Awareness Days

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.

June 23 is International Dravet Syndrome Awareness Day. This day gives families affected by Dravet Syndrome a chance to share stories, build support and increase public knowledge about this rare form of childhood epilepsy. This syndrome is associated with a genetic mutation, primarily in the SCN1A gene, a sodium channel receptor. Dravet Syndrome is a spectrum, affecting individuals with different outcomes depending on gene mutation. Classic signs and symptoms include children presenting with the onset of seizures before their first birthday, with long-lasting initial seizures, often triggered by illness. Individuals with Dravet Syndrome are diagnosed through genetic testing that observes sodium channel levels. Grandview Kids’ Peer Navigator, Jacki N., shares her family’s journey as they navigate life with Dravet Syndrome.

13-year-old Colton lives with his parents, Jacki and Chris, older brother Treston and younger siblings Jaxon and Adelaide. They enjoy travelling, watching and playing sports and birdwatching, which gives them a purpose to go on many family walks and hikes. Colton loves all sports, particularly watching hockey, baseball and soccer, the latter of which he plays. He is also fond of playing video games with his brothers, is fascinated with bubbles, loves watching Toopy and Binoo and is always ready for an adventure. Although Colton has a sweet and easy-going personality, he is also quite persistent, preferring to stick to his known routines and schedules, even after rough days or nights of experiencing multiple seizures.

Colton was diagnosed with Dravet Syndrome in April 2013, a year after his first seizure. As expected with Dravet Syndrome, he was later given a formal diagnosis of global developmental delay. Receiving the Dravet Syndrome diagnosis was an unexpected and initial shock to his parents. Later that evening, Jacki vividly recalls giving Colton a bath and looking at him, thinking “[the diagnosis] doesn’t change him; this is who Colton is,” immediately transitioning to acceptance, which they recognize can be a challenging step for parents and caregivers. Within a few weeks, Jacki began to realize the importance of receiving a formal diagnosis as it opened doors to education, treatment and connection with other families to help understand the nuances of Dravet Syndrome. “Receiving a diagnosis was more helpful than not receiving one,” as she was able to focus her research on sodium channel levels for controlling and stopping seizures.

Seizure treatment and management for those living with Dravet Syndrome typically include a ketogenic diet, cannabidiol (CBD), which is used to significantly decrease seizure activity, pharmaceutical medications and, often, as a last resort, vagus nerve stimulation (VNS). VNS is an implanted device that sends mild electrical pulses through the vagus nerve to the brain to alter nerve activity and stop seizures. Jacki’s family quickly learned about Colton’s heat trigger, a commonality among those with Dravet Syndrome, prompting them to order a cooling vest. They also initially received pushback from their medical team on a treatment plan. However, the diagnosis gave them clearance to put Colton on a ketogenic diet, which has been highly effective for his seizure management. Making necessary adjustments to his diet, such as removing fruits at dinner to increase Ketone levels or taking supplements, has proven that even minor but tailored changes are helpful.

Accessing medications currently being researched is a vital intervention for chronic illnesses like Dravet Syndrome, but they are not without risks. Colton was on a 5-year-long trial medication that required the consumption of 14 pills daily. Unfortunately, the trial medication was not approved, and he required weaning from this essential medication. This lengthy process of medication weaning over six months proved to be a challenge, especially when weaning off the last two pills, prompting approximately ten seizures a night. Although he is not back to baseline, the slow weaning process and dietary changes helped decrease the seizures to only one 30-second seizure a night.

Losing seizure control and having to administer rescue medication is frightening. “We can’t give him rescue medication every night, or else we should be in the hospital,” Jacki says. If Colton has a bad night, he must likely recover at home the next day by sitting and resting. When deciding to participate in a research trial, you must be prepared to lose control over anything related to the medication. “We cannot tweak doses and are at the mercy of those running the trial and the supplier. We depend on funding and adequate results.” Jacki also shares that Canada is behind Europe and the U.S. in trials, research and development, so even if the medication works and is approved, there may be insufficient healthcare coverage for the costs after trial completion.

Although most treatments aim to reduce the frequency of seizures, they do not address other effects of the disease and seizure control remains a challenge for the majority of those with Dravet Syndrome. Colton can walk short distances in the home and community but uses a paediatric stroller for longer distances. He can also communicate his needs and wants with few words and his body language, but the effects of his seizures are significant and long-lasting.

