As part of our Multi-Year Plan, The Halton District School Board (HDSB) is
committed to championing supportive and inclusive practices to ensure equitable access to positive opportunities and outcomes for all.
Through the Department of Indigenous Rights and Education, Human Rights, Equity & Inclusive Education and consultations with the Interfaith Council of Halton and other community stakeholders, the following list of religious and creed-based observances has been established.
The below list of Religious and Creed Observances is a living document as we continue to review feedback from students, parents/guardians, staff and community stakeholders. It includes dates through August 2025. While it identifies days of significance, it should not be viewed as an exhaustive or authoritative account of all creed and religious needs. We invite community members to refer to the Board Calendar of Events to view all dates recognized by the HDSB.
The following
religions and creeds are represented in this list:
- Bahá’i Faith
- Buddhism
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Christianity
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Confucianism
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Daoism
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Hinduism
-
Indigenous
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Islam
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Jainism
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Judaism
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Rastafarianism
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Shintoism
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Sikhism
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Wicca/Paganism
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Zoroastrianism
HDSB 2024-2025 School Year Religious and Creed Observances
Please note: Dates may vary by a day or two due to the lunar calendar.
Days of significance that may begin observance the evening before are indicated with an asterisk(*).
Bahá’i Faith
- November 2, 2024 - Birth of the Bá’b
- November 3, 2024 - Birth of Bahá’u’lláh
- November 25, 2024 - Day of the Covenant
- November 27, 2024 - Ascension of 'Abdu'l-Bahá
- January 19, 2025 - World Religion Day
- February 25-28, 2025 - Ayyám-i-Há (Intercalary Days)
- March 20, 2025 - Naw-Rúz (Bahá’í and Persian New Year)
- April 20, 2025 - First Day of Ridván
- April 28-29, 2025 - Ninth Day of Ridván
- April 30 - May 1, 2025 - Twelfth Day of Ridván
- May 23, 2025 - Declaration of the Bá’b
- May 27-28, 2025 - Ascension of Bahá’u’llah
- July 9, 2025 - Martyrdom of the Bá’b
Buddhism
- September 19-25, 2024 - Mid-Autumn Festival
- October 17, 2024 - Kathina Festival/Paváraná Day
- November 22, 2024 - Descending Day of Lord Buddha
- January 29, 2025 - Lunar New Year
- February 2, 2025 - Setsubun
- February 12, 2025 - Māgha Pūjā Day
- February 15, 2025 - Nirvana Day
- February 28 - March 2, 2025 - Losar Tibetan New Year
- March 28, 2025 - Kuan Yin Birthday
- April 13, 2025 - Theravada New Year (3 Days Before First Full Moon in April)
- April 14, 2025 - Sinhalese & Tamil New Year
- May 12, 2025 - Vesak (Wesak) Day
- May 12, 2025 - Visakha Puja - Buddha Day
- July 10, 2025 - Asalha Puja Day (Dhamma Day)
- July 10, 2025 - Guru Purnima Day
Christianity
- September 8, 2024 - Nativity of Mary
- September 11, 2024 - Coptic New Year - Feast of Nayrouz
- September 11, 2024 - Ethiopian New Year
- September 14, 2024 - Holy Cross Day
- September 27, 2024 - Elevation of the Cross
- November 1, 2024 - All Saints Day
- November 21, 2024 - Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- December 1-24, 2024 - Advent
- December 25, 2024 - Christmas Day
- January 5, 2025 - Twelfth Night
- January 6, 2025 - Feast of the Epiphany/Dia de los Reyes (Three Kings Day)
- January 7, 2025 - Orthodox Christmas Day (Julian Calendar) Feast of the Nativity of Christ
- January 12, 2025 - Baptism of Jesus
- January 14, 2025 - Orthodox New Year’s Day
- January 27, 2025 - St. Sava Devine Day
- March 5, 2025 - Ash Wednesday (1st Day of Lent)
- April 18, 2025 - Good Friday (Gregorian Calendar)
- April 18, 2025 - Orthodox Holy Friday
- April 20, 2025 - Easter Sunday (Gregorian Calendar)
