Days of Awareness: October
Partners in Project Green shares Days of Awareness each month to spread awareness and start conversations. These days may have a social, historical, or sustainable significance worthy of our attention. These are just a small sampling of important days to acknowledge or remember. If we missed any days of importance that should be included, please share them with us.
Happy Autumn season to you all! As we celebrate the change of nature’s colours, the fall migration, preparation for hibernation, and the bounty of the harvest, here are some Days of Awareness we invite you to learn more about.
Latin American Heritage Month
In October, Canada recognizes that members of the Latin American community in Canada have made significant contributions to the social, economic and political fabric of the nation. Latin American Heritage Month is a meaningful way to remember, celebrate and educate the public about these contributions and unique culture and traditions with all Canadians.
Ways to get involved and further resources:
National Seniors Day – October 1
This is an occasion for all Canadians to join in celebrating older adults across Canada—whether a parent, a co-worker, a neighbour or a friend. This year is especially significant as we celebrate the 15th anniversary of National Seniors Day. It also marks the 60th anniversary of the Canada Pension Plan (CPP), a cornerstone of Canada’s retirement income system that has helped provide financial security to Canadians for six decades.
Ways to get involved and further resources:
World Migratory Bird Day – October 9
The global Partners behind World Migratory Bird Day have announced their theme for 2026: “Every Bird Counts – Your Observations Matter!” highlighting the important role of community science, also referred to as citizen science, for the conservation of migratory birds. The 2026 campaign shines a spotlight on people-driven efforts that are essential for bird conservation and science, celebrating how individuals, communities, and organizations around the world are helping to build the knowledge base to better conserve migratory birds across borders.
Ways to get involved and additional resources:
- Check out the fall events at TRCA to catch a glimpse of the Fall migration: https://trca.ca/events-calendar/
- https://www.worldmigratorybirdday.org/#about
Persons Day – October 18
In Canada, the British North America Act (BNA Act) of 1867 set out the powers and responsibilities of the provinces and of the federal government. The Act used the word “persons” when referring to more than one person and “he” when referring to one person. Many argued the Act implicitly stated that only a man could be a person, which prevented women from participating fully in politics or affairs of state.
In 1927, Emily Murphy, Nellie McClung, Louise McKinney, Irene Parlby and Henrietta Muir Edwards were journalists, politicians, reformers and activists from Alberta who asked the Supreme Court of Canada to answer the following question: does the word “person” in Section 24 of the BNA Act include female persons? After five weeks of debate, the Supreme Court decided that the word “person” did not include women On October 18, 1929, Lord Sankey, Lord Chancellor of Great Britain, announced the decision:
“The exclusion of women from all public offices is a relic of days more barbarous than ours. And to those who would ask why the word ‘person’ should include females, the obvious answer is, why should it not?”
Ways to get involved:
About Days of Awareness
Since its launch in 2023, Partners in Project Green’s Days of Awareness campaign has become a monthly celebration of the days, events, and observances that matter most to our community. Designed to highlight moments of social, historical, cultural, and environmental significance, this initiative invites us to pause, reflect, and engage in meaningful conversations that extend beyond sustainability alone.
Each month, we spotlight a curated selection of awareness days to honour the diversity of our team, Members, and the communities we serve — fostering connection, inclusion, knowledge-sharing, and collective action across our network.
Read the October 2025 Days of Awareness article here.
If you have any questions about the Days of Awareness feature, please contact Vanessa D’Andrea at vanessa.dandrea@trca.ca.