Equity and Diversity Calendar2011-2012
KKawartha Pine Ridge District School Board
Hidden in Plain Sight
One of the many responsibilities of a school district is to ensure fair and equitable treatment among all students and employees of diverse backgrounds. The
Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board (KPR) believes in the power of education to change thinking, attitudes and behaviours. The Board remains
committed to identifying and eliminating systemic barriers, which limit the academic success and life chances of students, and the career opportunities of
employees. As such, the Board’s Equity and Diversity Committee operates with a mandate to promote and raise awareness of issues relating to equity and
diversity.
For the seventh consecutive year, members of the Equity and Diversity Committee challenged schools to create art commenting on equity and diversity themes.
The theme for this year’s Calendar was “Hidden in Plain Sight.” To account for a variety of learning needs and styles, school communities were encouraged to use
diverse media. Their goal was to portray artistically that while people, experiences and issues may seem evident to us, they are, in fact, made up of many sides,
layers and components that we may not see, perceive or understand unless carefully regarded. The Calendar reflects the Board’s commitment to the principles of
equity and valuing diversity, and provides a showcase for the artistic talents of students and staff.
It represents a partnership among students, teachers,
principals, the Equity and Diversity Committee, the
Human Resources Department, Multimedia Services
and the Communications Office. The Equity and
Diversity Calendar aims to serve as a resource for
educators, students and school communities. It
celebrates the creativity of KPR students and provides
information about:
Significant equity and diversity dates recognized by
the United Nations, Canada and Ontario.Bahá’í, Buddhist, Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Islamic
and Sikh holy days and feasts.Dates of significance to communities within the KPR
district (e.g. First Nations).Canadian civic holidays.Equinox, solstice and daylight savings dates.The KPR Board Calendar
An electronic version with accompanying resource
suggestions is available on the Board’s web site;
www.kprdsb.ca.
Special thanks go to the many individuals who
supported this project, including:Each student, teacher, volunteer and principal
involved in creating artworkEquity & Diversity Committee MembersAlderville, Hiawatha & Curve Lake First NationsPeterborough Pride CommitteeStan Kicak, Steve Spracklin, LRCJoanne Gillam, Gale Ovens, Jayne Potts, Jill
Ritchie, Human Resources
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Acknowledgments
The Kawartha Pine Ridge Equity and Diversity Calendar 2011-2012
Vincent Massey P.S. Otonabee Valley P.S.
“Hidden in Plain Sight”“Watched”
The Equity and Diversity Team, located within Human Resources, supports the advancement of equity,valuing diversity, inclusiveness and respect for the dignity of all persons within the KPR community. Incollaboration with students, staff, trustees and community partners, the team facilitates studentachievement while supporting just, fair working and learning environments. The Team’s work is guidedprimarily by the principles and practices mandated under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the OntarioHuman Rights Code, the Education Act, the Safe Schools Act, the Accessibility for Ontarians withDisabilities Act and the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
In collaboration with other departments and programs, the Team:implements the Board’s equity-related policies and administrative regulations.develops KPR’s Annual Accessibility Plan.involves community partners in equity and diversity initiatives.provides anti-discrimination education within the system.develops capacity among staff and students to advance equity, value diversity and create inclusive,respectful environments.creates/disseminates resources that enhance understanding of and across diverse communities.
The Board has an advisory Equity and Diversity Committee that consists of representatives from allemployee groups. The mandate of this committee is to address equity, diversity and inclusiveness in thehuman resource, educational and business services of the Board and to provide leadership and directionin these areas. In addition, each year schools identify a staff member to fill the voluntary, co-curricular roleof Equity Contact. Staff in this role support the coordination of equity programming and the disseminationof related information in schools and among the Board sites.
In 2010-11, the Board undertook many equity-related actions to support safety and student achievement.These include:
providing fall/spring training to all School Equity Contacts.training all staff re: workplace violence and harassment.approving KPR’s Guidelines on Multifaith Accommodation.creating educational materials about bias for use by staff.piloting a successful Access Awareness event and creating related resource materials for use ineducational programming.extending our ‘Creativity and Diversity of Thought’ project to include a training component.assisting with the development of school climate surveys for students in grades 4 through 12.initiating our Settlement Workers in Schools (SWIS) program.implementing the Ministry of Education’s Equity and Inclusive Education Strategy (EIE).
