Canada celebrates national and heritage occasions throughout June by organizing various diverse and inclusive events. These occasions are valued in Canada and recognized to celebrate cultural diversity, encourage unity, and add to the multicultural tapestry of the nation.

In Canada, the following events are celebrated in June:

  • National Indigenous History Month
  • Italian Heritage Month
  • Filipino Heritage Month
  • Portuguese Heritage Month
  • Beginning of the Pride season

Besides these, the following days are also celebrated in June:

  • June 21 is National Indigenous Peoples Day
  • June 24 is Saint-Jean Baptiste Day

The Canadian government encourages and values celebrating the diverse heritage that has shaped Canada into what it is presently.

Although all these occasions are not federally recognized holidays, they are still crucial for the interactions that encourage understanding and inclusiveness.

Canada’s National History Month & National Indigenous Peoples Day

In June, National Indigenous History Month is celebrated to remember the First Nations, Inuit, and Métis people’s history in Canada. It allows Canadians to honor indigenous peoples and understand their diverse cultures, customs, and experiences.

It’s also a time to remember and praise indigenous people’s achievements, stories, and resilience, who’ve always resided on Canadian soil and whose presence has impacted Canada previously and continues to do so.

Further, Canada pays tribute to children who were separated from their families to be admitted to residential schools, particularly after the bones of 215 indigenous children were discovered in unknown graves in Kamloops, British Columbia.

In Canada, the goal and process of healing the past damages and providing compensation is called Reconciliation.

The process is starting in Canada and is expected to continue for longer.

In Canada, each week in June this year is devoted to showcasing diverse aspects of indigenous history, perspectives, and cultures.

  • June 1-6 is dedicated to girls, women, and 2SLGBTQI+ people.
  • June 5-11 is dedicated to the environment, traditional knowledge, and territory
  • June 10-18 is dedicated to youth and children
  • June 19-25 is dedicated to languages, arts, and cultures
  • June 26-30 is dedicated to the reconciliation

The Canadian government website showcases various methods you can get involved and support.

In Canada, June 21 is observed as National Indigenous Peoples Day.

Similar to Indigenous History Month, this day is observed to remember and celebrate the spiritual and cultural faiths of the First Nations, Inuit, and Métis individuals.

The date of June 21 was selected for celebration as it marks the summer solstice. Around this time, indigenous people have celebrated their heritage for years because it’s the longest day of the year.

Italian Heritage Month

Canada hosts the largest Italian Diasporas worldwide, with over 1.5 million individuals of Italian Descent. In June, the contribution of the Italian community to build a powerful, rich, and inclusive nation is celebrated in Canada.

The province of Ontario passed the Italian Heritage Month Act in 2010 to acknowledge the Italian immigrant’s contribution that contributed to developing Ontario communities. In addition, it also recognizes the achievements of Italian people in social, cultural, economic, and political fields within the province.

Major Canadian cities such as Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver consist of ‘Little Italy’ communities which are areas that are overflowing with Italian Canadian shops and restaurants.

Filipino Heritage Month

In June, Filipino Heritage Month is also celebrated in Canada to recognize the culture, customs, and language of Filipino and the numerous other contributions that the community has made to Canada.

The Filipino community is among Canada’s most prominent and fastest-evolving diasporas. Also, it significantly impacted various fields such as politics, healthcare, business, arts, and sports.

For instance, compared to other minorities, around 20.6% of Filipino Canadians work in the social assistance industry and a very high percentage in the healthcare industry.

According to the 2021 census data, there were 957,355 Filipino-origin Canadians, accounting for 2.58% of the total Canadian population.

Portuguese Heritage Month

Portuguese Heritage Month is another notable event celebrated in June in Canada to honor Canada’s 500,000 Luso-Canadians.

It is observed to recognize the vibrant culture of the Portuguese Canadian community.

Portugal Day is observed on June 10 and marks the death anniversary of Portugal’s soldier and greatest poet and writer, Luís de Camões.

Since 1500, the Portuguese Canadian community has significantly contributed to Canada’a development and growth and continues to do so via its language, culture, and rich history.

Pride season

Canada witnesses pride events in June throughout the nation to recognize and celebrate gender and sexual diversity and equality in Canada. During this time, the country recognizes the 2SLGBTQI+ community and praises their talent, strength, and contribution to the nation.

Notably, the pride events and gatherings are a result of the protests for the 2SLGBTQI community and its rights in Canada.

Various Canadian cities, including Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, Ottawa, Winnipeg, and Saskatoon, hold pride events in Canada. Presently, the Pride Weekend in Toronto is one of the largest and most significant pride events in North America, and it will run from June 23-June 25. This year, the pride parade will take place on June 25.

Saint-Jean Baptiste Day

In Canada, Saint Jean Baptiste Day is celebrated on June 24. It is a patriotic celebration observed in Quebec and by French Canadians throughout the nation.

Since 1925, Saint Jean Baptiste Day has been an official holiday in Quebec. On this day, the Comité organisateur de la fête nationale du Québec organizes publically sponsored events in Quebec throughout the province.

The celebration originated with the feast day of Saint Jean Baptiste, which was a famous event in France in the Old Regime. The first French colonists introduced this tradition in Canada in the 1600s.