The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board is committed to human rights, equity and inclusion The board recognizes and respects the diversity across our faith and cultural communities.
Throughout the year, many OCDSB students and staff members may be absent from school or work to observe a religious/creed date or date of cultural significance. To better meet the needs of students, staff members, and families, the OCDSB avoids scheduling events, evaluations, field trips, and other important activities on many of these dates. The information below provides guidance for the observance of faith days and dates of significance by all schools and workplaces in the District.
How to use this information:
- Leaders of schools may use this information in calendars, district websites, weekly updates, messages to the school community, and social media.
- Classroom teachers may use this information in class lessons to learn about the histories, culture, and celebrations of the diverse communities.
- Students may use this information to learn about starred days and days or months of significance.
- Parents/Caregivers may use this information to plan/learn as needed.
Multifaith Calendar
- To view dates of religious significance, see our Multifaith Calendar.
Days and Months of Significance
- To view days and months of cultural, educational, and identity-based significance, see the links on the sidebar, including our Days and Months of Significance page.
- Please note, the dates reflected on these pages are not meant to be exhaustive and may be updated as dates are changed or confirmed.
Starred Dates
- “Starred Dates” represent the most significant dates of observance as identified by local leaders of creed/faith/religious and spiritual groups served by the District.
- Events should not be scheduled on these dates, for staff or for students, unless there are significant extenuating circumstances.
- Rare exceptions are sometimes necessary where conflicts cannot be avoided due to extenuating circumstances such as when provincial assessments and evaluations and/or extended field trips overlap with Starred Dates.
- Through the approval of the superintendent, an exception can be made and accommodations will be offered and arranged for students impacted where a conflict with the Starred Date cannot be avoided.
- Exceptions are only made after detailed consideration of the impact to students and staff participating, the availability of learning opportunities and their educational value.
Starred Dates are reflected in the chart below.
|
Starred Date(s) |
Day of Observance |
Faith or Observed by |
Additional |
|
September 30, 2024 |
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (Orange Shirt Day) |
Indigenous |
|
|
October 3 and 4, 2024 (Commences at sundown on October 2) |
Rosh Hashanah |
Judaism |
|
|
October 12, 2024 (Commences at sundown on October 11) |
Yom Kippur |
Judaism |
|
|
October 12, 2024 |
Dussehra (Vijayadashami) |
Hinduism |
|
|
October 31, 2024 |
Diwali** |
Hinduism / Jainism / Sikhism |
Five-day celebration with a one-day interval this year. Takes place from October 29 to November 2. |
|
November 15, 2024 |
Birth of Guru Nanak Dev Ji |
Sikhism |
|
|
December 25, 2024 |
Christmas |
Christianity |
|
|
January 7, 2025 |
Christmas – Feast of the Nativity |
Christianity (Orthodox) |
|
|
January 29, 2025 |
Lunar New Year – Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean New Year |
Buddhism / Confucianism / Daoism |
|
|
March 30 or 31, 2025 * (Commences at sundown on March 29 or 30) |
Eid-al-Fitr ** (End of Ramadan) |
Islam |
Three holy days. |
|
April 13 and 14, 2025 April 19 and 20, 2025 (Commences at sundown on April 12) |
Pesach (Passover) |
Judaism |
The first two and last two days are observed as holy days. |
|
April 14, 2025 |
Vaisakhi |
Hinduism / Jainism / Sikhism / Buddhism |
|
|
April 18, 2025 |
Good Friday/Holy Friday |
Christianity/Orthodox Christianity |
|
|
April 20, 2025 |
Easter/Orthodox Easter |
Christianity/Orthodox Christianity |
|
|
April 20 or 21, 2025 (Commences at sundown on April 19) |
Ridvan |
Bahá’i |
12-day festival. |
|
June 6, 7, 8, and 9, 2025 * (Commences at sundown on June 5 or 6) |
Eid-al-Adha ** |
Islam |
Four holy days. |
|
July 6, 2025 * (Commences at sundown on July 5) |
Ashura ** |
Islam |
For Muslims (Sunni, Shiites, Ismaili), Ashura marks the parting of the Red Sea by Moses and the salvation of the Israelites. |
Note:
* Tentative dates subject to the sighting of the moon each month.
** Local or regional customs may use a variation of this date.
All Islamic, Jewish and Bahá'i Holy days commence at sundown on the preceding day.
- There are a range of days considered Holy or of significance for some observances.
- These are provided in the fourth column for information purposes and are not considered Starred Days.
Student Requests for Religious/Creed Accommodations
The OCDSB is committed to cultivating learning and working spaces where everyone feels they belong. Families have a right to request from their child’s teacher or principal any accommodations that their child may require to support prayer, fasting or observance of religious days of significance throughout the school year. Requests may include:
- Time off for religious/creed-based days of significance
- Rescheduling assignments, tests, or evaluations due to conflicts with religious/creed-based days of significance
- Time and/or space for prayer
Should your family have a request for accommodation, please speak with your child's teacher or principal.