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 September 2023 and will be updated to include dates through December 2023 in the coming weeks. 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
-
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 2023 School Year Days of Significance
Bahá’i Faith
- January 15, 2023 -
World Religion Day
- February 26, 2023 - March 01, 2023 -
Ayyám-i-Há (Intercalary Days)
- March 21, 2023 -
Naw-Rúz Bahá’i New Year
- April 21, 2023 -
First Day of Ridván
- April 29, 2023 -
Ninth Day of Ridván
- May 2, 2023 -
Twelfth Day of Ridván
- May 24, 2023 -
Declaration of the Bá’b
- May 29, 2023 -
Ascension of Bahá’u’llah
- July 10, 2023 -
Martyrdom of the Bá’b
- October 16, 2023 - Birth of the Bá’b
- October 17, 2023 - Birth of Bahá’u’lláh
- November 26, 2023 - Day of the Covenant
- November 28, 2023 - Ascension of 'Abdu'l-Bahá
Buddhism
- January 22, 2023 -
Lunar New Year
- February 3, 2023 -
Setsubun
- February 15, 2023 -
Nirvana Day
- February 21, 2023 -
Losar Tibetan New Year
- March 6, 2023 -
Māgha Pūjā Day
- March 10, 2023 -
Kuan Yin Birthday
- April 6-8 -
Theravada New Year
- May 5, 2023 - Vesak (Wesak) Day
- July 3, 2023 -
Asalha Puja Day (Dhamma Day)
- July 3, 2023 -
Guru Purnima Day
- August 13-15 -
Obon (Bon Festival - Ulambana)
- November 4, 2023 -
Descending Day of Lord Buddha
Christianity
- January 05, 2023 -
Twelfth Night
- January 06, 2023 -
Feast of the Epiphany/Dia de los Reyes (Three Kings Day)
- January 07, 2023 -
Orthodox Christmas Day (Julian Calendar) Feast of the Nativity of Christ
- January 08, 2023 -
Baptism of Jesus
- January 14, 2023 -
Orthodox New Year’s Day
- January 27, 2023 -
St. Sava Devine Day
- February 22, 2023 -
Ash Wednesday (1st Day of Lent)
- April 07, 2023 -
Good Friday (Gregorian Calendar)
- April 09, 2023 -
Easter Sunday (Gregorian Calendar)
- April 14, 2023 -
Orthodox Holy Friday
- April 16, 2023 -
Orthodox Easter Sunday
- April 17, 2023 -
Orthodox Easter Monday
- April 25, 2023 - Feast of St. Mark
- May 18, 2023 -
Ascension Day
- May 28, 2023 -
Pentecost
- June 24, 2023 - Nativity of St. John the Baptist
- August 29, 2023 -
Martyrdom of St. John the Baptist
- September 08, 2023 -
Nativity of Mary
- September 11, 2023 - Coptic New Year - Feast of Nayrouz
- September 12, 2023 -
Ethiopian New Year
- September 14, 2023 - Holy Cross Day
- September 27, 2023 -
Elevation of the Cross
- November 01, 2023 -
All Saints Day
- November 21, 2023 -
Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- December 3-24, 2023 -
Advent
- December 25, 2023 -
Christmas Day
Daoism
- January 22, 2023 - Lunar New Year
Hinduism
- January 02, 2023 -
Pausha Putrada Ekadashi
- January 13, 2023 -
Lohri
- January 14-17, 2023 -
Thai Pongal
- January 15, 2023 -
Makar Sankranti
- January 26, 2023 -
Vasant Panchami
- March 08, 2023 -
Holi
- March 30, 2023 -
Shri/Rama Navami
- April 06, 2023 - Hanuman Jayanti
- April 14, 2023 -
Baisakhi/Vaisakhi
- April 14, 2023 -
Mesha Sankranti (Solar New Year)
- April 14, 2023 - Sinhalese & Tamil New Year
- April 22, 2023 - Akshaya Tritiya
- August 30, 2023 -
Raksha Bandhan
- September 6-7, 2023 -
Krishna Janmashtami
- September 19, 2023 -
Ganesh Chaturthi
- October 15-24, 2023 -
Navratri
- October 20-24, 2023 -
Durga Puja
- October 31- November 1, 2023 -
Karva Chauth
- November 12, 2023 -
Diwali
Indigenous
- March 31, 2023 -
National Indigenous Languages Day
- June 1, 2023 -
Beginning of National Indigenous History Month
- June 21, 2023 - National Indigenous Peoples Day