Community participation and involvement are critical to the success of KPR’s Equity and Diversity team.Strategic partnerships/involvement in 2010-11 included:
Board lead, Barrie Regional EIE Network of School Boards.Partner, SWIS.Participant, Peterborough Partnership Council on Immigrant Integration.Participant, Durham Diversity and Immigration Partnership Council.Multifaith Community Meeting.Ontario Human Rights Commission.
In addition, to these strategic partnerships we continue to be engaged with school boards, organizations,and community agencies and members, within the Board area, provincially and nationally.
If you would like additional information about equity and diversity at KPR, please feel welcome to visit ourwebsite at: www.kprschools.ca
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Equity & Diversity at KPR
Dr. G.J. MacGillivray P.S.
“Hidden Truth”The Pines Sr. P.S.
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
1 2 3
4 5 6 7 8 9 10
11 12 13 14 15 16 17
18 19 20 21 22 23 24
25 26 27 28 29 30
InternationalLiteracy Day (UN)
International Day ofDemocracy (UN)
Curve LakePow Wow
Curve LakePow Wow
International Dayof Peace (UN) Autumn Equinox
Peterborough PrideParade
KrishnaJayanti/JanmashtamiNavaratri
NavaratriRosh Hashanah
ProfessionalActivity DayNavaratriRosh Hashanah
Labour Day (Can)Schools and BoardClosed Classes Begin
ProfessionalActivity DayNon-Instructional DayGanesh Chaturthi
Board DesignatedHolidaySchools Closed
2011-12According to the United Nations
Index of Holy Days
Significant Dates
2003-2012 -
2005-2014 -
2005-2014 -
2005-2015 -
2008-2017 -
Ganesh Chaturthi (Hindu) - September 1
International Day of Peace (UN) - September 21
Peterborough Pride Parade - September 24
United Nations Literacy Decade: Educationfor All
United Nations Decade of Education forSustainable Development
Second International Decade of the World’sIndigenous People
International Decade for Action: “Water for Life”
Second United Nations Decade for theEradication of Poverty
This is a celebration of the birth of Lord Ganesh, theelephant-headed God known as the Remover of Obstacles.
For more information, and resources related to this day,please refer to the on-line version of the calendar availableat
A celebration of the history, diversity, courage and future ofthe lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, transsexual,intersex and two-spirited communities.
Curve Lake Pow Wow (First Nations) - September 17-18
Krishna Jayanti/Janmashtami (Hindu) - September 28
Navaratri (Hindu) - September 28 - October 6
Rosh Hashanah (Jewish) - September 29 - 30
A Pow Wow is a spiritual and social gathering. First Nationspeoples come together to celebrate and honour traditionsthrough drumming, singing, and dancing.
This festival marks the birth of Krishna, the most veneratedGod in Hinduism.
A festival celebrating the triumph of good over evil, Navaratrihonours God as a mother figure - an element that is uniquefrom many other religions. Women traditionally plant ninedifferent seeds at this time, in honour of the goddess Druga.
Rosh Hashanah celebrates New Year as harvest ends. It isa time for reflection and self-assessment for the communityand for individuals as well as a time for promoting universalpeace and well-being.
www.kprdsb.ca.
D I S T R I C T S C H O O L B O A R D
K A W A R T H A P I N E R I D G E
2011 is...
International Year for People ofAfrican Descent (UN)
International Year of Chemistry (UN)
International Year of Forests (UN)
September 2011September 2011
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
D I S T R I C T S C H O O L B O A R D
K A W A R T H A P I N E R I D G E
1
2 3 4 5 6 7 8
9 10 11 12 13 14 15
16 17 18 19 20 21 22
23 24 25 26 27 28 29
30 31
Navaratri Navaratri
World Food Day(UN)
International Dayfor the Eradicationof Poverty (UN)
Citizenship Weekbegins (Can) Persons' Day (Can) Birth of the Báb Simchat Torah
Citizenship Weekends (Can)
United Nations Day(UN)
DivaliDiwali Diwali Diwali Diwali
October is...
Index of Holy Days
Significant Dates
Learning Disabilities Awareness MonthIslamic History Month (Can)Canadian Library MonthWomen's History Month (Can)Autism Awareness Month
Diwali (Sikh)* - October 26 - 29
International Day for the Eradicationof Poverty (UN) - October 17
Hallowe’en - October 31
*Most Sikh festival dates are now determined by theNanakshahi calendar, which gives fixed dates forholy days. Some significant dates are still fixedaccording to the solar calendar. These dates varyfrom year to year.
