Commemorative Dates and Observances

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

Dates by month

January

January Commemorative Dates
Name of Commemorative date Observation dateSpecial requests 
New Year's Day  January 1 (Observed January 2 - County offices closed) N/A
International Holocaust Remembrance Day  January 27
  • Flags lowered to half-mast
  • Building lit in yellow
National Day of Remembrance of the Quebec City Mosque Attack and Action Against Islamophobia January 29
  • Flags lowered to half-mast
  • Building lit in green

February

February Commemorative Dates
Name of commemorative dateObservation dateSpecial requests
Black History Month  February Proclamation 
Family Day  February 20th (County offices closed) N/A
Pink Shirt Day  February 22  N/A

March

March Commemorative Dates
Name of commemorative dateObservation dateSpecial requests
International Womens Day  March 8 N/A
International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination March 21  N/A
Ramadan  March 22 N/A
International Transgender Day of Visibility  March 31  N/A

April

April Commemorative Dates
Name of commemorative dateObservation dateSpecial requests
Dig Safe Month  April 
  • Proclamation
  • 'Dig Safe' flag raising 
Passover  April 5 N/A
Good Friday  April 7 (County offices closed)  N/A
Easter  April 10 (County offices closed) N/A
National Volunteer Week  April 16 - 22 Proclamation 
Earth Day  April 22 Proclamation 
National Day of Mourning  April 28 
  • Proclamation
  • Flags lowered to half-mast
  • Building lit in yellow

May

May Commemorative Dates
Name of commemorative dateObservation 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 1 N/A
Safety and Health Week May 1 - 6 Proclamation
Emergency Preparedness Week May 7 - 13  Proclamation
National Nursing Week May 8 - 14  Proclamation 
Provincial Day of Action on Litter May 9  N/A
International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia May 17 N/A
International Museum Day May 18  N/A
National Public Works Week May 21 - 27  Proclamation 
Paramedic Services Week May 21 - 27 Proclamation 
Victoria Day May 22 (County offices closed) N/A
National AccessAbility Week May 28 - June 3 Proclamation 

June

June Commemorative Dates
Name of commemorative dateObservation dateSpecial requests
Pride Month  June
  • Proclamation
  • Pride flag raising
Seniors Month  June  N/A
National Public Service Week June 11 - 17 N/A
National Indigenous Peoples Day June 21
  • Proclamation
  • Pride flag raising
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 dateObservance dateSpecial requests
Canada Day  July 1 (Observed July 3rd - County offices closed) N/A

August

August Commemorative Dates
Name of commemorative dateObservation dateSpecial requests
Emancipation Day August 1 N/A
Civic Holiday August 7 (County offices closed) N/A
International Day of World's Indigenous Peoples August 9 N/A

September

September Commemorative Dates
Name of commemorative dateObservation dateSpecial requests
Hunger Action Month September  Proclamation 
National Payroll Week September 5 - 9 N/A
Labour Day September 4 (County offices closed) N/A
National Forest Week September 17 - 23 Proclamation 
Rail Safety Week September 18 - 24 Proclamation 
Gender Equality Week September 18 - 24 N/A
Powley Day September 19 N/A
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 dateObservation dateSpecial requests
Women's History Month October  N/A
Hispanic Heritage Month October  Proclamation 
Cyber Security Month October Proclamation 
Fire Prevention Week October 8 - 14 N/A
Thanksgiving Day October 9 (County offices closed)  N/A
Ontario Agriculture Week October 9 - 13  Proclamation 
Waste Reduction Week  October 15 - 22 Proclamation 
Local Government Week October 15 - 22 Proclamation 
Child Care worker & Early Childhood Educator Appreciation Day October 17 Proclamation 

November

November Commemorative Dates
Name of commemorative dateObservation dateSpecial requests
Diwali November 12 N/A
Treaties Recognition Week November 5 - 11  N/A
Indigenous Veterans Day November 8 N/A
Remembrance Day November 11 (Observed November 13 - County offices closed)
  • Proclamation 
  • Flags lowered to half-mast
Louis Riel Day November 16 N/A
Transgender Awareness Week November 13 - 19 
  • Proclamation 
  • Transgender flag raising
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
  • Proclamation 
  • Flag raising

December

December Commemorative Dates
Name of commemorative dateObservation dateSpecial 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
Christmas Day  December 25 (County offices closed)  N/A
Boxing Day  December 6 (County offices closed)  N/A

Submit a request to raise a flag

Is there a flag you would like to request to have raised on the County's community flagpole that isn't listed above? To request to fly a flag on the County's community flagpole, please review our Flags, Community Flags and Flagpole policy and submit an online application form.

Submit an application