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May 1st, 2026

May 2026 Days of Significance

Dear EAFWR Community,

As we enter the month of May, we invite you to join us in reflecting, celebrating, and learning through several important observances: MMIWG2S Awareness Day, Community Living Month, Mental Health Awareness Month, Asian and South Asian Heritage Month, and National AccessAbility Week.

May 5 – National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2-Spirit People (MMIWG2S)

Also known as Red Dress Day, this national day honours the lives of Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit people who have been murdered or gone missing. Red dresses—hung in windows, trees, and public spaces—serve as haunting symbols of the thousands of lives stolen, and the justice still denied to so many families and communities.

This is a day for remembrance, resistance, and recommitment to action. It is also a time to uplift the Indigenous voices and advocates who continue to carry this burden while working toward truth and transformation.

📚 Resources: 

🎉 Events:

Let us honour their memories by listening, amplifying Indigenous voices, and advocating for systemic change.

Community Living Month

May is Community Living Month, a time to recognize and celebrate the people, places, and stories that make our communities more inclusive. It’s also a powerful opportunity to highlight the rights, voices, and leadership of people with intellectual disabilities and those who stand alongside them in advocacy, support, and solidarity.

📍 Day at the Legislature – May 6, 2026
Community Living Ontario will once again collaborate with Community Living Toronto for their annual Day at the Legislature at Queen’s Park. This event brings together self-advocates, family members, agencies, and supporters to connect with policymakers and increase visibility at the provincial level.

🔹 Note: This event is open to Community Living Ontario (CLO) members only. If you’re interested in attending, please contact your local CLO member association.

📸 Want to Participate Online?

Organizations across Ontario are invited to share their Community Living Month celebrations by posting photos on social media, tagging @CLToronto and using the campaign hashtag #CLMonth2026

Mental Health Awareness Month

Mental health is essential to our wellbeing, and May is an opportunity to reduce stigma and connect with supportive resources. Our Wellness Committee will be organizing staff activities—stay tuned!

📚 Resources:

🎉 Events:

Asian & South Asian Heritage Month

May also celebrates the histories, cultures, and contributions of Asian and South Asian communities in Canada. It’s a time to uplift diverse voices, honour resilience, and challenge anti-Asian racism.

📚 Resources:

🎉 Events:

National AccessAbility Week – May 31 to June 6

National AccessAbility Week (NAAW) is a time to celebrate accessibility and inclusion and the contributions of Canadians with disabilities, ensuring that people with disabilities have an equal opportunity to participate in all aspects of life. This year, NAAW will take place from May 31 to June 6.

At Extend-A-Family Waterloo Region, our mission of championing an inclusive community for all guides our work every day. Big or small, every action toward accessibility makes an impact. Together, we can build a more accessible and inclusive Canada for people with disabilities.

We are thrilled to be a vendor at the National AccessAbility Tradeshow and Conference, hosted this year by Independent Living Waterloo Region, on June 1 and 2, 2026 at Ken Seiling Waterloo Region Museum!

📚 Resources:

🎉 Events:

 

This month is rich with opportunities to honour Indigenous lives, advance inclusion, prioritize wellness, and celebrate Asian and South Asian communities. We encourage you to engage with the events and resources and follow our social media channels throughout the month of May. 

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