This month we recognize many important days, each one unique and in its own way offers, an opportunity to make a change or to take action that can change how 2021 turns out for you and others. As you read through our list of important days, consider what you can do, how you can improve your life, or the life of someone you may not even know by lobbying, advocating or simply share links to these websites.
African Nova Scotia History Celebrated All Month Long
The commencement of African Heritage Month can be traced back to 1926. Harvard-educated Black Historian, Carter G. Woodson, founded Negro History Week to recognize the achievements made by African Americans. Nova Scotia has over 50 historic African Nova Scotian communities with a long, deep and complex history dating back well over 200 years.
Click here to learn more about African Heritage Month.
Heritage Day in Nova Scotia
February 15th
Nova Scotia Heritage Day is celebrated the third Monday in February. It is an opportunity to learn and honour the remarkable people, places and events that have contributed to to Nova Scotia’s unique heritage. The honour this year, 2021 will be Edward Francis Arab.
Click here to learn more about Heritage Day in Nova Scotia.
Nova Scotia Family Violence Prevention Week
Sunday, Feb. 13 to Saturday, Feb. 19 is Family Violence Prevention Week in the Nova Scotia. Organizations and agencies in our communities and in government will raise awareness on ways to prevent violence within Nova Scotia families. Free public education resources include a new domestic violence poster; safety planning brochures and personalized safety planning booklets for victims of spousal or intimate partner violence are available on the website
Click here to learn more about family prevention week in Nova Scotia.
International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation
February 6th
Living in Nova Scotia in 2021, it may be hard to believe that in at least 30 countries in Africa the Middle East, Asia and Latin America female genital mutilation is still practised. For girls who experience this human rights violation, short-term complications such as severe pain, shock, excessive bleeding, infections, and difficulty in passing urine, as well as long-term consequences for their sexual and reproductive health and mental health.
Click here to learn more about Female Genital Mutilation.
Sexual Reproduction Health Awareness Week February 8-14
Every young person deserves to have their sexual health taken seriously. Youth-friendly sexual health care centres the experience of young people and sees access to sexual and reproductive health as a right. It means having open, non-judgmental, trauma-informed, and sex positive conversations about sex, sexuality, and sexual health.
Youth-friendly care also means seeing sexual health as an integral part of our overall health. It means looking at how issues like age, gender, race, or sexual orientation can have an impact on access to health care.
Young people are the experts when it comes to their own health. They are a diverse group with different needs and desires and the care they receive needs to be adapted to their unique experience.
To learn more or find additional resources click here Sexual Reproduction.
One Billion Rising
February-14th
1 in 3 women across the planet will be beaten or raped during her lifetime. That’s ONE BILLION WOMEN AND GIRLS. Every February, we rise – in countries across the world – to show our local communities and the world what one billion looks like and shine a light on the rampant impunity and injustice that survivors most often face.
Click here to learn more about One Billion Rising.
Pink Shirt Day and Anti-Bullying Day
February-28th 
Pink Shirt Day was inspired by an act of kindness right here in Nova Scotia. David Shepherd, Travis Price took a stand to stop bullying in their school. Now a movement celebrated across the globe it aims to prevent bullying in our schools, workplaces, homes, and online. Over the month of February, and throughout the year, Pink Shirt Day aims to raise awareness of these issues, as well as raise funds to support programs that foster children’s healthy self-esteem.
Click here to learn more about Pink Shirt day and Anti-bullying day.