April 2026: Multicultural & Human Rights Calendar – Glen Gower | Councillor / Conseiller | Stittsville

La version française suit 

We publish a monthly calendar listing the main commemorative dates of different religions and cultures, as well as important dates related to the strengthening of human rights and diversity. If you have comments or suggestions for dates to add to the calendar, please contact glen.gower@ottawa.ca.

Month-long observances:

• Arab American Heritage Month
• Autism Awareness Month
• National Volunteer Month

Important dates:

Yazidi New Year (April 1)
Also known as Sere Sal, this festival is celebrated by the Yazidi, a community with ancient roots across the Middle East. This day marks the beginning of a new year. On this day, they gather at sacred sites, perform religious rituals inviting blessings into their upcoming year, and perform traditional dances. It is a time of hope and unity while honouring their cultural identity throughout the world.

Passover (April 1 – 9) – Jewish
Passover, also known as Pesach in Hebrew, is one of the major and most sacred celebrations in Jewish tradition, commemorating the Israelites’ Exodus from Egypt.

Maundy Thursday (April 2) – Christian
Maundy Thursday is a Christian observance in Canada. The day, also known as Holy Thursday, occurs during the Holy Week and falls on the Thursday before Good Friday. It commemorates Jesus Christ’s last supper and the initiation of the Eucharist, which is observed in many Christian churches.

World Autism Awareness Day (April 2)
A day to celebrate diversity and promote the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities, including learning differences and developmental disabilities. This year’s observance focuses on the contribution of autistic people at home, at work, in the arts and in policymaking.

Good Friday (April 3) – Christian
This is a Christian holiday commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus and resurrection of Jesus.

Holy Saturday (April 4) – Christian
Holy Saturday falls between Good Friday and Easter Sunday in Canada. It commemorates the day when Jesus Christ lay in the tomb after his death, according to the Christian bible. It is also known as Easter Eve.

Easter Sunday (April 5) – Christian
The commemoration of Jesus’ resurrection.

Easter Monday (April 6) – Christian
Easter Monday is the day after Easter Sunday, which commemorates Jesus Christ’s resurrection, according to the Christian Bible.  

Tartan Day (April 6) – Scottish
Tartans of all varieties are worn on Tartan Day, which recognizes and celebrates the contributions of Scots and their descendants in Canada on April 6.

National Day of Silence (LGBTQ+) (April 10)
Day of Silence is observed every year on the second Friday of April. This observance is led especially by the student community to bring awareness to the bullying of lesbian, bisexual, gay, and transgender students. On this day, they vow to be silent for the whole day as a symbolic representation of the silencing of the LGBTQ+ community. 

International Day of Pink – Anti-Bullying (April 12)
It is a Canadian anti-bullying awareness campaign held on the second Wednesday of April. On this day, people are encouraged to wear an item of pink clothing to raise awareness of bullying, discrimination, homophobia, and transphobia. 

Yom HaShoah (April 13) – Jewish
Many Canadians observe Yom Hashoah, which is also known as Holocaust Remembrance Day. It commemorates the lives and heroism of Jewish people who died in the Holocaust between 1933 and 1945. 

Vaisakhi (April 14) – Sikh
Vaisakhi is a spring festival and a day to celebrate 1699 – the year when Sikhism was born as a collective faith.

Start of Ridvan (April 20) – Baha’i
The First Day of Ridván is an important Baha’i holiday. Riá¸ván is a twelve-day festival that celebrates the beginnings of the Bahá’í Faith.

Lesbian Visibility Week (April 20)
Launched in Montreal in 1982, Lesbian Visibility Day paved the way for its celebration in several Latin American and European countries. Lesbian Visibility Week 2026 will be celebrated April 20 to April 26, 2026, and will highlight the theme of Health and Wellbeing, using the hashtag #LVW26.

St. George’s Day (April 23) – Christian
St George’s Day commemorates the life of St George, a Roman soldier and Christian martyr.  

St. Mark’s Day (April 25)
A feast day that honors Saint Mark the Evangelist, one of the four Gospel writers and celebrates his contributions to early Christianity and his writings about the life and teachings of Jesus Christ.

Ninth Day of Ridvan (April 29) – Baha’i
The day on which Bahá’u’lláh’s family joined Him in the Garden of Ridván.

