May Is…

“Community Living Month, Ontario”: See www.communitylivingontario.ca.

“National Asian Heritage Month”: See the Vancouver Asian Heritage Month Society https://explorasian.org

“National Asthma Awareness Month”: See the Asthma Society of Canada www.asthma.ca

“National Car Care Month”: see the Automotive Industries Association of Canada www.aiacanada.com.

“National Celiac Awareness Month”: See www.celiac.ca.

“International Doula Month”: See www.doulacare.ca

“MS Awareness Month”: Multiple Sclerosis is unpredictable, affecting vision, hearing, memory, balance and mobility. See www.mssociety.ca.

“Museum Month, Ontario”: See www.museumsontario.com

“National MedicAlert Month”: See www.medicalert.ca

“Speech and Hearing Awareness Month, North America. See https://speechandhearing.ca/latest-news/

“Vision Health Month”: To inform the public that preventative eye care is important because eye conditions, diseases and injuries that can rob a person’s vision can strike at any time in life. Call CNIB 1-800-563-2642. See www.cnib.ca

April 29-May 5 “Children’s Book Week”: An annual event sponsored by the Children’s Book Council to encourage the enjoyment of reading for young people. Call 1-800-999-2160, email info@cbcbooks.org. See www.bookweekonline.com.

May 1 “May Day”: Observed as a holiday since ancient times with Spring Festivals, Maypoles and celebrations. But the political importance of May Day has also grown since the 1880’s when it became workers day in the U.S.  Observed as Labour Day in many countries. Bermuda, Canada and the US are the only countries that observe Labour Day in September.

May 1-7 “Emergency Preparedness Week”: This is an annual event coordinated by the provinces and territories. This year’s theme is Plan, Prepare, Be Aware. See www.getprepared.gc.ca.

May 4 “Star Wars Day”: May the Fourth be with you.

May 4 “Free Comic Book Day”: Each year, independent comic book stores around the world give out free comic books to children. Call Diamond Comic Distributors 410-560-7100. See www.comicshoplocator.com.

May 5 “Cartoonists Day”: To honour all those who use their imagination and a few pens to bring their ideas to life and give us a laugh via the daily paper, magazines, TV and the movies. Call Polly Keener 330-836-4448 or e-mail hamsteralley@aol.com.

May 6 “No Diet Day”: A day to stop dieting and stop hazardous weight-loss attempts. Find out the 10 reasons not to diet by emailing Francie Berg at fmberg@healthyweight.net (please put “Berg-No Diet Day” in subject line). Web www.healthyweight.net.

May 5 “MS Walk”: The WALK is a critical part of the MS Society’s fundraising efforts and is a significant program in funding research towards a cure for Multiple Sclerosis. Takes place in cities across Canada. See www.mswalks.ca.

May 7 “National Child and Youth Mental Health Day”: see www.familysmart.ca

May 8 “World Red Cross Day”: A day for commemorating the birth of Jean-Henri Dunant, the Swiss founder of the International Red Cross Movement in 1863, and for recognizing the humanitarian work of the Red Cross around the world. For info on activities in your area, contact your local Red Cross chapter. See www.redcross.ca.

May 10 “Stay Up All Night Night”: A night when people are encouraged to stay awake through the night, reliving the excitement of staying up late as a child. There is something incredibly satisfying in staying up to see the sunrise – and everyone should do it at least once a year. Annually, the 2nd Saturday in May. For info, email George Mahood at george@georgemahood.com.

May 10-20 “Canadian Tulip Festival”: The world’s largest festival with more than 3 million tulips in bloom in Ottawa. The event grew out of a thank-you gift of bulbs from the Dutch Royal Family. Call 613-567-5757 or 1-800-66-TULIP. Email info@tulipfestival.ca. Web: www.tulipfestival.ca.

May 11 “National Babysitter’s Day”: To give babysitters appreciation and special recognition for their quality child care. Call Barbara Baldwin 210-695-9838, email bbaldwin@satx.rr.com. See www.safetywhys.com.

May 12 “Mother’s Day”: The second Sunday in May.  The first celebrations in honour of mothers were held in the spring in ancient Greece. They paid tribute to Rhea, the Mother of the Gods. In 1907 Anna Jarvis in Philadelphia, PA asked her church to hold a service in memory of all mothers on the anniversary of her mother’s death. She later began a letter-writing campaign to create a Mother’s Day observance.

May 12 “Limerick Day”: Observed on the birthday of a Limerick champion called Edward Lear. He published a book of Limericks in the 18th century call Edward Lear’s Book of Nonsense. Visit https://www.dltk-holidays.com/patrick/m-limerick.htm to see some Limericks by Edward Lear plus instructions on how to write them.

May 18 “International Museum Day”: To pay tribute to museums of the world. Observed annually on May 18 since 1977. For info call Canadian Museums Association 1-888-822-2907 or email info@museums.ca.

May 20 “Victoria Day”: Commemorates the birth of Queen Victoria on May 24th 1819. It is a national holiday in Canada. Observed on the first Monday preceding May 25th.

May 21 “I Need a Patch for That Day” They have patches for nicotine and they have patches for heart patients.  How about a Patch for “bad hair day” or “runny noses. Phone 717-279-0184 or email: info@wellcat.com

May 22 “National Missing Children’s Day”: To promote awareness of the problem of missing children. Toll Free Hot Line Number 1-800-387-7962. See www.childfind.ca.

May 24 “Brothers Day”: Celebration of brotherhood for biological brothers, fraternity brothers, brothers bonded by union affiliation or lifetime experiences.  For info: Daniel Rhodes. Phone 205-908-6781, email rhodan@charter.net.

May 27 “Memorial Day (US)”: Legal public holiday in the United States, in honour of those who have died in battle.

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