Acknowledging holidays and celebrations in June

In June, we acknowledge Filipino Heritage Month, Portuguese Heritage Month, Shavuot, Eid-ul-Adha, Father’s Day and the Nativity of St. John the Baptist. Read more about each holiday/celebration below, written by members of our Inclusivity, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility (IDEA) Committee.

Filipino Heritage Month

Filipino Heritage Month, celebrated each June in Canada, honours the history, culture, achievements and contributions of the Filipino community. It is one of the largest and fastest-growing immigrant groups in the country. Officially recognized by the Canadian Parliament in 2018, the month promotes multiculturalism, inclusivity and understanding across the country.

As of the 2021 Census, more than 900,000 people of Filipino descent live in Canada. Filipino Canadians play a vital role in key sectors such as health care, construction, engineering, hospitality and public service. The month acknowledges their economic, social and cultural contributions in fields including education, business and the arts.

Filipino Heritage Month encourages pride in cultural traditions, languages and values. It empowers the community by providing a platform for Filipino voices and talents while promoting intercultural understanding and appreciation within broader Canadian society.

Celebrations take place throughout June and include cultural festivals featuring traditional food, music and dance as well as community gatherings, parades and art exhibits. Educational events, forums on Filipino history and immigration and recognition ceremonies honouring Filipino Canadian leaders and pioneers are also held across the country.

Portuguese Heritage Month

Portuguese Heritage Month, celebrated every June in Canada, honours the rich history, culture and contributions of Portuguese Canadians. Recognized nationally since 2010, the month highlights the important role Portuguese immigrants and their descendants have played in building Canadian communities and shaping the country’s multicultural identity. Through cultural festivals, educational events and community gatherings, Portuguese Heritage Month promotes awareness and appreciation of Portuguese traditions, language and achievements across Canada.

Shavuot: June 1

Shavuot, a two-day holiday celebrated from sunset on June 1 until nightfall on June 3, coincides with the date the Torah was given to the Jewish people at Mount Sinai more than 3,000 years ago. Preceded by 49 days of eager counting, Shavuot is celebrated through refraining from work, candle-lit dinners, staying up all night to study Torah, listening to the reading of the Ten Commandments in synagogue and enjoying dairy foods and other festivities.

The word Shavuot, or Shavuos, means weeks. It celebrates the completion of the seven-week Omer counting period between Passover and Shavuot.

Eid-ul-Adha: June 6

Eid-ul-Adha, also known as the Festival of Sacrifice, is an important Islamic holiday celebrated by Muslims around the world. It commemorates the willingness of the prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God. The holiday is marked by prayers, charitable giving and the ritual sacrifice of an animal, with the meat shared among family, friends and those in need. In Canada, Eid-ul-Adha is a time for communities to come together in celebration, reflection and generosity.

Father’s Day: June 15

Father’s Day is believed to have been first celebrated in Canada around 1908 but was not officially recognized until the 1950s. In the early 1920s, a woman named Sonora Smart Dodd from Spokane, Washington, wanted to create a day to honour her father, William Jackson Smart, a single parent who raised her and her siblings. The idea spread to other countries and by the 1920s Father’s Day had become a popular celebration in North America.

In 1977 Father’s Day was made an official holiday in Canada. Although it is not a statutory holiday, it remains an important occasion for Canadians to celebrate their fathers or the men in their lives who have held the status of a father, a role model who guides and protects or a special person who deserves to be recognized with love, gratitude and appreciation.

Some great ways to celebrate Father’s Day:

Family gatherings

Perhaps a backyard barbecue, a picnic or a favourite restaurant may be a great way to celebrate. Some fathers may enjoy outdoor activities like a family baseball game, golf or even pickleball. A walk in nature, fishing or camping could be a great way to spend time together. As long as it is with the family, it can be a wonderful day creating memories.

Thoughtful gifts

Gifts don’t need to be expensive or flashy. Some of the most wonderful gifts a father could receive are those from the heart:

• Handmade treasures such as cards, pictures or artwork, a hand-painted mug
• A framed photo of family, his kids, grandkids or the whole family
• If he is a sports fan, a baseball glove, golf balls or a badminton set
• A book, movie or magazine
• Prepare his favourite homemade meal
• A handwritten letter is always a nice gift for someone special

Father’s Day is a celebration of the bond between fathers and their children, one that lasts a lifetime. It highlights the importance of strong families in Canadian society. By celebrating fathers and fatherhood, the holiday reinforces the idea that families are built on mutual respect, love and support.

The Nativity of St. John the Baptist: June 24

The Nativity of St. John the Baptist is celebrated each year on June 24. It marks the birth of John the Baptist, a key figure in Christianity who is known for baptizing Jesus and preparing the way for his ministry. The feast day is observed by many Christian communities around the world with special church services, prayers and sometimes processions. It is one of the few saints’ birthdays celebrated in the Christian calendar and holds significant religious importance as a time to reflect on John’s role as a prophet and his message of repentance.