April 2026 Multicultural and Human Rights Calendar

We publish a monthly calendar listing the main commemorative dates of different religions and cultures, as well as important dates related to strengthening human rights and diversity. If you have any comments on this or suggestions for dates to add to the calendar, please emailglen.gower@ottawa.ca.

Celebrations throughout the month

• Arab American Heritage Month
• Autism Awareness Month
• National Volunteer Month

important dates

Palm Sunday (March 29) – Christianity
Many Christians in Canada commemorate the triumphal entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, which marks the start of Holy Week. This day is also the Sunday before Easter Sunday.

Yezidi news (1^is avril)
Also called Serê Sal, this festival is celebrated by the Yazidis, a community with ancient roots throughout the Middle East. This day marks the start of the new year. For the occasion, Yazidis gather in sacred places, engage in religious rituals to bless the new year and perform traditional dances. Hope and solidarity are at the heart of this global celebration of Yazidi cultural identity.

Jewish Passover (from 1^er au April 9) – Judaism
Passover, also known as Passover in Hebrew, is one of the most important and sacred celebrations in Jewish tradition, commemorating the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt.

Maundy Thursday (April 2) – Christianity
Maundy Thursday is a Christian holiday in Canada. This is celebrated during Holy Week and falls on the Thursday before Good Friday. It commemorates the last supper of Jesus Christ and the initiation to the Eucharist, which is practiced in many Christian churches.

World Autism Awareness Day (April 2)
A day to celebrate diversity and promote the rights and wellbeing of people with disabilities, including learning differences and developmental disabilities. This year, we are particularly highlighting the contributions of autistic people at home, at work, in the arts and in policy development.

Good Friday (April 3) – Christianity
It is a Christian holiday commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus and his resurrection.

Holy Saturday (April 4) – Christianity
Holy Saturday falls between Good Friday and Easter Sunday in Canada. It commemorates the day Jesus Christ lay in the tomb after his death, according to the Christian Bible. We also speak of “Easter Eve”.

Easter Sunday (April 5) – Christianity
The commémoration of the résurrection of Jésus.

Easter Monday (April 6) – Christianity
Easter Monday follows Easter Sunday, which commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ according to the Bible. 

Tartan Day (April 6) – Scotland
Tartans of all kinds are worn on this day which celebrates the contributions of the Scots and their descendants to Canada on April 6.

National day of silence (April 10) – LGBTQ+
The day of silence is observed each year on the second Friday in April. It is especially marked by the student community with the aim of raising awareness of the bullying that LGBTQ+ students experience. On this day, young people commit to remaining silent throughout the day to symbolize the marginalization of the LGBTQ+ community. 

International Pink Day (April 12) – fight against bullying
This is a Canadian anti-bullying initiative that takes place on the second Wednesday in April. All Canadians are invited to wear pink for this awareness campaign against bullying, discrimination, homophobia and transphobia. 

Yom HaShoah (13 avril) – judaïsme
Many people in Canada observe Yom Hashoah, also known as Holocaust Remembrance Day. It commemorates the lives and heroism of the Jews who perished during the Holocaust between 1933 and 1945. 

Vaisakhi (April 14) – Sikhism
Vaisakhi is a spring festival and a day celebrating the year 1699, the year Sikhism was born as a collective faith.

Debut of Ridvn (20 April) – bahaïsme
The first day of RiḠván is an important festival of this religion. RiḠván is a twelve-day festival that commemorates the birth of the Bahá’í Faith.

Lesbian Visibility Week (April 20)
Launched in Montreal in 1982, Lesbian Visibility Day paved the way for its celebration in several countries in Latin America and Europe. Lesbian Visibility Week 2026 will be celebrated from April 20 to 26, 2026 and will highlight the theme of health and well-being, using the hashtag #SVL26.

Saint-Georges (23 April) – Christianity
Commemoration of the life of Saint-Georges, Roman soldier and Christian martyr. 

Fête de saint Marc (25 avril)
A holiday that honors Saint Mark the Evangelist, one of the four authors of the Gospels, and celebrates his contributions to early Christianity as well as his writings on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ.

Neuvième jour du Ridván (29 avril) – bahaïsme
Commemorates the day when Bahá’u’lláh’s family joined Him in the Garden of Ridván.