Days of Awareness: February
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.
Black History Month
Each year, Black History Month honours the experiences, achievements and enduring contributions of Black communities in Canada, while deepening our collective understanding of their history and impact on Canadian society. This year’s theme, “30 Years of Black History Month: Honouring Black Brilliance Across Generations — From Nation Builders to Tomorrow’s Visionaries”, celebrates three decades of Black History Month in Canada and recognizes the enduring legacy of Black Canadians, whose leadership, creativity, innovation and resilience have shaped our past, continue to influence our present, and will inspire future generations.
Ways to Get Involved:
- Being Black in Canada highlights stories, videos, and in‑depth reporting that explore the experiences, achievements, and challenges of Black Canadians across the country. It features coverage on health disparities, cultural history, community initiatives, arts, sports, and social issues, offering a wide-ranging look at the voices, events, and narratives shaping Black life in Canada.
World Wetlands Day – Feb 2
Every 2 February, the World Wetlands Day campaign joins people everywhere in recognizing the critical importance of our planet’s wetlands. These life-sustaining ecosystems bridge past and future and are essential to the continuity of life on Earth.
World Wetlands Day 2026 explores the deep-rooted connections between wetlands and cultural practices, traditions and knowledge systems of communities acrosst he world.
This year’s theme is “Wetlands and traditional knowledge: Celebrating cultural heritage.” The global campaign spotlights the timeless role of traditional knowledge in sustaining wetland ecosystems and preserving cultural identity.
Ways to Get Involved:
- Visit the TRCA website to learn more about wetlands in the Greater Toronto Area and how the TRCA is working to restore them
- Visit the official World Wetlands Day website for posters, activity sheets, and infographics
Lunar New Year – Feb 17
The Lunar New Year in 2026 welcomes the Year of the Horse, according to the Chinese lunar calendar. Celebrated by millions around the world, this is a time for cultural traditions, family reunions, and hopes for good fortune in the coming year.
According to Chinese mythology, the order of the zodiac animals was decided by a Great Race held by the Jade Emperor. The clever Snake coiled around the Horse’s hoof, managing to finish the race ahead of the Horse and causing the Horse to fall to seventh place.
Unlike the cautious and introspective Snake, the Horse embodies enthusiasm, speed and fieriness, bringing a year focused on bold moves and exploration.
Ways to Get Involved:
- This festival is celebrated worldwide, particularly in Asian countries like China, South Korea, Vietnam, Singapore, Malysia, the Philippines, and Indonesia. There are also many celebrations taking place across the Greater Toronto Area.
Ramadan – Feb 17
Ramadan is the ninth month in the Islamic calendar and one of the holiest periods of worship for Muslims. The month lasts a period of 29 or 30 days, depending on the sighting of the moon, and shifts forward approximately 11 days each year as the Islamic calendar is based on the lunar cycle instead of the Gregorian calendar we commonly use today.
During Ramadan, healthy adult Muslims fast from dawn until dusk. They also engage in additional acts of worship such as optional prayers, reading the Qu’ran and increasing their Islamic knowledge.
Fasting provides Muslims with the opportunity to acquire a sense of control over their needs, desires and distractions, giving them room for a heightened sense of introspection and their purpose in life.
Ways to Get Involved:
- Learn how you can support Muslim colleagues at work during Ramadan
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.
Check out February 2024 Days of Awareness article here.