LABOUR DAY: FIRST MONDAY IN SEPTEMBER 

Please note that the first Monday of September is a public holiday across Canada. Academic institutions and offices will be closed but some businesses will still be open. Labour Day has been a statutory holiday in Canada since 1894. It originated in the first workers’ rallies of the Victorian era. Historically, workers marked the day with various activities. Many Canadians now spend the Labour Day holiday relaxing with friends and family. The Labour Day weekend is considered the last weekend of the summer. 

NATIONAL DAY FOR TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION: SEPTEMBER 30

Please note that September 30 is a federal holiday across Canada. This is a new holiday recently established to commemorate the history of Indigenous people in Canada and ongoing trauma caused by residential schools. Your academic institution may be closed on this day. If you would like to learn more about this important part of Canada’s history, we have compiled some videos and links to resources to deepen our understanding of the scale and impact residential schools have caused to Indigenous families and communities:

• Phylis Webstad- Missing Residential School Children

• What is Reconciliation? 

• What non-Indigenous Canadians need to know

THANKSGIVING: SECOND MONDAY IN OCTOBER

The second Monday in October is a public holiday in most provinces, except for New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Thanksgiving is an annual Canadian holiday to give thanks at the close of the harvest season. Although the original act of Parliament references God and the holiday is celebrated in churches, the holiday is mostly celebrated in a secular manner. While businesses may remain open in these provinces, the holiday is nonetheless recognized and celebrated. The tradition is to meet with family and close friends to share a meal, usually turkey.

WINTER IS COMING!

The weather may still be warm during October but the cold weather is coming! We cannot stress enough the importance of learning how to dress appropriately for winter weather and not underestimating the cold’s effect on the body. Speak with your Local Committee about the affordable options available to you should you not yet have a winter jacket, gloves, a toque/hat, and warm winter shoes/boots.

REMEMBRANCE DAY: NOVEMBER 11

November 11th is a statutory holiday across Canada. Some businesses may be closed although most will remain open, including your schools. Every year on November 11, Canadians pause in a moment of silence to remember the men and women who have served, and continue to serve our country during times of war, conflict and peace.

WELLNESS TIP: VITAMIN D

As the shorter days of winter approach, we wanted to encourage you to consider taking Vitamin D supplements during the darker winter months. This may be new to you, especially if you are coming from a sunny and warm climate! Since vitamin D production is triggered by a chemical reaction that occurs when our skin is exposed to the sun, most Canadians produce very little or none at all throughout the winter because we are not outside as often, and we are bundled up under many layers of clothing. According to Health Canada, adults 19-50 years old need 1000 international units (IUs) of vitamin D per day. It is difficult to meet our vitamin D requirements with dietary sources alone, since very few foods are high in vitamin D. In order to make up for this deficiency, Health Canada recommends that all Canadian adults take a vitamin D supplement. These supplements are affordable and available in most grocery stores or pharmacies. 

CHRISTMAS & BOXING DAY: DECEMBER 25 AND 26

Canada recognizes several Christian traditions as national holidays meaning employees and students are given the day off. In Canada, the holidays and important festivals of other faith traditions are celebrated and respected but they are not recognized as national holidays. On Christmas Day (December 25) and Boxing Day (December 26), most businesses will be closed.

REGISTER FOR SECOND SEMESTER COURSES

You have likely just finished your first semester, or are just about to, congratulations! Please make sure you are registering for the winter semester’s courses and make the necessary changes to your schedule. If you need support with this, please reach out to your Local Committee or connect with your Academic Advisor.

DECEMBER HOLIDAYS

Many residences will be closed during the holiday season (typically from December 24th until early January) and students may have to find an alternative housing option. If that is the case, please speak with your Local Committee to make arrangements for a homestay family, staying with friends, or traveling to visit relatives/friends. If you have a meal plan and the cafeteria is closed during the holidays, you can verify with your Local Committee if they will adjust the amount of your monthly allowance so you can buy groceries/food during that time. Take advantage of this break to relax, go sightseeing in your city, make new friends, try winter sports, and attend different events. There are many free activities happening around Christmas time and New Year’s Eve in your city. Normally many businesses close for Christmas (December 24th and 25th) and New Year’s (December 31st and January 1st).

