Throughout the year, Northumberland County commemorates a number of significant dates and events, including:
- Statutory holidays
- Days of cultural, heritage or religious significance
- Days of remembrance
The commemorative observances raise awareness of important cultural celebrations, historic events, and charitable or public awareness initiatives in our community.
Planned observances and recognition
All dates listed below are recognized in the County's online event calendar and on our corporate social media feeds.
Some commemorative dates may also be recognized with special requests, including:
- Proclamations to County Council
- Raising a flag on the County's community flagpole, located at County Headquarters in Cobourg
- Coloured light displays at County Headquarters
- Lowering flags at County Headquarters on days of remembrance
Proclamation, lighting and community flag requests
To request a proclamation to County Council, coloured light display at County Headquarters and/or flag raising on the County's community flagpole in recognition of a commemorative date, please review our Commemorative Observances, Proclamations & Flags Policy and submit an application to our Proclamation, Lighting and Community Flag Request Form.
Dates by month
January
|
January Commemorative Dates
| Name of Commemorative date | Observation date | Special requests |
|---|
| New Year's Day |
January 1 (County offices closed) |
N/A |
| National Ribbon Skirt Day |
January 4 |
N/A
|
| International Holocaust Remembrance Day |
January 27 |
- Building lit in yellow
- Flag Lowered to half-mast
|
| Family Literacy Day |
January 27 |
N/A
|
| National Day of Remembrance of the Quebec City Mosque Attack and Action Against Islamophobia |
January 29 |
Flag lowered to half-mast
|
|
February
|
February Commemorative Dates
| Name of commemorative date | Observation date | Special requests |
|---|
| Black History Month |
February |
Proclamation |
| Family Day |
February 19th (County offices closed) |
N/A |
| International Mother Language Day |
February 21 |
N/A |
| Pink Shirt Day |
February 28 |
N/A |
|
March
|
March Commemorative Dates
| Name of commemorative date | Observation date | Special requests |
|---|
| Amyloidosis Awareness Month |
March |
Proclamation |
| International Womens Day |
March 8 |
N/A |
| Ramadan |
March 10 |
N/A |
| International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination |
March 21 |
N/A |
| Good Friday |
March 29 (County offices closed) |
N/A |
| International Transgender Day of Visibility |
March 31 |
N/A |
|
April
|
April Commemorative Dates
| Name of commemorative date | Observation date | Special requests |
|---|
| Dig Safe Month |
April |
- Proclamation
- 'Dig Safe' flag raising
|
| Easter Monday |
April 1 (County offices closed) |
N/A |
| Eid al-Fitr |
April 10 |
N/A |
| National Volunteer Week |
April 14 - 20 |
Proclamation |
| Earth Day |
April 22 |
Proclamation |
| Passover |
April 22 |
N/A |
| National Day of Mourning |
April 28 |
- Proclamation
- Flags lowered to half-mast
- Building lit in yellow
|
|
May
|
May Commemorative Dates
| Name of commemorative date | Observation date | Special requests |
|---|
| Museum Month |
May |
Proclamation |
| First Responders Day |
May 1 |
Proclamation |
| National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQIA+ Peoples |
May 5 |
N/A |
| Emergency Preparedness Week |
May 5 - 11 |
Proclamation |
| Safety and Health Week |
May 6 - 11 |
Proclamation |
| National Nursing Week |
May 6 - 12 |
Proclamation |
| Provincial Day of Action on Litter |
May 14 |
N/A |
| International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia |
May 17 |
N/A |
| International Museum Day |
May 18 |
N/A |
| National Public Works Week |
May 19 - 25 |
Proclamation |
| Paramedic Services Week |
May 19 - 25 |
Proclamation |
| Victoria Day |
May 20 (County offices closed) |
N/A |
| National AccessAbility Week |
May 25 - June 1 |
Proclamation |
