passover | Jewish |
| April 12 | Pesach/Passover (Start) | Jewish |
| April 14 | Baisakhi / Vaisakhi | Hinduism, Sikhism, Bangladesh |
| April 19 | Patriots Day | USA |
| April 21 | First Day of Ridván | Baha’i |
| April 22 | Earth Day | International |
| April 24 | Armenian Genocide Memorial Day | International |
| April 25 | Italy Liberation Day | Italy |
| April 29 | Ninth Day of Ridván | Baha’i |
| April 30 | Journey to Freedom Day | Vietnamese Canadians |
May
Asian Heritage Month (Canada)
Jewish Heritage Month (Canada)
Dutch Heritage Month (Canada)
| Date | Holiday/Observance | Affiliation/Community |
|---|---|---|
| May 1 | May Day (International Worker’s Day) | International |
| May 1 | Buddha Purnima | Hindu |
| May 1 | Beltane | Paganism |
| May 1 | Visakha Puja – Buddha’s Birthday | Buddhist |
| May 2 | Twelfth Day of Ridván | Baha’i |
| May 4-10 | Mental Health Awareness Week | Canada |
| May 5 | Lag B’Omer | Jewish |
| May 5 | Cinco de Mayo | Mexico |
| May 5 | National Day of Awareness for Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls | Canada |
| May 10 | Mother’s Day | Many Regions |
| May 17 | International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia | International |
| May 18 | Flag and University Day | Haiti |
| May 18 | Victoria Day | Canada |
| May 21 | Global Accessibility Awareness Day | International |
| May 21 | World Day for Cultural Diversity, for Dialogue and Development | International |
| May 21-23 | Shavuot | Jewish |
| May 23 | Declaration of the Báb | Baha’i |
| May 24 | Pentecost | Christian |
| May 25 | Memorial Day | USA |
| May 26-29 | Eid-Al-Adha | Muslim |
| May 28 | Ascension of Bahá’u’lláh | Baha’i |
| May 30 | Provincial Francophonie Day | Newfoundland and Labrador |
| May 30 | Joan of Arc Day | France |
June
National Indigenous History Month (Canada)
Italian Heritage Month (Canada)
Filipino Heritage Month (Canada)
Portuguese Heritage Month (Canada)
Pride Month (International)
| Date | Holiday/Observance | Affiliation/Community |
|---|---|---|
| June 2 | Italy Republic Day | Italy |
| June 3 | Eid al-Ghadir | Islam |
| June 5 | World Environment Day | International |
| June 10 | Portugal Day | Portugal |
| June 12 | Philippines Independence Day | Filipino |
| June 12 | World Against Child Labour Day | International |
| June 12 | Pulse Remembrance Day | International |
| June 18 | International Day of Countering Hate Speech | International |
| June 18 | International Autistic Pride Day | International |
| June 19 | Juneteenth National Independence Day | USA |
| June 19 | Dragon Boat Festival | China, Hong Kong, Taiwan |
| June 20 | World Refugee Day | International |
| June 21 | National Indigenous Peoples Day | Canada |
| June 21 | Father’s Day | Many Regions |
| June 24 | St. John’s Day (Midsummer) | Christian |
| June 24 | Fête Nationale du Québec (Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day) | Quebec |
| June 25-26 | Day of Ashura | Muslim |
| June 27 | Canadian Multiculturalism Day | Canada |
| June 30 | Independence Day | Congo |
July
Pride Month (Please check local calendars)
| Date | Holiday/Observance | Affiliation/Community |
|---|---|---|
| July 1 | Beaumont Hamel Memorial Day | Newfoundland and Labrador |
| July 1 | Canada Day | Canada |
| July 1 | Republic Day | Ghana |
| July 4 | Independence Day | USA |
| July 5 | Independence Day | Venezuela |
| July 5 | Independence Day | Algeria |
| July 6 | Birthday of His Holiness the Dalai Lama | Tibet, Buddhism |
| July 9 | Independence Day | Argentina |
| July 10 | Martyrdom of the Báb | Baha’i |
| July 11 | Srebrenica Remembrance Day | International |
| July 11 | World Population Day | International |
| July 11 | St. Benedict Day | Catholic Christian |
| July 14 | Bastille Day | France |
| July 15 | St. Vladimir the Great Day | Orthodox Christian |
| July 18 | Nelson Mandela Day | International |
| July 23 | Birthday of Haile Selassie | Rastafarian |
| July 24 | Pioneer Day | Mormon Christian |
| July 25 | Tunisia Republic Day | Tunisia |
| July 29 | Asalha Puja (Dharma Day) | Buddhist |
August
| Date | Holiday/Observance | Affiliation/Community |
|---|---|---|
| August 1 | Emancipation Day | Canada |
| August 1 | Lughnasadh | Paganism |
| August 3 | Civic Holiday | Canada |
| August 4 | Founders’ Day | Ghana |
| August 9 | International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples | International |
| August 12 | International Youth Day | International |
| August 13-16 | Obon | Buddhist/Japanese |
| August 14 | Independence Day | Pakistan |
| August 15 | Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary | Catholic Christian |
| August 15 | Independence Day | India |
| August 15 | National Acadian Day | Canada |
| August 15 | Korean Liberation Day | Korea (North and South) |
| August 16 | Parsi New Year (Shahenshahi) Jamshedi Navroz | Parsi |
| August 17-26 | Onam | Hindu (Kerala) |
| August 19 | Independence Day | Afghanistan |
| August 19 | World Humanitarian Day | International |
| August 23 | International Day for the remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition | International |
| August 24 | Independence Day of Ukraine | Ukraine |
| August 25-26 | Mawlid al-Nabi | Muslim |
