Minister's Message for November 2025

November is a significant month in Canada primarily due to Remembrance Day on

November 11th, a national observance to honor veterans and fallen soldiers, and National Indigenous Veterans Day on November 8th, which recognizes the unique contributions and sacrifices of Indigenous peoples in military service.

Key Commemorative Days

• Veterans' Week (November 5-11): The days leading up to Remembrance Day are dedicated to honouring the sacrifices of Canadian veterans throughout history.

• National Indigenous Veterans Day (November 8): This day specifically recognizes the significant contributions of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis people in the military, who often faced discrimination and were denied veteran benefits upon return in the past. Ceremonies often include traditional Indigenous ways of honouring warriors.

• Remembrance Day (November 11): Across the country, Canadians gather for parades and ceremonies at cenotaphs at 11:00 a.m. (the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month) to observe a moment of silence and remember armed forces members who died in the line of duty. Poppies are widely worn as a symbol of remembrance.

• National Child Day (November 20): A day to celebrate children's rights and the commitment Canada made by signing the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

• Holodomor Memorial Day (fourth Saturday of November): A day to commemorate the Holodomor, the Holodomor-Genocide of the Ukrainian People.

• 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence (November 25 - December 10): A campaign to raise awareness and encourage action to end gender-based violence. 

Awareness Months and Campaigns

Movember: Throughout November, many Canadians participate in the "Movember" campaign by growing moustaches to raise awareness and funds for men's health issues, such as prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and mental health.

Hindu Heritage Month and Lebanese Heritage Month are also observed in November. Be sure to add to this list the birthdays of friends and family.

This is also the month when we welcome the arrival of winter. While we do not necessarily look forward to the cold weather, we are reminded of the changing stages of life.

In summary, November is a month of remembrance, recognition, and awareness in Canada, with a strong focus on honoring military personnel, particularly around the November 11th period, and highlighting important social and health issues.