- August 9, 2023 -
International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples
- September 19, 2023 -
Powley Day
- September 30, 2023 -
National Day of Truth and Reconciliation
- September 30, 2023 -
Orange Shirt Day
- November 7, 2023 - Inuit Day
- November 8, 2023 -
National Indigenous Veterans’ Day
- November 16, 2023 -
Louis Riel Day
Islam
- February 18, 2023 -
Isra’a and Miraj
- February 22, 2023 - March 22, 2023 -
Sha’ban
- March 22, 2023 - April 20, 2023 -
Ramadan
- April 17, 2023 -
Laylat al-Qadr
- April 21, 2023 - Jumu’atul-Wida
- April 21, 2023 -
Eid al-Fitr
- June 26, 2023 - July 1, 2023 -
Hajj
- June 28, 2023 -
Waqf al Arafa
- June 26, 2023 - July 2, 2023 -
Eid al-Adha
- July 11, 2023 -
Imamat Day
- July 19, 2023 -
Al-Hijra New Year
- July 28, 2023 -
Ashura
- September 27, 2023 -
Mawlid al-Nabi (Prophet’s Birthday)
- December 13, 2023 -
Birthday of Imam Aga Khan (Salgirah)
Jainism
- July 3, 2023 -
Guru Purnima Day
- August 30, 2023 - Raksha Bandhan
- September 11, 2023 -
Paryushan Parva
- September 28, 2023 -
Anant Chaturdashi
- November 12, 2023 -
Diwali
- November 18, 2023 -
Gyana Panchami
Judaism
- February 5-6, 2023 -
Tu B’Shevat
- March 6-7, 2023 -
Purim
- April 5-13, 2023 -
Pesach/Passover
- April 17, 2023 - April 18, 2023 -
Yom HaShoah
- April 25-27, 2023 -
Shavuot
- July 26, 2023 - July 27, 2023 -
Tisha B’av
- September 7-8, 2023 - Shemini Atzeret
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September 11, 2023 -
Paryushan Parva
- September 15-16, 2023 - Rosh Hashanah
- September 24-25, 2023 - Yom Kippur
- September 28, 2023 - Anant Chaturdashi
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September 29, 2023 - October 6, 2023 - Sukkot
- October 7-8, 2023 -
Simchat Torah
- December 7-15, 2023 -
Hanukkah (Festival of Lights)
Rastafarianism
- April 21, 2023 -
Grounation Day
- July 16, 2023 -
Ethiopian Constitution Day
- July 23, 2023 -
Birthday of Emperor Haile Selassie
- August 17, 2023 -
Marcus Garvey’s Birthday
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September 12, 2023 -
Ethiopian New Year
- November 2, 2023 -
Crowning of Emperor Haile Selassie
Shintoism
- February 3, 2023 -
Setsubun
- July 13-15, 2023 - Obon (Bon Festival - Ulambana)
Sikhism
- January 5, 2023 -
Guru Gobind Singh Ji Birthday
- January 13, 2023 -
Maghi
- January 13, 2023 -
Lohri
- March 8-10, 2023 -
Hola Mohalla
- March 14, 2023 -
Chet (Sikh New Year)
- April 14, 2023 -
Baisakhi/Vaisakhi
- June 16, 2023 -
Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev Ji
- September 1, 2023 -
Installation of the Holy Scriptures of Guru Granth Sahib Ji
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October 20, 2023 -
Gurgadi of the Holy Scriptures of Guru Granth Sahib Ji as Guru
- November 12, 2023 -
Bandi Chhor Divas
- November 24, 2023 -
Martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur
- November 27, 2023 -
Birthday of Guru Nanak Dev Sahib
Wicca/Paganism
- February 1-2, 2023 -
Imbolc
- March 20, 2023 -
Ostara (Spring Equinox)
- May 1, 2023 - Beltane
- June 21, 2023 - Litha/Summer Solstice
- August 1, 2023 -
Lughnasadh/Lammas
- September 23, 2023
- Mabon (Autumn Equinox)
- November 1, 2023 -
Samhain
- December 22, 2023 - January 1, 2024 -
Yule (Winter Solstice)
Zoroastrianism
- January 30, 2023 -
Jashan-e-Sadeh
- March 26, 2023 -
Khordad Sal (Birth of Prophet Zarathushtra)
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December 26, 2023 -
Zarathosht Diso (Death of Prophet Zarathushtra)