| August 27 | Ganesh Chaturthi | Hindu |
| August 28 | Raksha Bandhan | Hindu |
| August 29 | The Qixi Festival (Chinese) | China |
| August 31 | National Heroes Day | Philippines |
| August 31 | International Day of People of African Descent | International |
September
| Date | Holiday/Observance | Affiliation/Community |
|---|---|---|
| September 2 | Independence Day | Vietnam |
| September 4 | Krishna Janmashtami | Hindu |
| September 7 | Labour Day | Canada |
| September 7 | Independence Day | Brazil |
| September 8 | Paryushana begins | Jain |
| September 10 | Bhai Dooj | Hindu |
| September 11-13 | Rosh Hashanah | Jewish |
| September 14 | Holy Cross Day | Christian |
| September 14 | Ganesh Chaturthi | Hindu |
| September 14 | Haritalika Teej | Hindu |
| September 15 | Chhat Puja | Hindu |
| September 16 | Mexican Independence Day | Mexico |
| September 20 | Terry Fox Run | Canada |
| September 20-21 | Yom Kippur | Jewish |
| September 21 | International Day of Peace | International |
| September 21 | Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Day | Ghana |
| September 23 | Mabon | Pagan |
| September 23 | International Sign Language Day | International |
| September 25 | Mid-Autumn Festival | China |
| September 25 – October 2 | Sukkot | Jewish |
| September 30 | National Day for Truth and Reconciliation | Canada |
October
Islamic History Month (Canada)
Latin America Heritage Month (Canada)
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Mi’kmaq History Month (Canada)
German Heritage Month (Canada)
Women’s History Month (Canada)
National Disability Employment Awareness Month (Canada)
LGBT History Month (International)
| Date | Holiday/Observance | Affiliation/Community |
|---|---|---|
| October 1 | National Day | China |
| October 1 | Independence Day | Nigeria |
| October 1 | International Day for Older Persons | International |
| October 2 | Gandhi Jayanti (Birthday of Mahatma Gandhi) | India |
| October 3 | Day of German Unity | Germany |
| October 4 | Simchat Torah | Jewish |
| October 8 | World Dyslexia Day | International |
| October 10 | World Mental Health Day | International |
| October 10 | World Sight Day | International |
| October 12 | Thanksgiving | Canada |
| October 13 | International Plain Language Day | International |
| October 14 | Svetitskhovleli Cathedral Day | Georgia |
| October 17-21 | Durga Puja | Hindu |
| October 18 | ChungYang Festival (The Double Ninth Festival) | China |
| October 20 | Installation of the Scriptures as Guru Granth | Sikh |
| October 20 | Dussehra/Vijayadashami | Hindu |
| October 29 | Karva Chauth | Hindu |
| October 29 | Republic Day | Turkey |
| October 31 | All Hallows Eve (Halloween) | North America |
| October 31 | Samhain | Pagan |
November
Lebanese Heritage Month (Canada)
Trans Awareness Month (International)
National Disability Employment Awareness Month
| Date | Holiday/Observance | Affiliation/Community |
|---|---|---|
| November 8 | Lakshmi Puja | Hindu |
| November 8 | Diwali | Sikh/Hindu/Jain |
| November 9 | Sigd | Ethiopian Jewish community |
| November 9 | Govardhan Puja | Hindu |
| November 10 | Birth of the Báb | Baha’i |
| November 11 | Remembrance Day | Canada |
| November 11 | Independence Day | Poland |
| November 11 | Birth of Bahá’u’lláh | Baha’i |
| November 16 | International Day of Tolerance | International |
| November 20 | Transgender Day of Remembrance | International |
| November 20 | National Child Day | Canada |
| November 24 | Martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib | Sikh |
| November 25 | International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women | International |
| November 26 | Day of the Covenant | Baha’i |
| November 26 | Thanksgiving (American) | USA |
| November 28 | Holodomor Memorial Day | Canada / Ukraine |
| November 28 | Ascension of Abdu’l-Bahá | Baha’i |
| November 29 | First Sunday of Advent | Christian |
December
| Date | Holiday/Observance | Affiliation/Community |
|---|---|---|
| December 1 | Restorative Independence Day | Portugal |
| December 2 | International Day for the Abolition of Slavery | International |
| December 3 | International Day of Persons with Disabilities | International |
| December 4-12 | Hannukah | Judaism |
| December 6 | Saint Nicholas Day | Christian |
| December 8 | Bodhi Day | Buddhist |
| December 9 | Tanzania Independence Day | Tanzania |
| December 10 | World Human Rights Day | International |
| December 12 | Kenya Independence Day | Kenya |
| December 16 | Simbang Gabi | Filipino Catholic |
| December 20 | Yalda Night | Persian |
| December 21 | Dongzhi Festival | East Asia |
| December 21 | Yule | Pagan |
| December 22 | Zimbabwean Unity Day | Zimbabwe |
| December 24 | Christmas Eve | Christian |
| December 25 | Christmas Day | Christian |
| December 26 | Boxing Day | Christian |
| December 26 – January 1, 2027 | Kwanzaa | USA |
| December 31 | New Year’s Eve | International |
Contact Us
Town of Gander
100 Elizabeth Drive,
Gander, NL A1V 1G7 Canada
709-651-2930
Info@gandercanada.com
Sign up to our Newsletter
Stay up to date on the Town's activities, events, programs and operations by subscribing to our eNewsletters.