Navaratri (Hindu) - September 28 - October 6
Divali (Hindu) - October 26
Persons’ Day (Canada) - October 18
See September Index.
This festival of lights features lanterns, flowers, electriclights and oil lamps called Adiyas. Gifts are alsoexchanged.
Commemorates the date in 1829 when England’s PrivyCouncil decided that women were indeed persons andtherefore entitled to all the rights of persons under thelaw. This reversed the 1927 decision by Canada’sSupreme Court that the word “person” did not includewomen. It also created the opportunity for women to beappointed to the Canadian Senate.
Birth of the B b (Bah ' ) - October 20
Simchat Torah (Jewish) - October 21
á á íObserves the birth of the B b, one of two founders of Bah `and Proclaimer of the faith.
Simchat Torah marks the end of Succoth, a joyous occasionconcluding with the synagogue reading of the Torah(Pentateuch).
á á í
Celebrates the release of Guru Hargobind fromimprisonment at Gwailor as well as the Festival of Light.
For more information, and resources related to this day,please refer to the on-line version of the calendaravailable at www.kprdsb.ca.
Stems from Celtic origins and marks a time when peoplebelieved spirits of the dead crossed over into the worldof the living for one night. Many people wear costumesand children visit homes in their neighbourhoods toreceive candy.
Hallowe'en
Thanksgiving DaySchools & BoardClosed
German PioneersDay (ON)
Navaratri
World Teachers' Day(UN)Navaratri
Navaratri
International Day ofNon-Violence (UN)Navaratri
October 2011October 2011
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10 11 12
13 14 15 16 17 18 19
20 21 22 23 24 25 26
27 28 29 30
Arafat DayGuy FawkesDay (UK)
Birthday ofGuru NanakEid ul-Adha
RemembranceDay (Can)
Canadian Children’sBook Week beginsBirth of Bahá'u'lláh
Bullying AwarenessWeek begins
International Day ofTolerance (UN)
InternationalStudents' Day (UN)
Canadian Children'sBook Week endsBullying AwarenessWeek ends
Universal Children'sDay (UN)National Child Day(Can)
Martyrdom of GuruTegh Bahadur
ProfessionalActivity DayInternational Day for theElimination of ViolenceAgainst Women (UN)White RibbonCampaign begins (Can)Canadian AboriginalFestival begins Day of the Covenant
Al-HijiraCanadian AboriginalFestival ends
Index of Holy Days
Significant Dates
Arafat Day (Muslim) – November 5
Dussehra (Hindu) - November 6
Birthday of Guru Nanak (Sikh) - November 10
Birth of Bah 'u'll h (Bah ' ) - November 12
Martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur (Sikh) - November24 (Nanakshahi)
Bahá'í
Al-Hijira (Muslim) – November 27
Bahá'í
Also known as the Day of Hajj, Arafat Day marks theannual pilgrimage to Mecca that Muslims areencouraged to complete at least once in their lifetime.
Dussehra continues from Navaratri festivities tocelebrate the triumph of good over evil. Honours theGoddess Druga.
Born in the 1400s, Guru Nanak was the founder ofSikhism.
Commemorates the birth of the founder of the Bah 'faith, Bah 'u'll h in 1817.
Bahadur became a martyr and hero in 1675 when hewas beheaded for refusing Islam at a time when it wasbeing enforced.
Bah 'í
The first of Muharram 1492, the Muslim New Year marksthe migration of the Prophet Mohammad and hisfollowers from Mecca to Medina.
Abdu'l-Bah
Bah 'í
Eid ul-Adha (Muslim) - November 7 - 10
Day of the Covenant ( ) - November 26
Ascension of Abdu'l-Bah ( ) - November 28
Canadian Aboriginal Festival - November 25 - 27
Celebrates the end of the Hajj or the holy pilgrimage toMecca, one of the five pillars of Islam, observed by allMuslims.
Commemorates Bah 'u'll h’s promise about the workthat his son and successor, Abdu'l-Bah , would do in thename of the faith.
was Bah 'u'll h's eldest son and successor,and was famed for his 1911-1913 teachings in Europeand America, which spread the message to thewestern world.
Observes Canada’s largest Aboriginal festival, anopportunity to share and learn about North America’sAboriginal Peoples.
