Days of Awareness: April
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.
Sikh Heritage Month
Sikh Heritage Month, celebrated annually in April in Canada, highlights Sikh history, culture, and traditions. It serves as an opportunity for people of all backgrounds to learn about Sikh values, such as equality, service to humanity, and spirituality. Celebrations include cultural events, educational programs, exhibitions, and performances that showcase Sikh music, dance, history, and traditions.
Ways to Get Involved:
- Information on Events: https://www.instagram.com/sikhheritagemonth/ and https://www.pama.peelregion.ca/news/celebrate-sikh-heritage-month-april-pama
- Exhibition Baaghi ja Badshah, April 1 to April 30, 2026 at Peel Art Gallery Museum & Archives (PAMA) – Discover the historical phases in Sikh life
Passover – April 1 – 9
Passover, or Pesach in Hebrew, is a Jewish holiday that commemorates the liberation of the Israelites from slavery in ancient Egypt, as described in the story of Exodus in the Bible. Passover 2026 will begin before sundown on Wednesday, April 1, and end after nightfall on Thursday, April 9. The first two nights are typically when the Seder meals are held, marking the beginning of the holiday. During these days, all leaven, whether in bread or other mixture, is prohibited, and Matzah is the staple unleavened bread eaten as it symbolizes the Israelites’ hasty departure from Egypt, where they didn’t have time for the bread to rise.
Learn how Passover is celebrated:
World Autism Awareness Day – April 2
World Autism Awareness Day is observed on April 2. The international community share stories, provide opportunities to increase understanding and acceptance of people with autism and foster worldwide support. The theme for this year is “Autism and Humanity – Every Life Has Value”. This highlights the dignity, inherent worth, and equal rights of all autistic individuals, promoting their inclusion across all aspects of life.
Ways to Get Involved:
- Learn more about Autism and access resources – https://www.autismcanada.org/
- Canadian Autism Leadership Summit , April 14-16, 2026, Ottawa and via livestream, hosted by Autism Alliance of Canada
- Kids Play for Autism 2026 – Choose any activity kids love and get moving
- Celebrate the Spectrum, Toronto, April 12, 2026 – Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada
Easter Sunday – April 5
Easter celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead on the third day after His crucifixion on Good Friday (April 3). Easter is the foundation of the Christian faith. Christians believe that through Jesus’ death and resurrection, humanity was offered salvation and the hope of eternal life. The resurrection is seen as proof of Christ’s divinity and the victory of life over death, good over evil, and hope over despair.
Learn how Easter is celebrated:
- Easter Sunday traditions include church services, Easter vigil, Easter eggs, and feasts and family gatherings. Here are some different traditions around the world: https://condimentclaire.substack.com/p/easter-traditions-around-the-world
World Health Day – April 7
World Health Day is observed annually on April 7 to mark the founding of the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1948. It helps raise awareness about global health issues and encourage people to act towards improving health and well-being worldwide. The theme for 2026 is “Together for health. Stand with science,” focusing on One Health and scientific collaboration and launching a campaign to turn evidence into action.
Learn more about the 2026 theme and One Health:
- https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-health-day/2026
- One Health Factsheet: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/one-health
Earth Day – April 22
Earth Day is an annual event celebrated on April 22 to raise awareness and promote action for environmental protection and sustainability. The theme for this year is “Our Power, Our Planet” reflecting a fundamental truth: environmental progress doesn’t depend on any single administration or election. It’s sustained by daily actions of communities, educators, workers, and families protecting where they live and work.
Ways to Get Involved:
- Learn more and access resources and toolkits: https://www.earthday.org/earth-hub/
- Read The Nature Conservancy Earth Day Guide with simple, joyful ideas to help you explore nature close to home
- Browse ways to make a difference then share your own act of green to inspire our community: https://www.earthday.org/earth-day-tips/
- Let’s Clean Up The Meadoway! April 25 – TRCA event
- One Million Trees Planting, Mississauga, April 18 and April 25 – Tree planting event
- EcoFair Toronto at Evergreen Brick Works , April 26 – Event focused on environmental protection and community impact
- Earth Day at Downsview Park. April 26 – Free family-friendly event with activities, vendors, and educational booths
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 March 2025 Days of Awareness article here.
If you have any questions about the Days of Awareness feature, please contact Charlotte Hung at charlotte.hung@trca.ca.