Grandview Kids has been part of Colton’s journey since the beginning. His family are active members of the Grandview Kids community, being members of the Family Advisory Council (FAC), Youth Advisory Council (YAC) and Family Engagement Team (FET) over the years. Colton has received necessary support through Grandview Kids’ medical, therapy and social work services. “Of all the support I received, Grandview Kids was the most impactful,” Jacki shares. “We would always go to different events since seeing other families like mine, although experiencing different problems, because it made me feel like I wasn’t alone.” Through these connections, resources and information were freely shared, introducing Colton to Challenger Baseball, inclusive programming and soccer. Jacki appreciates how Colton and her other kids would see familiar faces, feel welcomed and be exposed to children with all types of skills and abilities. She emphasizes the importance of getting involved in attending Grandview Kids events, especially those hosted by the FET. “I didn’t always want to attend, but I would always leave better,” challenging other parents and caregivers to make the time to foster community, connection and belonging.

Arthrogryposis is a lifelong condition characterized by joint contractures, most commonly affecting the arms and legs. It is often marked by stiffness and a limited range of motion. While the exact cause remains unknown, the condition is typically diagnosed in utero or at birth.

For Monjuri and her 11-year-old son Rudra, arthrogryposis is more than a diagnosis – it’s a journey of resilience, advocacy and hope. Their story is one of transformation, powered by determination and the unwavering support of Grandview Kids.

“When my son Rudra was born, his hands were on his ears, his knees were on his chest, and his foot was folded over his belly button. He looked like a flower that forgot to bloom.” – Monjuri, 2018

At her 20-week prenatal scan, Monjuri learned that Rudra had club feet. At birth, they discovered he also had contractures in his knees and elbows. What began as a moment of fear quickly turned into fierce maternal protectiveness. “There’s nothing wrong with him. This is who he is,” Monjuri recalls. She remembers thinking Rudra’s habit of sticking out his tongue was just another endearing trait, not yet knowing it was due to low muscle tone. When medical professionals told Monjuri that Rudra might never sit, crawl or walk, she refused to accept those limitations. Alongside her two daughters, she got down on the floor with Rudra, demonstrating how to crawl and cheering him on every step of the way.

Their turning point came when Rudra was referred to Grandview Kids. For the first time, Monjuri felt heard, not just told what her son could not do, but asked what he could achieve. The focus shifted from limitations to possibilities, and that shift made all the difference. At Grandview Kids, Monjuri learned how to advocate for her son. When a hospital doctor dismissed her request for knee ankle foot orthotises (KAFOs), insisting Rudra wouldn’t walk, Grandview Kids’ physiotherapy team encouraged her to fight for him. With the support of casting and KAFOs, Rudra began walking short distances without the need for mobility aids.

Rudra has since benefitted from a wide range of services at Grandview Kids, including Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Recreational Therapy, Speech-Language Pathology and has attended Grandview School. Monjuri fondly remembers how Andrea B., Grandview Kids’ Family Engagement Program Manager, helped her create an “All About Me” book. The book played a vital role in helping Rudra transition to his home school by educating teachers and classmates about his condition and the accommodations he needs.

Arthrogryposis continues to affect Rudra’s daily life. In his early years, he developed painful skin sores and underwent casting to gradually straighten his limbs – a terrifying process for both mother and son. Their Grandview Kids physiotherapist provided helpful information about Shriners Hospital in Montreal, where they self-referred, and Rudra has since undergone five major surgeries. One procedure involved inserting rings into the bones of his legs, requiring bi-monthly visits for five months to realign them. Complications during his July 2024 surgery allowed surgeons to place growth plates in only one leg. In January 2025, Rudra finally received growth plates for his right ankle, where fused kneecaps had previously prevented the procedure. Each time, Grandview Kids has been there, offering essential post-operative physiotherapy to help Rudra regain strength and mobility in a safe, supportive environment.

Now in his preteen years, Rudra is learning the power of self-advocacy. At school, he knows when to ask for help. Through Recreational Therapy at Grandview Kids, Rudra is reminded that he’s not alone. He finds comfort in knowing there are other kids navigating similar experiences and uses his story to educate and inspire his peers. “Sometimes I can’t reach things that are up on shelves or my KAFOs are locked, and I need to wait for an [Educational Assistant] to help,” he shares. His openness fosters understanding, compassion and lasting friendships. “His exceptionalities don’t stop his friends from loving him any less,” Monjuri says proudly.

