Days of significance: October 2026

Sept. 30, 2026

Equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging (EDI&B) is a strategic priority at Georgian. We’re dedicated to fostering a learning and working environment where everyone feels seen, heard and knows they belong through demonstrable, accountable and system-wide commitments to diversity, de-colonization, anti-racism, equity and inclusion. This days of significance calendar lists the days and months that are recognized within the Georgian community.

There are several dates each month that are recognized, observed and celebrated across Canada and internationally, and we encourage everyone to self-educate by referring to these great resources:

• Canadian important and commemorative days.
• UN International Days and Weeks.
• Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion diversity calendar.

Discover what’s going on in October, find ways to get involved and participate in events or activities, and learn through various resources.

Oct. 4 -Sisters in Spirit and Take Back the Night

Sisters in Spirit is aimed at raising awareness around the realities of sexual violence in our communities and working towards the elimination of gender-based violence. Sisters in Spirit annually occurs on Oct. 4 and aims to honour those who have gone missing from Indigenous communities.

Since the 1970’s, Take Back the Night continues to be a worldwide movement to end sexual violence in all forms, including sexual assault, sexual abuse, trafficking, stalking, gender harassment and relationship violence, while also supporting survivors. The name “Take Back the Night” honours those who first advocated for the essential right of women to walk alone at night without fear of harm. Protests over the years have sparked thousands of events on college campuses and in communities of all sizes across the world. These events bring together people from all backgrounds in our community to take a vocal and visible stand.  

 If you’d like to learn more about the history of Take Back the Night, we encourage you to check out the Take Back the Night Foundation website.  

Shatter the silence. Stop the violence.  

• 1 in 3 women experience some form of sexual violence or intimate partner violence.  
• Indigenous women are four times more likely than non-Indigenous women to be victims of violence. 
• 1 in 6 men experience sexual violence.  
• People in the 2SLGBTQIA+ community are more likely to experience sexual violence. 

Oct. 10 – World Mental Health Day

Recognized annually on Oct. 10, World Mental Health Day raises awareness around mental health, promotes support and encourages action to reduce stigma. 

• 1 in 5 Canadians experience mental illness, a leading cause of disability in Canada. (CAMH, 2025) 

• By age 40, 1 in 2 Canadians have or have had a mental illness. 

This year’s theme “Lived Experiences Heard: Real Voices, Real Change” acknowledges the importance of listening to people with lived experience of mental health conditions- including their experiences accessing care, support and mental health services. 

Meaningful engagement goes beyond sharing personal stories and experiences. People with lived experience understand mental health systems in ways that cannot be gained through professional training or research alone. Their input can help identify gaps, shape more relevant programs and strengthen mental health policies and services. 

This World Mental Health Day, encourages us to listen, learn and work together to turn lived experience into meaningful change.