- April 20, 2025 - Orthodox Easter Sunday
- April 21, 2025 - Easter Monday (Gregorian Calendar)
- April 21, 2025 - Orthodox Easter Monday
- April 25, 2025 - Feast of St. Mark
- May 29, 2025 - Ascension Day
- June 8, 2025 - Pentecost
- June 24, 2025 - Nativity of St. John the Baptist
- August 29, 2025 - Martyrdom of St. John the Baptist
Daoism
- January 29, 2025 - Lunar New Year
Hinduism
- September 7, 2024 - Ganesh Chaturthi
- October 3-12, 2024 - Navratri
- October 9-13, 2024 - Durga Puja
- October 12, 2024 - Dussehra/Vijayadashami
- October 20, 2024 - Karva Chauth
- October 31 - November 1, 2024 - Diwali
- January 10, 2025 - Pausha Putrada Ekadashi
- January 13, 2025 - Lohri
- January 14, 2025 - Makar Sankranti
- January 14-17, 2025 - Thai Pongal
- February 2, 2025 - Vasant Panchami
- March 14, 2025 - Holi
- April 6, 2025 - Shri/Rama Navami
- April 12, 2025 - Hanuman Jayanti
- April 14, 2025 - Sinhalese & Tamil New Year
- April 14, 2025 - Baisakhi/Vaisakhi
- April 14, 2025 - Mesha Sankranti (Solar New Year)
- April 30, 2025 - Akshaya Tritiya
- May 2, 2025 - Adi Shankaracharya Jayanti
- August 9, 2025 - Raksha Bandhan
- August 16, 2025 - Krishna Janmashtami
Indigenous
- September 19, 2024 - Powley Day
- September 30, 2024 - National Day of Truth and Reconciliation
- September 30, 2024 - Orange Shirt Day
- November 7, 2024 - Inuit Day
- November 8, 2024 - National Indigenous Veterans’ Day
- November 16, 2024 - Louis Riel Day
- June 21, 2025 - National Indigenous Peoples Day
- August 9, 2025 - International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples
Islam
- September 16, 2024 - Mawlid al-Nabi* (Prophet’s Birthday)
- October 12 - Birthday of Imam Aga Khan (Salgirah)
- January 27, 2025 - Isra’a and Miraj
- January 31, 2025 - Sha’ban
- February 4 - Imamat Day
- March 1-30, 2025 - Ramadan
- March 27, 2025 - Laylat al-Qadr
- March 28, 2025 - Jumu’atul-Wida
- March 30-31, 2025 - Eid al-Fitr*
- June 4-9, 2025 - Hajj
- June 5-6, 2025 - Waqf al Arafa
- June 6-10, 2025 - Eid al Adha
- June 26, 2025 - Al-Hijra New Year
- July 5-6, 2025 - Ashura
Jainism
- September 16, 2024 - Anant Chaturdashi*
- October 31 - November 1, 2024 - Diwali
- November 6, 2024 - Gyana Panchami
- July 10, 2025 - Guru Purnima Day
- August 9, 2025 - Raksha Bandhan
- August 20, 2025 - Paryushan Parva
Judaism
- October 3-4, 2024 - Rosh Hashanah*
- October 11-12, 2024 - Yom Kippur*
- October 16-23, 2024 - Sukkot*
- October 23-25, 2024 - Shemini Atzeret*
- October 25, 2024 - Simchat Torah*
- December 25, 2024 - January 2, 2025 - Hanukkah (Festival of Lights)
- February 12-13, 2025 - Tu B’Shevat
- March 13-14, 2025 - Purim
- April 12-20, 2025 - Pesach/Passover
- April 23-24, 2025 - Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day)
- June 2-3, 2025 - Shavuot*
- August 3, 2025 - Tisha B’av
Rastafarianism
- September 11, 2024 - Ethiopian New Year
- November 2, 2024 - Crowning of Emperor Haile Selassie
- April 21, 2025 - Grounation Day
- July 16, 2025 - Ethiopian Constitution Day
- July 23, 2025 - Birthday of Emperor Haile Selassie
- August 17, 2025 - Marcus Garvey’s Birthday
Sikhism
- September 1, 2024 - Installation of the Holy Scriptures of Guru Granth Sahib Ji
- October 20, 2024 - Gurgadi of the Holy Scriptures of Guru Granth Sahib Ji as Guru
- November 1, 2024 - Bandi Chhor Divas
- November 15, 2024 - Birthday of Guru Nanak Dev Sahib
- November 24, 2024 - Martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur
- January 13, 2025 - Lohri
- January 14, 2025 - Maghi
- January 17, 2025 - Guru Gobind Singh Ji Birthday
- March 14-16, 2025 - Hola Mohalla
- March 14, 2025 - Chet (Sikh New Year)
- March 30, 2025 - Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev Ji*
- April 14, 2025 - Baisakhi/Vaisakhi
Wicca/Paganism
- September 22, 2024 - Mabon (Autumn Equinox)
- November 1, 2024 - Samhain*
- December 21, 2024 - Yule – Winter Solstice
- February 1, 2025 - Imbolc
- March 20, 2025 - Ostara (Spring Equinox)
- May 1, 2025 - Beltane
- June 20, 2025 - Litha/Summer Solstice
- August 1, 2025 - Lughnasadh/Lammas
Zoroastrianism
- October 2, 2024 - Megregan
- December 26, 2024 - Zarathosht Diso (Death of Prophet Zarathushtra)
- January 30, 2025 - Jashan-e-Sadeh
- March 26, 2025 - Khordad Sal (Birth of Prophet Zarathushtra)