Though the constant need for advocacy can be overwhelming, both Monjuri and Rudra find strength in knowing they’re not alone. Grandview Kids continues to provide the resources, therapy and even school support needed to keep them moving forward. “Even when I feel advocacy burnout,” Monjuri admits, “I can’t compromise—because I know other kids may need this help too.”

Raising a child with exceptionalities is undeniably challenging, but for Monjuri, it has been a gift.

“I feel blessed to have gone through this journey with Rudra. He is so amazing, and I wouldn’t have known this part of life and the world without him. He is my strength and my courage. When I’m tired and want to give up, I think—if Rudra can do it, I can do it twice over.”

Fifteen-year-old Nick lives with his parents, Kyle and Amanda, and his older sister, Katheryn. A quiet young man with a sharp mind and a big heart, Nick has a deep passion for wrestling. Whether it’s WWE, AEW or wrestling video games, he is a walking encyclopedia of knowledge, lighting up when sharing his insights with others. Nick also loves spending time with the family’s two dogs: a Leonberger and a Bernese Mountain Dog. But Nick’s journey has been uniquely shaped by his diagnosis of Spina Bifida, a congenital condition where the spine and spinal cord do not develop properly during pregnancy.

Amanda was 22 weeks into her pregnancy when an intensive ultrasound revealed that Nick had Spina Bifida. When asked to explain the condition, Amanda describes it simply: “The baby’s spine is like a zipper, but one tooth/chain is missing. Because of that, part of the spinal cord develops outside the body and becomes damaged.”

Their diagnosis journey, Amanda says, was like many families’ in the Spina Bifida community–one that included an offer to terminate the pregnancy. Rather than make a rushed decision, Nick’s family turned to online support groups to better understand what life with Spina Bifida could look like. While initial medical projections were grim, hearing the lived experiences of other families gave them hope. “On paper, almost every checkbox for Spina Bifida complications was there. But what no doctor can tell you is who your child is and their personality,” Amanda reflects.

Nick was born at Mt. Sinai Hospital and was immediately transferred to SickKids Hospital for surgery to close the opening in his spine, a procedure known as Myelomeningocele Repair. After two weeks of inpatient recovery, Nick was sent home, but within just two days, he developed Hydrocephalus, a common complication in which cerebrospinal fluid builds up in the brain. He returned to SickKids to receive a shunt, which helps drain the excess fluid and relieve pressure.

Spina Bifida affects each individual differently, depending on which nerves were damaged. For Nick, it primarily impacts his lower body, leading to challenges in gross motor development and bladder and bowel function. Delays in hitting developmental milestones were also due in part to trunk weakness following his back surgery. From an early age, Nick began physiotherapy at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital and was later referred to Grandview Kids, a turning point in his family’s journey.

Amanda remembers how much easier life became once Grandview Kids came into the picture. “Having all his therapies in one place, locally, was such a relief,” she says. At Grandview Kids, Nick accessed essential services like physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology and even attended Grandview School. He also participated in bike clinics, swimming lessons and many Family Engagement-led events. “It’s been easy to reach out whenever we’ve had concerns,” Amanda shares. “The physiotherapists gave us practical advice, and the occupational therapists even helped make our home more accessible for Nick.”

Raising a child with physical, communicative or developmental needs often demands parents to grow in ways they never imagined. Amanda, once a self-described timid person, has become a confident and outspoken advocate for the Spina Bifida community. She was a founding member and Director of Medical Education of Spina Bifida Families of Canada and created a national Facebook group to help other families feel supported and connected. “This journey has shown me how strong we really are,” she says.

Amanda is now focused on empowering Nick to find his own voice. She beams with pride as she talks about his growing independence and how he’s learning to express his needs, preferences and goals, which include driving, living independently and pursuing a meaningful career. “He’s more than a diagnosis,” she affirms. “It’s a joy to watch him develop into his own person.”

Spina Bifida changed their lives, but not in the way they were first led to believe. “It was scary at first,” Amanda admits. “But it’s been absolutely worth it.”

18-year-old Maddy is a vibrant and passionate young woman who pours her heart into the people and pursuits she loves. Whether spending quality time with her parents, younger brother or close friends, Maddy thrives on connection. She is a creative crafter, an adaptive para-rock climber and has been a dedicated dancer since the age of two.

