History
What is Harmony Day?
Our diversity makes Canada a great place to live. Harmony Day is a celebration of our cultural diversity – a day of cultural respect for everyone who calls Canada and the Okanagan home.
The message of Harmony Day is ‘everyone belongs’. This day aims to engage people to participate in their community and schools, to respect cultural and religious diversity, and to foster sense of belonging for everyone. Last year's theme was Identity, "Who I am and what makes me unique".
Since 2006, the Central Okanagan School District has been promoting Harmony Day and celebrating it throughout our schools. The idea to celebrate Harmony Day in the Okanagan was sparked when a colleague took children to visit an Australian school. It just so happened to be Harmony Day on this visit, originally celebrated in Australia, and what she and her children witnessed serves as our inspiration today! Harmony Day is celebrated nationally in Australia on the 21st of March each year and is about bringing people together to promote Australian values and to celebrate community participation. "It is a day to understand and commit to the benefits of living in a country that embraces common values of respect, fairness, participation, acceptance and a fair go for all."
Wednesday, February 16th, 2022 is Harmony Day in Central Okanagan Public Schools
Harmony Day provides an opportunity for schools to work with the themes of the day on a variety of levels. Our suggestion is for schools to focus – to take the day to explore one issue that is relevant to your school in detail, rather than taking a “broad brush” approach.
After the day is over, please share stories, lesson ideas, favourite websites, and photos of your day with the Harmony Day Committee through the link provided on this website.
Our Cultural Diversity
Canada is a vibrant and multicultural country — from the culture of our First Nations Peoples to the cultures of our newest arrivals from around the world. Our diversity is one of our greatest strengths and is at the heart of who we are. It makes Canada a great place to live.
Multicultural Canada is an integral part of our national identity. All people who migrate to Canada bring with them some of their own cultural and religious traditions, as well as taking on many new traditions. Collectively, these traditions have enriched our nation.