á á á í
áá á
á
á
á
í
á áá
á áá
Ascension of Abdu'l-Bahá
International Day ofSolidarity with thePalestinian People(UN)
Daylight Saving TimeendsDussehra Eid ul-Adha Eid ul-Adha Eid ul-Adha
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November 2011November 2011
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
New Year’s EveKwanzaa
1 2 3
4 5 6 7 8 9 10
11 12 13 14 15 16 17
18 19 20 21 22 23 24
25 26 27 28 29 30 31
International Dayof DisabledPersons (UN)
Bodhi Day
InternationalHuman Rights Day(UN)
InternationalMigrants' Day (UN)
International HumanSolidarity Day (UN)Chanukah
Winter SolsticeChanukah Chanukah Chanukah Chanukah
Christmas Day(Christian)Chanukah
Index of Holy Days
Bodhi Day (Buddhist) - December 8
Chanukah (Jewish) - December 20 - 28
International Day of Disabled Persons (UN) -December 3
International Human Rights Day (UN) - December 10
Date of Siddhartha Gautama’s realization andpresentation to fellow seekers of the Four Noble Truths.
Chanukah commemorates the victory of the Maccabeesover Hellenistic Greeks in the 2nd century before theCommon Era. This day established the principles ofreligious pluralism and acceptance of the rights ofreligious and ethnic minorities to live according totraditional ways in the context of a larger and dominantculture.
For more information, and resources related to this day,please refer to the on-line version of the calendaravailable at www.kprdsb.ca.
For more information, and resources related to this day,please refer to the on-line version of the calendaravailable at www.kprdsb.ca.
Christmas (Christian) - December 25
Kwanzaa (African-American) -December 26 - January 1
Honours the birth of Jesus Christ, who Christians believeis the Son of God.
A holiday based on the African tradition of celebratingthe harvesting of the first fruits (Kwanzaa means “first”).Kwanzaa was recreated and introduced in the U.S. byCalifornia college professor Dr. Maulana Karenga in1966. The celebration has now spread worldwide;Kwanzaa is celebrated by millions of people in Africa, theCarribean, Europe, and America.
Significant Dates
Boxing Day (Can)ChanukahKwanzaaSchools and BoardClosed
ChanukahKwanzaaSchools and BoardClosed
ChanukahKwanzaaSchools and BoardClosed
KwanzaaSchools and BoardClosed
KwanzaaSchools and BoardClosed
National Day ofRemembrance andAction on ViolenceAgainst Women(Can)White RibbonCampaign ends
World AIDS Day(UN)
International Day forthe Abolition ofSlavery (UN)
December 2011December 2011
D I S T R I C T S C H O O L B O A R D
K A W A R T H A P I N E R I D G E
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
8 9 10 11 12 13 14
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
29 30 31
Schools ClosedChristmas Day(Orthodox)
Mahayana New Year Makar Sankrant
WorldReligion Day
Martin Luther KingJr. Day
Lunar New YearRobbie BurnsDay (Scotland)
Family Literacy Day(Can)InternationalDay ofCommemorationin Memory of theVictims of theHolocaust (UN)
2011 is...
Significant Dates
International Year of Cooperatives (UN)International Year of Sustainable Energy for All (UN)
Kwanzaa (African-American) - December 26 -January 1
Lunar New Year - January 23
World Religion Day - January 15
Index of Holy Days
See December Index.
with special rituals, prayers, songs, food, and gatherings
Lunar New Year is celebrated among Chinese,Vietnamese, and Korean populations, as well as amongfollowers of Buddhism.
For more information, and resources related to this day,please refer to the on-line version of the calendaravailable at www.kprdsb.ca.
Birthday of Guru Gobind Singh (Sikh) - January 5
Epiphany (Christian) - January 6
Christmas (Orthodox) - January 7
Mahayana New Year (Buddhist) - January 9 - 12
Makar Sankrant (Hindu) - January 14
World Religion Day (Bahá’i/Multifaith) - January 15
Guru Gobind Singh instituted the five items of faith wornby Sikhs - Kesh, Kanga, Kara, Kaccha, Kirpan - andestablished the Order of the Khalsa.
Originates from a Greek word meaning “to show”,signifies the time when Jesus was revealed to the world.
See December Index.
While Buddhists all over the world celebrate the NewYear at different times, Mahayana Buddhists observe it
on the first full moon day in January.
Makar Sankrant observes the first Hindu festival of thesolar calendar year.