NEW YEARS DAY: JANUARY 1

The start of the Gregorian calendar new year on January 1st is celebrated widely across Canada in many different ways. On December 31, counting down seconds before midnight on New Year's Eve and watching fireworks are very popular. January 1 is often a day of rest and reflection, time with friends and family.

'JANUARY BLUES'

There is something in Canada we call ‘the January blues’. January is usually the coldest and darkest month of the year. Many of us - newcomers and Canadians who have lived their entire lives here - find January the hardest month to enjoy! As this is your first January, we encourage you to talk to your LC about winter activities and think of ways you can beat the January blues. If you can convince yourself to layer-up and get outside - it can be really fun to go outside on a sunny day. You can go for a walk, play in the snow, learn to skate or try tobogganing (google it!)! It is also okay to stay inside where it is warm but we encourage you to get as much natural light as possible as this helps boost your spirits (and vitamin D levels!). You may have heard that some animals hibernate, which means they sleep through the long winter months. Humans may also feel like hibernating but medical experts warn that too much sleep might make the January blues worse. They recommend that you try to keep your normal sleep schedule. Here is some more advice about how to beat the January blues. 

FAMILY DAY: THIRD MONDAY IN FEBRUARY

In most provinces of Canada, the third Monday in February is observed as a regional statutory holiday, typically known in general as Family Day though some provinces use their own names, as they celebrate the day for different reasons. The third Monday of February is observed as "Family Day" in the provinces of Alberta, British Columbia (BC), New Brunswick, Ontario, and Saskatchewan; as Louis Riel Day in Manitoba; as Nova Scotia Heritage Day in Nova Scotia; and as Islander Day in Prince Edward Island. Most businesses will be closed, though a few may remain open.

SUMMER EMPLOYMENT

Make sure that you are connected to employment services on campus and in the community, to update/create a resume/CV and apply for summer employment. Visit the career centre on your campus and make an appointment to help with job search and updating your resume. Below are some popular job searching engines for entry-level and part-time jobs across the country:

• www.workopolis.com 

• www.jobbank.gc.ca 

• http://canada.indeed.com

OFF-CAMPUS TRANSITION 

Start thinking about your off-campus transition if you are moving out of residence for the summer months. Consult your Local Committee if you need help in finding off-campus housing, how to pay rent, bills, etc. This is very important for your future, for example if you default paying your rent on time, the landlord has the right to evict you. You will also have a record which can spoil your credit rating and create challenges for you to get loans to get established in the long run (i.e. loans to get a house or loans to buy a car, etc.).

OFF-CAMPUS HOUSING

As many of you may prepare to move out of residence for the summer months, we have included popular search engines below to help you find affordable housing options. You can also find more options by speaking to housing services on your campus or finding listings in your local newspapers and city websites. If you are looking for beds/sofas/appliances, we encourage you to buy your gently used furniture from garage sales (which are popular in the spring & summer seasons), thrift stores, Facebook Marketplace (accessed through your Facebook account), newspaper ads, and from spring cleanups in your neighborhood.

• Kijiji (this is also a good website to find used furniture at affordable prices and other goods and services): http://www.kijiji.ca/     

• PadMapper: https://www.padmapper.com/   

• Craigslist: https://www.craigslist.org/about/sites

INCOME TAX RETURN

Even though you may not yet have any employment income in Canada, it is strongly encouraged that you submit an income tax return to the Government of Canada. Tax returns are due by April 30 every year for the previous calendar year (January to December). Here are a few reasons why submitting a tax return is important:

• Depending on your income level (if you worked a part-time job), you may be eligible for a GST/HST rebate. This means the government will give you money back!

• To be eligible to apply for student loans in the future, you may need to provide your “Notice of Assessment” from Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) showing the amounts of your income tax return at the time of your financial aid application.  