Recently, Maddy completed her first year at Carleton University, where she studies cognitive science and neuroscience with the goal of becoming a paediatric Occupational Therapist. Her journey has been shaped by both passion and perseverance. She was diagnosed at 14 with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), a progressive and life-changing genetic condition that reshaped her life and worldview.

Grandview Kids has played a vital role in Maddy’s life from the beginning. As an infant, she was referred for hearing assessments and physiotherapy to address torticollis. As she grew, Maddy showed signs of joint hypermobility, frequent bruising and unexplained injuries. It wasn’t until age 13, when her symptoms dramatically worsened, that her family knew something more serious was happening. Persistent digestive issues, dizzy and fainting spells, low blood pressure and severe spine and body pain that impaired her ability to walk led them to SickKids Hospital.

At 14, Maddy was diagnosed with EDS, an inherited disorder that affects connective tissues. Her family soon discovered that her mother, grandmother and cousin also had EDS, though Maddy’s case was more severe. The condition causes joint hypermobility, skin elasticity, chronic pain and severe digestive challenges. She now uses a combination of mobility aids, including a wheelchair, walker and forearm crutches. Due to gastrointestinal complications, she suffered dysmotility (muscles and/or nerves of the digestive system not working appropriately), and she now relies on a gastrojejunostomy (GJ) tube for the majority of her nutrition. Though she can eat small amounts of food, most nourishment is delivered and drained through the tube.

To manage pain and reduce joint dislocations, Maddy wears knee-ankle-foot orthoses (KAFOs), braces on her thumb and uses therapeutic taping on her knees and shoulders. Despite the difficulties, she remains incredibly resilient.

Following her diagnosis, Grandview Kids provided Maddy with comprehensive therapy services, medical care–including dietetic and feeding clinic support–and access to social work. Physiotherapy helped manage her pain, gait and endurance challenges, while her therapy team helped secure accessible modifications at home and school. They also guided her through the process of choosing the right wheelchair to navigate her university campus independently.

Social work services played a crucial role in helping Maddy finish high school, especially during periods of illness and hospitalization. The team supported her in navigating the administrative and emotional challenges that came with chronic illness, enabling her to transition successfully into university life.

High school was a difficult time marked by frequent hospital stays, missed classes, self-learning and the loss of social experiences like dances and other milestones. Returning to school with visible medical devices and mobility aids brought a painful new reality: many peers misunderstood her condition, and some even accused her of “faking” it. This misunderstanding and stigma led to intense anxiety and feelings of isolation.

Fortunately, Maddy’s school dance program friends remained a source of strength and encouragement. They stood by her side as she relearned how to dance, supported by mobility aids. Though she could no longer jump or spin without her crutches or wheelchair, Maddy’s passion didn’t waver. Her peers learned how to help her navigate the stage and adapt choreography, embracing her as the powerful performer she has always been.

Maddy continues to pursue dance professionally in Toronto and remains active in her university’s dance community. Her journey with EDS has taught her to believe in herself and to rise above the skepticism of others. She shares this message with fellow youth living with exceptionalities:

“Be confident in yourself and experience life – even if it looks a little different.”

In May, we acknowledge Speech and Hearing Month, Paediatric Stroke Awareness Month, Mental Health Awareness Month, National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, Mental Health Awareness Week, Moyamoya Awareness Day, National Child & Youth Mental Health Day, World Lupus Day, Global Accessibility Awareness Day, Neurofibromatosis Awareness Day, Intl. Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia & Biphobia, World Cultural Diversity Day and Red Shirt Day. Read more about each date of significance below, written by members of Grandview Kids’ Inclusivity, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility (IDEA) Committee.

Speech and Hearing Month

Each May, we celebrate the important work of speech-language pathologists, audiologists and communication health assistants (CDAs) in the detection and intervention of communication disorders. The theme for 2025 is S-LPs & Audiologists: Doing More Than You Think! Speech-language pathology, audiology and communicative disorders assistant services play a vital role in supporting children with communication and hearing challenges. Early detection of communication disorders and hearing barriers helps improve a child’s ability to express needs, share joy and enhance overall health and well-being.

Paediatric Stroke Awareness Month

Each May, we celebrate Paediatric Stroke Awareness Month to raise awareness about the critical yet often overlooked issue of strokes in children. While paediatric strokes may seem rare, they affect thousands of young individuals each year and represent a growing health concern. This month-long observance aims to highlight the impact of strokes in children, stressing the importance of early recognition, diagnosis and intervention. The campaign is essential in helping both parents and healthcare professionals identify the symptoms of paediatric stroke, which can easily go unnoticed, leading to delayed treatment and potentially long-term consequences for affected children and their families.

