October DEI Observances
Throughout the month of October, there are many observances that can be recognized in the workplace and the best way to form an inclusive work environment is to show appreciation towards cultural, religious and awareness days.
List of DEI Observances in October 2024
October 1 to 31 Down Syndrome Awareness Month Down syndrome varies in severity among individuals, causing lifelong intellectual disability and developmental delays. October was first designated as Down Syndrome Awareness Month in the 1980s and has been recognized every October since. It is a time to celebrate people with Down syndrome and make others aware of their abilities and accomplishments. Recognizing World Down Syndrome Month in your workplace is a great way to raise public awareness, promote inclusivity, and support the well-being of those with Down Syndrome.
October 1 to 31 ADHD Awareness Month Each year, we recognize ADHD Awareness Month in October as a time to celebrate the progress made in ADHD advocacy, research and education. ADHD Awareness Month, sponsored by the Attention Deficit Disorder Association and observed each October, highlights the latest research and clinical studies to bring more effective treatments to this disorder as well as educate the public on the impacts of living with ADHD.
October 1 to 31 Breast Cancer Awareness Month October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which is an annual campaign to draw attention and to increase awareness about the impacts of breast cancer. During this month and continued throughout the year, people wear pink ribbons to commemorate survivors, donate to charities, hold fundraisers throughout their community, educate themselves on breast cancer, and support the progress researchers are making to defeat breast cancer.
October 1 to 31 Dyslexia Awareness Month Each year throughout the month of October, Canadians show their support by lighting up monuments and buildings in red, as well as wearing red in schools and workplaces. Dyslexia Awareness Month in October works to support those with this learning difficulty and aims to end all stigmas associated with people living with Dyslexia.
October 1 to 31 LGBT History Month takes place in October every year and is meant to teach folks about historical figures and their contributions to the LGBTQ+ community. This is an important observance because it allows people to become educated about LGBTQ+ issues, how to be an active ally, and how to support their peers who are part of the LGBTQ+ community.
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October 2 to 4 Rosh Hashanah means “head of the year” or “first of the year”. Rosh Hashanah is a Jewish celebration that commemorates the creation of the world and marks the beginning of the 'Days of Awe’, a 10-day period of introspection and repentance that culminates in the Yom Kippur holiday, [also known as the Day of Atonement]. Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are the two “High Holy Days” within the Jewish religion.
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October 4 🍁 National Day of Action for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls This observance’s goals are to create awareness and honour the lives of the missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. The recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission from 2015 led to National Inquiry into MMIWG in 2019. It provided evidence of the disproportionate systemic violence, abuse, and discrimination.
📅Looking for a MMIWG2S communications template to share with your team?
October 6 to 12 Mental Illness Awareness Week Mental health is important throughout our entire life as it includes our emotional, psychological and social well-being. It helps determine how we handle stress, manage our emotions, relate to others, and make healthy choices.
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October 10 World Mental Health Day The overall objective of World Mental Health Day is to raise awareness of mental health issues around the world and to support mental health initiatives.
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October 10 World Sight Day is an observance that focuses on recognizing and understanding the realities of living with a vision impairment. According to the World Health Organization, there are globally, at least 2.2 billion people have a near or distance vision impairment, 39 million of whom are completely blind.
October 11 National Coming Out Day is an annual day of awareness observed on October 11 in support of the LGTBQ+ community and “coming out of the closet.” The day was first observed in 1988, one year after the Second National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights.
📅Looking for a National Coming Out Day communications template to share with your team?
October 11 to 12 Yom Kippur is also known as the Day of Atonement and is the holiest day in Judaism. It is characterized by fasting, prayer, and reflection, during which Jewish individuals seek forgiveness for their sins and strive for spiritual purification.
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October 12 Dussehra is a popular Asian festival that signifies the victory of good over evil and marks a fresh new beginning. Dussehra is celebrated in Ashwin, the 10th month of the Hindu Calendar.
October 14 🗽Indigenous People’s Day Formerly known as Columbus Day, Indigenous People’s Day is a day of awareness in the United States that honors Indigenous People and celebrates their resilience, cultures and histories as they faced assimilation, discrimination and genocide spanning generations.
📅Looking for an Indigenous People’s Day communications template to share with your team?
October 14 🍁Thanksgiving Day in Canada is an annual holiday held on the second Monday in October, which celebrates the harvest and blessings of the past year. Thanksgiving is a time for loved ones to gather together and share their gratitude and acknowledgement towards each other.
📅Looking for a Thanksgiving (Canada) communications template to share with your team?
October 16 Pronouns Day is recognized annually on the third Wednesday of October. It is a day to raise awareness and educating society about using proper pronouns when communicating with those in our workplace and in day-to-day life.
📅Looking for a Pronouns Day communications template to share with your team?
October 16 to 23 Sukkot is a Jewish holiday marked by the construction of temporary outdoor dwellings called sukkahs, symbolizing the Israelites' journey in the desert and a celebration of the fall harvest.
October 17 Spirit Day is an awareness day observed in October to support LGBTQ youth in a united stand against bullying. In October 2010, a Canadian teenager named Brittany McMillan started a campaign on Tumblr to celebrate the first Spirit Day.
📅Looking for a Spirit Day communications template to share with your team?
October 31 Halloween is celebrated on October 31st every year. Halloween is a fun holiday that includes costumes, myths and treats. In the workplace, Halloween is the time of year when employees can showcase their creativity by wearing appropriate costumes, decorating their office, and bringing in sweet treats for everyone to enjoy. While celebrating Halloween in the office, ensuring that all employees are accommodated when planning a Halloween activity and/or event is important.