• To be eligible for Canadian citizenship, you must meet your tax filing obligations as indicated here. 

It is important to know that as an SRP student, you are currently receiving financial support as a sponsored refugee. THIS INCOME IS NOT TAXABLE! SRP students receiving financial support exclusively through the Local Committee do not need to claim any cash or in-kind donations as income on their tax form. Generally this support provided by sponsorship groups is considered a “gift” by the Canada Revenue Agency. For instance, cash or in-kind donations provided for tuition, residence, meal plans, and monthly allowances should not be claimed. However, when you begin to earn money through part-time jobs, you MUST complete an income tax form whenever a “T4 slip” have been issued.

Your Local Committee may be able to help you complete your tax return. Or you can locate an immigration and settlement organization in your community, as these organizations offer assistance to newcomers looking to complete their forms. Here is a link to information about FREE tax clinics across the country. Alternatively, visit the Canada Revenue Agency website for more information about completing an income tax form. 

EASTER: EARLY APRIL

Canada recognizes the Christian tradition of Easter as a national holiday meaning employees and students are given the day off (note: In Canada, the holidays and important festivals of other faith traditions are celebrated and respected but they are not recognized as national holidays). The date of Easter changes every year and depending on the tradition, but the national holiday is recognized as the first Sunday after the full moon that happens in late March. You can check here for the dates of Easter this year. Most academic institutions and offices are closed on ‘Good Friday’ and some are also closed on ‘Easter Monday’. 

VICTORIA DAY: LAST MONDAY PRECEDING MAY 25

Victoria Day is a federal Canadian public holiday celebrated on the last Monday preceding May 25. Initially in honour of the former Queen Victoria's birthday, it has since been celebrated as the official birthday of Canada's sovereignty. It is informally considered to be the beginning of the summer season in Canada. Most schools and businesses will be closed though some may remain open.

NATIONAL INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY: JUNE 21 

National Indigenous Peoples Day takes place on the summer solstice, June 21. National Aboriginal Day (now National Indigenous Peoples Day) was announced in 1996 by then Governor General of Canada, Roméo LeBlanc, through the Proclamation Declaring June 21 of Each Year as National Aboriginal Day. This date is not recognized as a national public holiday so schools, offices and businesses remain open. It’s a special occasion to learn more about the rich and diverse cultures, voices, experiences and histories of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. Learning about Indigenous Peoples, places and experiences is a step forward each Canadian can take on the path to reconciliation. 

ST. JEAN BAPTISTE DAY: JUNE 24

The 24th of June is St. Jean Baptiste Day, the national holiday for French Canadians as well as Quebec’s province-wide holiday. Numerous activities and performances are organized each year to celebrate this event. This holiday was brought to Canada by French settlers celebrating the traditional feast day of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist. It was declared a public holiday in Quebec in 1925. 

WATER SAFETY IN THE SUMMER

In summer, Canadians enjoy an abundance of recreational water activities in lakes, rivers, and oceans, as well as community and residential swimming pools. We hope you can join in this fun activity! Each year, tragic and avoidable water-related injuries and fatalities happen. We encourage students to learn about water safety and that if they do not have experience swimming in lakes or oceans/rivers with strong currents, to wear a lifejacket or personal floatation device (PFD). To learn more, you can visit the Canadian Red Cross and their network of services and water safety informational campaigns all across the country. 

CANADA DAY: JULY 1

Canada Day is a national holiday celebrated on July 1st. Canada Day celebrates the anniversary of Canadian Confederation which occurred on July 1, 1867, with the passing of the British North America Act, 1867 where the three separate colonies of the United Canadas, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick were united into a single Dominion within the British Empire called Canada.

As newcomers, you might be interested in participating in some of the events and activities held in your city. This holiday is normally the perfect occasion to celebrate your arrival to your new country. We wish you all many more joyful Canada Day celebrations in the future, as you are now part of what makes this country so great.

CIVIC HOLIDAY: FIRST MONDAY IN AUGUST

The first Monday in August is a civic holiday in Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Ontario, New Brunswick and Nunavut.