World Religion Day was instituted by the Bahá’icommunity in 1950 to help foster interfaith understandingand harmony.
Mahayana New Year Mahayana New Year Mahayana New Year
Birthday of GuruGobind SinghSchools Closed
EpiphanySchools Closed
Braille DaySchools ClosedSchools Closed
New Year’s DayKwanzaa
D I S T R I C T S C H O O L B O A R D
K A W A R T H A P I N E R I D G E
January 2012January 2012
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
D I S T R I C T S C H O O L B O A R D
K A W A R T H A P I N E R I D G E
1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8 9 10 11
12 13 14 15 16 17 18
19 20 21 22 23 24
26 27 28 29
White CaneWeek endsInternationalDevelopment Weekends
Valentine's Day
World Day forSocial Justice (UN)
Family Day (ON)All Schools ClosedHeritage Day (Can)Louis Riel DayMahashivratri
International MotherLanguage Day (UN)Shrove Tuesday
Ash WednesdayLent beginsLosar Losar Losar
February is...
Significant Dates
Black History Month
Milad un Nabi (Muslim) - February 3
Shrove Tuesday (Christian) - February 21
Ash Wednesday (Christian) - February 22
Losar (Buddhist) - February 22 - 24
Black History Month
Valentines Day - February 14
World Day for Social Justice (UN) - February 20
Anti-Bullying Day (Can) - February 29
Index of Holy Days
A quiet festival marking Muhammad’s birth and death.
Marks a day of penitence, cleansing the soul, and a dayof celebration before the Lent fast begins.
Commemorates a day of penitence and cleansing as theLenten season begins, observing Christ’s forty day fastin the wilderness before his crucifixion.
Tibetan New Year lasts for three days. People visitmonasteries, make offerings, and put purification at theforefront of their appearance, feasts, and rituals to driveaway evil spirits.
For more information, and resources related to this day,please refer to the on-line version of the calendaravailable at www.kprdsb.ca.
People pronounce or reaffirm their love for someoneoften by sending cards or giving gifts.
For more information, and resources related to this day,please refer to the on-line version of the calendaravailable at www.kprdsb.ca.
The last Wednesday of February is known as Anti-Bullying Day in Canada. It's also known as "Pink ShirtDay". Originally started as a protest against a bullyingincident at a Nova Scotia high school (Central KingsRural High School). On this day participants are asked towear pink to symbolize a stand against bullying.Many also recognize the Day of Pink on April 11 in asimilar way.
Paranirvana/Nirvana Day (Buddhist) - February 8
Mahashivratri (Hindu) - February 20
This festival marks the Buddha's death, enlightenment,and freedom from physical existence. The day is markedby special readings, meditations about loss,impermanence, and the newly deceased, visitingtemples or monasteries, and exchanging food, money,household items, and clothes. It is celebrated by someon February 15th.
Celebrates Shiva, one of the deities of the Hindu Trinity.
Anti-Bullying Day/Pink Shirt Day (Can)
White Cane WeekbeginsInternationalDevelopment Weekbegins
Paranirvana/Nirvana Day
Groundhog Day
ProfessionalActivity DayMilad un Nabi
Black HistoryMonth
25
February 2012February 2012
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
National AboriginalLanguage Day(Can)Earth Hour
25 26 27 28 29 30 31
InternationalWomen's Day (UN)HoliPurim
March BreakAll Schools ClosedHola MohallaHoliPurim
InternationalWomen’s Weekends (Can)
Daylight SavingsTime begins
March BreakAll Schools Closed
March BreakAll Schools Closed
March BreakAll Schools Closed
March BreakAll Schools Closed
March BreakAll Schools Closed St. Patrick’s Day
Spring EquinoxJourn e Internationalede la Francophonie
é
International Day forthe Elimination ofRacial Discrimination(UN)
Week of Solidarity with thepeoples struggling againstracism & racialdiscrimination (UN) begins
Naw-Rúz
International Day ofRemembrance ofthe Victims ofSlavery and theTransatlantic SlaveTrade (UN)
Index of Holy Days
Lent Begins (Orthodox) - March 5
Purim (Jewish) - March 8 - 9
Holi (Hindu) - March 8 - 9
Hola Mohalla (Sikh Lunar) - March 9
Naw-Rúz (Bahá'í ) - March 21
St. Patrick’s Day - March 17
International Day for the Elimination of RacialDiscrimination (UN) - March 21
Earth Hour (Global) - March 31 (8:30 - 9:30 pm)
See February Index.
