Days of Significance
What are Days of Significance
Days of significance" is an umbrella term for a rich tapestry of important dates and observances. From religious holidays to historical commemorations, cultural celebrations, and awareness campaigns, these moments carry profound meaning for individuals and communities alike. Some are recognized as official holidays around the world, while others have grown from grassroots advocacy into vital opportunities for connection and reflection.
These days resonate differently across the University of Alberta's diverse community, offering moments to celebrate, educate, and engage.
While the Office of Access, Community, and Belonging provides a Google Calendar highlighting awareness dates, it doesn’t maintain a comprehensive multifaith or multicultural calendar. For deeper insights into approaching days of significance, we encourage you to explore external resources to enrich your understanding and engagement with these important occasions.
Government of Canada
This calendar includes culturally significant dates and periods of awareness in Canada.
Government of Alberta
This calendar includes provincial holidays, cultural, religious and civically significant dates and periods.
United Nations-recognized
This calendar includes UN-recognized International Days and Weeks, including information on related resolutions.
World Factbook
This resource from the CIA is a list of national days and days of independence or significance.
Egale
This is organization lists Canadian and International days and periods of awareness and significance for the LGBTQ2+ community.
Access, Community + Belonging’s Days of Awareness Calendar
Subscribe to the Access, Community and Belonging’s Days of Awareness Google Calendar.
Supporting Observation
Ramadan
Ramadan is a holy month for Muslims that is observed once a year and occurs during the ninth month of the Islamic Calendar.
Speaking with an instructor
The University of Alberta supports religious accommodations. To learn more about the process, please visit the Academic Support Centre Website.
Inheritance of a Western Calendar
The University of Alberta academic and operational calendar is based on the Gregorian calendar with roots in Western European Christianity. This means that holiday periods have been inherited from this tradition including time off on Good Friday and Easter Monday, an extended winter break around Christmas and less student traffic based around summer. Globally, not all cultures use the Gregorian calendar, or even a lunar calendar.