|
June
|
June Commemorative Dates
| Name of commemorative date | Observation date | Special requests |
|---|
| Pride Month |
June |
- Proclamation
- Pride flag raising
|
| National Indigenous Peoples Month |
June |
Proclamation |
| Seniors Month |
June |
Proclamation |
| National Public Service Week |
June 9 - 15 |
N/A |
| Eid al-Adha |
June 16 |
N/A |
| World Sickle Cell Awareness Day |
June 19 |
- Proclamation
- Building lit in red and white
|
| National Indigenous Peoples Day |
June 21 |
Proclamation
|
| National Day of Remembrance for Victims of Terrorism |
June 23 |
Flags lowered to half-mast |
| Canadian Multiculturalism Day |
June 27 |
N/A |
|
July
|
July Commemorative Dates
| Name of commemorative date | Observance date | Special requests |
|---|
|
Canada Day
|
July 1 (County offices closed) |
N/A |
|
National Drowning Prevention Week
|
July 21 - 27 |
N/A |
|
August
|
August Commemorative Dates
| Name of commemorative date | Observation date | Special requests |
|---|
| Emancipation Day |
August 1 |
N/A |
| Civic Holiday |
August 5 (County offices closed) |
N/A |
| International Day of World's Indigenous Peoples |
August 9 |
N/A |
| International Overdose Awareness Day |
August 31 |
- Proclamation
- Building lit in purple
- Flag raising
|
|
September
|
September Commemorative Dates
| Name of commemorative date | Observation date | Special requests |
|---|
| Hunger Action Month |
September |
Proclamation |
| Labour Day |
September 2 (County offices closed) |
N/A |
| National Payroll Week |
September 16 - 20 |
N/A |
| National Forest Week |
September 22 - 28 |
N/A |
| Gender Equality Week |
September 22 - 28 |
N/A |
| Rail Safety Week |
September 23 - 29 |
Proclamation |
| National Day for Truth and Reconciliation |
September 30 |
- Proclamation
- 'Every Child Matters' flag raising
- Building lit in orange
|
|
October
|
October Commemorative Dates
| Name of commemorative date | Observation date | Special requests |
|---|
| Women's History Month |
October |
N/A |
| Hispanic Heritage Month |
October |
Proclamation |
| Cybersecurity Month |
October |
Proclamation |
| Rosh Hashanah |
October 2 - 4 |
N/A |
| World Homeless Day |
October 10 |
Proclamation |
| Ontario Agriculture Week |
October 6 - 12 |
Proclamation |
| Fire Prevention Week |
October 6 - 12 |
N/A |
| Yom Kippur |
October 11 - 12 |
N/A |
| Local Government Week |
October 13 - 19 |
Proclamation |
| Thanksgiving Day |
October 14 (County offices closed) |
N/A |
| Small Business Week |
October 20 - 26 |
N/A |
| Waste Reduction Week |
October 21 - 27 |
N/A |
| Child Care Worker and Early Childhood Educator Appreciation Day |
October 24 |
Proclamation |
| Dress Purple Day |
October 25 |
Proclamation |
|
November
|
November Commemorative Dates
| Name of commemorative date | Observation date | Special requests |
|---|
| Diwali |
November 1 |
N/A |
| Treaties Recognition Week |
November 4 - 9 |
N/A |
| Indigenous Veterans Day |
November 8 |
N/A |
| Remembrance Day |
November 11 (County offices closed) |
Flags lowered to half-mast
|
| Transgender Awareness Week |
November 13 - 19 |
- Proclamation
- Transgender flag raising
|
| Louis Reil Day |
November 16 |
N/A
|
| Transgender Day of Remembrance |
November 20 |
Proclamation
|
| GIS Day |
November 20 |
N/A
|
| National Housing Day |
November 22 |
Proclamation |
| International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence |
November 25 - December 10 |
- Proclamation
- Flag raising
|
|
December
|
December Commemorative Dates
| Name of commemorative date | Observation date | Special requests |
|---|
| International Day of Persons with Disabilities |
December 3 |
Proclamation |
| National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women |
December 6 |
Flags lowered to half-mast |
| Hanukkah |
December 25 - January 3 |
N/A |
| Christmas Day |
December 25 (County offices closed) |
N/A |
| Boxing Day |
December 26 (County offices closed) |
N/A |
|