Purim commemorates the salvation of the Jewishcommunity, described in the Biblical Book of Esther.
Honours creation and renewal as a spring festivalassociated with Krishna.
Holla Mohalla is the first day of a three day festival ofmock battles, together with religious discussions anddevotional music. This day reflects the Hindu festival ofHoli.
The Bahá'í new year celebrates unity, joy, and hospitalitywith a feast of seven items beginning with the letter “s”(in Persian). A great deal of time is spent with a giftexchange and attending social gatherings.
Patron saint of Ireland credited by myths with bringingChristianity to Ireland and driving the snakes out ofIreland.
For more information, and resources related to this day,please refer to the on-line version of the calendaravailable at www.kprdsb.ca.
A global event asking households and businesses toconserve energy by turning off non-essential lights andelectrical appliances for one hour. This hour raisesawareness of the need to take action on climate change.
Significant Dates
Week of Solidarityends
ProfessionalActivity Day(Secondary only)
InternationalWomen’s Weekbegins (Can)
Lent (Orthodox)begins
1 2 3
4 5 6 7 8 9 10
11 12 13 14 15 16 17
18 19 20 21 22 23 24
March 2012March 2012
D I S T R I C T S C H O O L B O A R D
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Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
Rama NavamiPalm Sunday
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
8 9 10 11 12 13 14
15 17 18 19 20 21
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
29 30
InternationalChildren’s Book DayWorld AutismAwareness Day(UN)
World HealthDay (UN)TheravadaNew YearLent endsPassover
Passover
Good/Holy Friday(Orthodox)Passover
VaisakhiPassover
Easter (Orthodox)National VolunteerWeek begins Equality Day (Can)
Birthday of GuruTegh Bahadur Yom Hashoah
National VolunteerWeek endsRidv ná
Earth Day (Can)
Ridv ná Ridv ná Ridv ná
AdministrativeProfessionals' DayRidv ná Ridván Ridv ná
Canada Book DayNational Day ofMourning forPersons Killed orInjured at Work(Can)Ridv ná
Ridv ná
April is...
Significant Dates
Earth Month (Can)
Index of Holy Days
Rama Navami (Hindu) - April 1
Palm Sunday (Christian) - April 1
Good/Holy Friday(Christian/Orthodox) - April 6 & 13
Theravada New Year (Buddhist) - April 6 - 8
Passover (Jewish) – April 7 - 14
Easter (Christian/Orthodox) - April 8 & 15
Vaisakhi (Sikh) - April 14
Birthday of Guru Tegh Bahadur (Sikh) - April 18
Yom Hashoah (Jewish) - April 19
Ridván (Bahá'í) - April 21 - May 2
The Birth of Lord Rama, an incarnation of Vishnu and thehero of the Ramayana.
Marks the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem and the start of theHoly Week
Good Friday/Holy Friday commemorates the crucifixion ofJesus Christ.
The New Year takes place on the first full moon in April forTheravada Buddhists. Themes of reflecting on one's karma,of purifying oneself, and hospitality are prevalent.
The start of the season of Passover commemorates theliberation of the Children of Israel who were led out of Egyptby Moses.
The most important Christian festival, Easter celebrates theresurrection of Jesus Christ.
Vaisakhi honours the Sikh New Year and the year thatSikhism became a collective faith with processions andhymns from the Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh holy book. It isalso spelled Baisakhi.
Guru Tegh Bahadur (1621 - 1675) was the ninth of the SikhGurus.
Yom Hashoah remembers the Holocaust and the six millionJewish people who perished. The anniversary of theWarsaw Ghetto uprising.
Ridván celebrates Bahá’u’lláh’s time in the garden of Ridvánand his announcement that he was the prophet promised bythe Báb. The most important Bahá’i festival.
Day of Pink (Can) - April 11
Equality Day (Can) - April 17
Earth Day (Can) - April 22
A day to raise awareness on diversity. A day to be openminded, accepting differences and respecting one another.
For more information, and resources related to this day,please refer to the on-line version of the calendar availableat www.kprdsb.ca.
For more information, and resources related to this day,please refer to the on-line version of the calendar availableat www.kprdsb.ca.
