Category: Holidays & Observances

International School Library Month

Come down to your School Library to check out our display for ISLM and for Canadian Library Month, including books and other materials on libraries, librarians, information science, literacy, and much more.

October is Library Month

October is International School Library Month and Canadian Library Month. Join with us as we celebrate the power and joy of libraries, and our commit to protecting this vital institution for all people.

Orange Shirt Day

Wear an orange shirt to school on Friday, September 29

September 30th is Truth and Reconciliation Day in Canada. Our school will be closed on Monday, October 2. As a school community, we will take Friday, September 29 as an opportunity to learn more about Truth and Reconciliation. At Lord Tweedsmuir Secondary, we encourage all students and staff to wear an orange shirt in school on Friday, September 29, as well as on September 30th.

source: Province of British Columbia

The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation was established as the Canadian government’s formal recognition of the importance of Orange Shirt Day, observed on September 30 over most of the last decade, as part of the overall effort of raising awareness and provoking discussion about the impact of Residential Schools in Canada, and finding the path toward reconciliation.

Truth & Reconciliation Week in Surrey Schools

September 30 is Canada’s National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. This week in Surrey Schools we will learn more about Residential Schools and the impact this and other forms of oppressive colonialism have had on Indigenous Peoples, and how this affects all Canadians.

On Monday, the teachers and other staff members of LTSS had a Professional Development opportunity at the Kwantlen Cultural Center. All week long, staff will continue with Professional Development to learn more about such things as Indigenous language, art and culture.

Together, staff and students at LTSS are encouraged to take some time this week to prepare for the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation to take advantage of all of this week’s different opportunities to learn more about issues and ideas that are vital to Indigenous Peoples, including the horrible legacy of Residential Schools and our national desire for Truth and Reconciliation.

Yom Kippur

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Yom Kippur, or the “Day of Atonement”, is the holiest day on the Jewish Calendar. For devout Jews in Canada and around the world, Yom Kippur is the most important Holiday, beyond Hanukkah or even the Passover. Many Jews will spend the entire day in fasting, praying and other observances.

In 2023 Yom Kippur begins at sundown on September 24, and ends at nightfall on September 25. (This is according to the Gregorian Calendar, while the Jewish Calendar is at year 5784.)

source: National Geographic

Find out more:

What is Yom Kippur? (Chabad.org)

My Jewish Learning

History.com

National Geographic

Judaism 101

National Indigenous Peoples Day

From the Government of Canada:

“June 21 is National Indigenous Peoples Day. This is a day for all Canadians to recognize and celebrate the unique heritage, diverse cultures and outstanding contributions of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. The Canadian Constitution recognizes these three groups as Aboriginal peoples, also known as Indigenous peoples.

Although these groups share many similarities, they each have their own distinct heritage, language, cultural practices and spiritual beliefs.

In cooperation with Indigenous organizations, the Government of Canada chose June 21, the summer solstice, for National Aboriginal Day, now known as National Indigenous Peoples Day. For generations, many Indigenous peoples and communities have celebrated their culture and heritage on or near this day due to the significance of the summer solstice as the longest day of the year.”

Find out more:

 Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada

Indigenous Peoples and Communities

Indigenous arts, culture and heritage

Summer Solstice

Tomorrow is the first day of Summer. The Summer Solstice will take place in the Northern Hemisphere at 7:57 AM on June 21st (Pacific Daylight Time). The Summer Solstice is also called the estival solstice and occurs in the Northern Hemisphere when the North Pole is at its most extreme tilt towards the sun. The result is the longest day (and shortest night) of the year. The Solstice is also the first day of the season of Summer– although, confusingly, festivals known as Midsummer, take place around the same time, often on June 24.

By Bengt Nyman from Vaxholm, Sweden – DIMG_5456, CC BY 2.0,