DEI Calendar Highlights for May 2025: Honouring Heritage, Equity, and Well-Being at Work
May offers powerful opportunities for organizations to reaffirm their commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and employee well-being. With observances ranging from Asian Heritage Month to Global Accessibility Awareness Day, this month invites workplaces to celebrate, reflect, and act with greater intention.
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To support your planning efforts, whether you’re an HR professional, a team leader, or a culture champion, May’s observances offer a strong foundation for employee education, internal campaigns, and inclusive workplace culture-building throughout the month.
DEI Calendar for May 2025
Asian Heritage Month
A month to recognize and celebrate the achievements, contributions, and history of people of Asian descent in Canada.
How organizations can commemorate:
- Host learning sessions on Asian history, cultures, and leadership journeys.
- Feature employee spotlights, blogs, or videos highlighting Asian community contributions.
- Review internal policies and leadership pipelines for cultural inclusion and advancement.
- Partner with Asian employee resource groups or local organizations for joint initiatives.
Canadian Jewish Heritage Month
This month honours the significant contributions of Jewish Canadians to Canada’s growth and culture.
How organizations can commemorate:
- Share educational resources and organize internal learning events.
- Offer training on recognizing and addressing antisemitism and religious bias.
- Review holiday and accommodation policies to ensure they support religious diversity.
- Celebrate Jewish cultural contributions through storytelling, arts, or guest speakers.
Mental Health Awareness Month
A time to elevate conversations around mental health, reduce stigma, and advocate for accessible supports. Ongoing mental health challenges across communities underscore the importance of compassion, awareness, and proactive action in our workplaces.
How organizations can commemorate:
- Promote Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) and mental health support resources.
- Host workshops on mental health literacy, self-care, and stress management.
- Normalize conversations about mental health in leadership communications.
- Review and enhance leave and accommodation policies to support mental wellness.
- Foster a psychologically safe work culture through regular mental health check-ins.
May 1 – International Workers’ Day
This day celebrates workers’ rights and advocates for fair, equitable workplaces.
How organizations can commemorate:
- Begin by recognizing the contributions of employees across all levels.
- Facilitate discussions on equitable pay, safe working conditions, and employee voice.
- Revisit compensation, benefits, and advancement policies for transparency and fairness.
- Highlight key milestones in labour rights through internal communications and storytelling.
May 5 – National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (Red Dress Day)
A day to honour and raise awareness about the ongoing crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit people.
How organizations can commemorate:
- Encourage employees to wear red and share the meaning behind Red Dress Day.
- Host educational sessions or invite Indigenous leaders to speak.
- Reflect internally by auditing policies and practices that may create barriers for Indigenous Peoples.
- Support Indigenous-led organizations through partnerships, donations, or volunteer opportunities.
May 16 – Global Accessibility Awareness Day
This observance promotes digital access and inclusion for people with disabilities.
How organizations can commemorate:
- Audit your website, digital tools, and internal communications for accessibility gaps.
- Offer employee training on accessible design principles and assistive technology.
- Reassess hiring, onboarding, and learning materials to ensure accessibility.
- Share success stories of employees with disabilities to foster awareness and allyship.
May 17 – International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia
A global day to stand against discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression.
How organizations can commemorate:
- Host learning sessions that centre 2SLGBTQIA+ voices and lived experiences.
- To ensure inclusive practices, audit and update workplace policies to explicitly protect 2SLGBTQIA+ employees.
- Launch or amplify Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) focused on Pride and belonging.
- Visibly support 2SLGBTQIA+ inclusion through communications and internal campaigns.
May 26–June 1 – National AccessAbility Week
This week celebrates the contributions of Canadians with disabilities and promotes efforts to remove barriers.Celebrating the contributions of Canadians with disabilities and promoting efforts to remove barriers.
How organizations can commemorate:
- Recognize and celebrate the achievements of employees with disabilities.
- Review workplace accessibility and inclusive design practices.
- Launch initiatives to remove systemic barriers in recruitment, onboarding, and career development.
- Partner with disability advocacy organizations to inform your accessibility and inclusion efforts.
Leading with Intention
May’s observances offer more than opportunities to raise awareness — they create momentum for real change. Whether it’s commemorating history, championing mental health, standing for equity, or advancing accessibility, every action you take brings your organization closer to building a truly inclusive and thriving culture.
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Don’t forget to save the infographic!
Right-click the image (or tap and hold on mobile) to download and save it as a quick visual reminder of the actions your team can take throughout the month. Consider printing and sharing it internally, pinning it in your office, or adding it to your internal DEI communications.