Ridv ná
EasterTheravadaNew YearPassover
All Schools ClosedEaster MondayPassover Passover
Day of PinkPassover
All Schools ClosedGood/Holy FridayTheravadaNew Year
RefugeeRights Day (Can)
16
April 2012April 2012
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Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10 11 12
13 14 15 16 17 18 19
20 21 22 23 24 25 26
27 28 29 30 31
Ridv ná
South Asian ArrivalDay (ON)Wesak/Buddha Day
Education WeekEnds (ON)
International Day ofFamilies (UN)
Anti-HomophobiaDay
HiawathaPow Wow
HiawathaPow Wow
Victoria Day (Can)Schools and BoardClosedWorld Day for CulturalDiversity for Dialogueand Development (UN)Aboriginal AwarenessWeek begins
International Day forBiological Diversity(UN)
Declaration ofthe Báb Ascension Day
Africa DayAboriginalAwarenessWeek ends
NationalAccessibilityAwareness Weekbegins (ON)
ShavuotPentecost
May is...
Asian Heritage Month (ON)South Asian Heritage Month (ON)
Ridván (Bahá'í) - April 21 - May 2
Pentecost (Christian) - May 27
Index of Holy Days
See April Index.
Pentecost commemorates the descent of the Holy Spiritupon the disciples and the birth of the Christian Church.
Wesak/Buddha Day (Buddhist) - May 5
Hiawatha Pow Wow (First Nations) - May 19 - 20
Declaration of the Báb (Bahá'í) - May 23
Ascension Day (Christian/Orthodox) - May 24
Shavuot (Jewish) - May 27 - 28
Ascension of Bahá'u'lláh (Bahá'í) - May 29
Anti-Homophobia Day - May 17
The most important Buddhist Festival, Wesak celebratesthe Buddha’s birth, enlightenment, and death amongTheravada Buddhists.
A Pow Wow is a spiritual and social gathering. FirstNations peoples come together to celebrate and honourtraditions through drumming, singing, and dancing.
Starting two hours after sunset on the 22nd, the eventcelebrates the Báb's official declaration of his mission toprepare the world for God's messenger, Bahá'u'lláh.
Christians believe Christ ascended into heaven.Celebrated 40 days after Easter, Ascension marks thelast earthly appearance of Christ after His resurrection.
Marks the time when the first harvest was taken to theTemple. Also known as the Festival of Weeks.
Marks the ascension of Bahá’u’lláh, second founder ofBahá’i.
Also known as the International Day AgainstHomophobia, this day offers an opportunity for people toget together and reach out to one another. For moreinformation, and resources related to this day, pleaserefer to the on-line version of the calendar available atwww.kprdsb.ca.
Significant Dates
ShavuotAscension ofBahá'u'lláh
Education WeekBegins (ON)
World PressFreedom Day (UN)Ridv ná
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CanadianEnvironment Week(Can) begins
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NationalAccessibilityAwareness Weekends (ON)
ProfessionalActivity Day(Elementary Only)
CanadianEnvironment Week(Can) ends
Portugal Day (Can)World Day AgainstChild Labour (UN)
Martyrdom of GuruArjan DevAlderville Pow Wow
Alderville Pow WowWorld RefugeeDay (UN)
National AboriginalDay (Can)
Summer Solstice
St-Jean BaptisteDay (PQ)
June is...
National Aboriginal History Month (Can)Portuguese History & Heritage Month (Can)Senior Citizens’ Month (ON)
Pride Month (Can)
Index of Holy Days
Significant Dates
Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev (Sikh) - June 16
Alderville Pow Wow (First Nations) - June 16 - 17
Canadian Environment Week (Can) - June 3 - 9
National Aboriginal Day (Can) - June 21
St-Jean Baptiste Day (PQ) - June 24
Guru Arjan was the fifth Sikh Guru and the first Sikhmartyr. He compiled all the past Gurus’ writings into onebook, now the Sikh holy scripture, the Guru GranthSahib.
A Pow Wow is a spiritual and social gathering. FirstNations peoples come together to celebrate and honourtraditions through drumming, singing, and dancing. Visit:www.aldervillefirstnation.ca to confirm dates.
For more information, and resources related to this day,please refer to the on-line version of the calendaravailable at www.kprdsb.ca.
Celebrates Inuit, Métis, and First Nations’ cultures andheritage, coincides with the summer solstice as a time toreflect on future growth. For more information, andresources related to this day, please refer to the on-lineversion of the calendar available at www.kprdsb.ca.