Mental Health Awareness Month

May is Mental Health Awareness Month across Canada, a time to foster understanding and raise awareness about the importance of mental well-being. Recognizing this month helps reduce stigma and encourages those struggling to ask for help.

Mental health challenges vary widely. Some people experience periods of illness between times when they feel their best, while others face unchanging mental health states. Mental Health Awareness Month provides an opportunity for open, positive dialogue about how mental illnesses impact people and how we can increase access to necessary support.

Different people will have different strategies for maintaining positive mental health, but some popular suggestions include:

Connect with family or friends
Practice mindfulness
Spend time with a pet
Volunteer
Join a support group for challenging times
Eat well
Exercise
Practice self-gratitude
Get outside!

National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls: May 5

May 5 marks the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people (MMIWG2S), also known as Red Dress Day. Coined by Métis artist Jaime Black, the red dress is an aesthetic response to this ongoing national crisis, which is rooted in the impacts of colonization. In Canada, more than 60 per cent of Indigenous women have experienced physical or sexual assault, with the effects of this violence felt across health, wellness and access to care. In line with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s calls to action and the National Inquiry’s calls to justice, efforts continue to build research and improve outcomes for First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples.

On Red Dress Day, and every day, we honour the lives lost, support the families who carry this grief and raise awareness by wearing red, learning about MMIWG2S and participating in community events.

Mental Health Awareness Week: May 5-11

For one week each year, the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) drives awareness through its Mental Health campaign. This year’s theme is Unmasking Mental Health. Living with a mental health or substance use challenge is hard enough; masking can make it even harder. People often hide behind a “mask” to protect themselves from judgment and discrimination. But the heavier the stigma, the heavier the mask becomes, and the more isolated we feel.

Between May 5 and 11, CMHA is encouraging people across Canada to look beyond the surface and see the whole person. By embracing honesty and vulnerability, we open the door to deeper connections and the mental health benefits that come with them. In doing so, we can create a ripple effect of courage and understanding across the country. To better understand what CMHA is promoting during this annual campaign, you can read their fact sheet on “What is Masking?“

CMHA shares the impacts of masking:

It’s exhausting. Suppressing emotions takes a toll, adding stress and increasing the risk of burnout.
It creates disconnection. Frequent masking can lead to isolation, strained relationships and a loss of self-identity.
It prevents help-seeking behaviours. Fear of judgment can stop employees from accessing the support they need.

Are you experiencing a mental health crisis? If you or someone you know is in immediate crisis or has suicide-related concerns, call or text 9-8-8 toll-free, anytime, for support in English or French.

Call or text 9-8-8 toll-free, anytime for support in English or French.

Kids Help Phone can also support you:

Call 1-800-668-6868 (24/7)
Text CONNECT to 686868.
Live Chat (7 p.m. to midnight ET)
kidshelpphone.ca

Moyamoya Awareness Day: May 6

Moyamoya is a rare condition that affects the arteries in the brain. The walls of these arteries thicken, narrow and may become blocked, increasing the risk of stroke. In response, the brain may form small new blood vessels to compensate, which appear like a “puff of smoke” on brain scans — the meaning of the word moyamoya in Japanese. Treatment options are limited though surgery may sometimes help restore blood flow. When the condition occurs without an underlying cause, it is called moyamoya disease. If it develops as a result of another condition such as sickle cell disease, thyroid disease or Down syndrome, it is referred to as moyamoya syndrome. The condition is seen more frequently in people of Japanese, Korean or Chinese descent. Symptoms can include recurrent transient ischemic attacks (mini-strokes), seizures, full strokes, weakness or paralysis on one side of the body and progressive difficulty with thinking and memory.

National Child & Youth Mental Health Day: May 7

Child and Youth Mental Health Day, marked annually on May 7 in Canada, offers an opportunity to raise awareness of the struggles that children and youth face. It encourages individuals, communities and policymakers to prioritize mental health initiatives. This year, Children’s Mental Health Ontario is highlighting the theme Voices Unheard, Stories Told: Centering the Diversity of Ontario’s Infants, Children & Youth. The campaign recognizes that many children, youth and families—particularly those who are Black, Indigenous, racialized, 2SLGBTQIA+, newcomer, Francophone, Northern and low-income—face significant barriers in accessing mental health care. Children’s Mental Health Week 2025 is a chance to amplify these voices, raise awareness about the need for culturally safe, community-based services and call for action to address systemic inequities.