The patron saint of French Canada and the distinctnature of French Canadian culture are celebrated withlively parades and parties.
A celebration of lesbian, gay, bisexual andtransgendered (LGBT) lifestyles and communities.
International Day inSupport of Victims ofTorture (UN)
Multiculturalism Day(Can)
Last InstructionalDay
ProfessionalActivity DayNon-InstructionalDay
International Day ofInnocent ChildrenVictims ofAggression (UN)
World EnvironmentDay (UN)
National HungerAwareness Day(Can)
June 2012June 2012
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Dharma Day
Ramadan Ramadan
Ramadan Ramadan Ramadan Ramadan Ramadan Ramadan
Commemoration ofthe Great Upheaval(Can)Ramadan
Ramadan
Index of Holy Days
Significant Dates
Dharma Day (Buddhist) - July 3
Martyrdom of the Báb (Bahá'í ) - July 9
Ramadan (Muslim) - July 20 - August 18
Canada Day (Can) - July 1
Dharma Day marks the beginning of the Buddha'steaching and enlightenment. Dharma day is observed asthe start of the Buddhist religion. A day of gratitudetowards the Buddha and other enlightened teachers; thefestival is celebrated with reflection and readings fromBuddhist scriptures.
This day honours the anniversary of the Báb’s executionin 1850.
Ramadan is a period of self-purification and betterment.For one month, Muslims fast daily, from dawn untilsunset. Gaining self-control and contributing to charityare central features.
Marks the anniversary of the formation of the union ofthe provinces in a federation. It is celebrated across thecountry.
Commemoration of the Great Upheaval(Can) - July 28This day recognizes the historic facts surrounding thedeportation of the Acadians between 1755 and 1763.
Ramadan Ramadan
Martyrdom of theB bá
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Canada Day
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Ramadan
International Day ofthe World’sIndigenous People(UN)Ramadan
Krishna Jayanti/JanmashtamiRamadan Ramadan
RamadanLaylat al-QadrRamadan Ramadan Ramadan Ramadan
Index of Holy Days
Significant Dates
Ramadan (Muslim) - July 20 - August 18
Krishna Jayanti/Janmashtami (Hindu) - August 10
Laylat al-Qadr (Muslim) - August 15
Eid ul-Fitr (Muslim) - August 19
Hiroshima Day (UN) - August 6
Ramadan is a period of self-purification and betterment.For one month, Muslims fast daily, from dawn untilsunset. Gaining self-control and contributing to charityare central features.
This festival marks the birth of Krishna, the mostvenerated God in Hinduism.
Also known as the Night of Power, marks the night onwhich the Qur’an was first revealed to the ProphetMuhammad by Allah.
Eid ul-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan. The Festival ofBreaking the Fast is a time of great celebration.
On August 6, 1964 the first atomic bomb was droppedon the Japanese city of Hiroshima. Today, peoplerecognize this event with special vigils and marches forpeace.
Ramadan
Civic Day (ON)Hiroshima Day (UN)Ramadan Ramadan Ramadan
Ramadan RamadanRamadan
Ramadan
International YouthDay (UN)Ramadan
World HumanitarianDay (UN)Eid ul-Fitr
International Day forthe Remembrance ofthe Slave Trade andits Abolition (UN)
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Labour DaySchools and BoardClosed
International Day ofDemocracy (UN)
Curve LakePow Wow
Curve LakePow Wow
Index of Holy Days
Rosh Hashanah (Jewish) - September 17 - 18
Ganesh Chaturthi (Hindu) - September 19
Curve Lake Pow Wow (First Nations) -September 22 - 23
Rosh Hashanah celebrates New Year as harvest ends.It is a time for reflection and self-assessment for thecommunity and for individuals as well as a time forpromoting universal peace and well- being.
This is a celebration of the birth of Lord Ganesh, theelephant-headed God known as the Remover ofObstacles.
A Pow Wow is a spiritual and social gathering. FirstNations peoples come together to celebrate and honourtraditions through drumming, singing, and dancing.
Significant Dates
International Day of Peace (UN) - September 21For more information, and resources related to this day,please refer to the on-line version of the calendaravailable at www.kprdsb.ca.
Autumn Equinox
Rosh Hashanah Rosh Hashanah Ganesh ChaturthiInternational Dayof Peace (UN)
InternationalLiteracy Day (UN)
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September 2012September 2012
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