World Lupus Day: May 10

Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease that causes inflammation and pain in any part of the body. It occurs when the immune system attacks healthy tissue and most commonly affects the skin, joints and internal organs such as the kidneys or heart. Lupus mainly affects women, with nine out of 10 cases found in women, and often begins between the ages of 15 and 44. There is no known cause. Symptoms vary but may include extreme fatigue, joint pain or a butterfly-shaped rash on the face. The theme for World Lupus Day 2025 is Gateway to the Future, focusing on breakthroughs in care and the researchers behind them. The message is: “We will not quit until we secure a better quality of life for all people with lupus, their families and future generations so that everyone can live well in a world without lupus.”

Global Accessibility Awareness Day: May 15

Digital information and services are often not easy for people with disabilities to see, hear, navigate or process. This creates barriers to services, knowledge and engagement with the world. On May 15, we recognize Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) by highlighting the importance of making digital media accessible and inclusive for people with disabilities and impairments.

As the world increasingly shifts to digital media, services and storage, it is essential that everyone can access and navigate information. Adaptability and accessibility through technology can include:

Alternative keyboards and mice
Captions on video and audio content
High-contrast text on websites
The ability to adjust text size
Alternative text (alt text) for images and photos
Reducing visual clutter on apps and web pages

Visit https://accessibility.day/ to learn more about accessibility and adaptability in a digital world.

Neurofibromatosis Awareness Day: May 17

Neurofibromatosis (NF) is a group of genetic disorders that cause tumors to form on nerve tissue throughout the body. The most common type, Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1), affects about 1 in 3,000 people globally and can appear in childhood with symptoms like café-au-lait spots and benign skin tumors known as neurofibromas. NF1 can also lead to complications such as learning disabilities, skeletal abnormalities and sometimes affect the optic nerve, causing blindness. Neurofibromatosis Type 2 (NF2) is rarer and causes tumors in the brain and spinal cord, often leading to hearing loss and balance disorders.

The rarest type, schwannomatosis, causes intense pain due to multiple schwannomas, except on the vestibular nerve. There is currently no cure for NF, but treatments focus on managing symptoms and include surgical options, radiation and medication. Mild cases of NF1, NF2 and schwannomatosis typically do not cause severe problems, and affected individuals may require no treatment beyond observation, regular checkups and symptom management. Raising awareness about neurofibromatosis is vital as it aids early diagnosis and improves support for affected individuals and their families.

Intl. Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia & Biphobia: May 17

The International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) is observed annually on May 17 to raise awareness of LGBT rights violations and stimulate global interest in LGBT rights work. Since its inception, the day has been commemorated in over 130 countries, promoting understanding and acceptance. Founded to mark the World Health Organization’s 1990 decision to declassify homosexuality as a mental disorder, IDAHOBIT has since expanded to include transphobia and biphobia, highlighting the diverse challenges faced by the LGBT community.

IDAHOBIT seeks to raise awareness of violence, discrimination and repression against LGBT communities worldwide, providing an opportunity for action and dialogue with media, policymakers and civil society. Events range from street marches and festivals to arts and culture activities, reflecting the varied contexts in which rights violations occur. May 17 is a time to celebrate pride, happiness and love, advance the rights of people with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions, and continue the fight for equality and acceptance.

World Cultural Diversity Day: May 21

Every year on May 21, World Cultural Diversity Day encourages people to bridge the gap between cultures. Initiated by UNESCO, the day highlights the value of cultural differences in fostering social cohesion, peace and sustainable development. It encourages individuals and communities to embrace diversity, celebrate cultural heritage and engage in dialogue to build a more inclusive and harmonious world. By recognizing the role culture plays in shaping societies, World Cultural Diversity Day aims to inspire efforts toward a more interconnected and respectful global community.

Red Shirt Day: May 28

Red Shirt Day® (of Action for AccessAbility and Inclusion) is a powerful annual event that unites people across Canada in a visible show of support for individuals with disabilities and their families. Held on the Wednesday of National AccessAbility Week, the initiative was launched by Easter Seals in 2019. It encourages Canadians to wear red as a symbol of solidarity, celebrate the achievements of disabled Canadians and commit to building a more inclusive and accessible society.