| Proclamation | Date |
|---|---|
| Hospice Awareness Day | January 29 |
| National 211 Day | February 11 |
| International Women's Day | March 8 |
| Neurodiversity Celebration Week | March 16 to 20 |
| Transit Worker Appreciation Day | March 18 |
| World Down Syndrome Day | March 21 |
| Dig Safe Month | April |
| National Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Week | April 19 to 25 |
| Ontario Lacrosse Festival Week | July 29 to August 9 |
| Reggae Month | August |
Office of the Regional Chair
Roles and responsibilities
In Ontario, the Municipal Act sets out the responsibilities of the Regional Chair. The Regional Chair is both the head of council and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Region.
The Regional Chair is responsible for:
- Leadership and Council duties: Provides leadership, information and recommendations to the Durham Regional Council members, and chairs Council meetings.
- Committee involvement: Serves as a member of all Regional Committees and as CEO of the Durham Region Transit Commission.
- Board Chair: Chairs the Board for Durham OneNet Inc., the Region's Municipal Services Corporation responsible for creating the Regional Broadband Network.
- Legislative role: Introduces motions and votes on items during committee meetings.
- Promotion and representation: Promotes Durham Region locally, nationally and internationally, and acts as the primary speaker on public issues.
- Public engagement: Fosters public interest and involvement in the Region's activities.
- Well-being initiatives: Participates in activities that enhance the economic, social and environmental well-being of the Region and its residents.
- Privacy and Emergency Management: Acts as the head under the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA) and declares emergencies under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act.
Current and Past Durham Region Proclamations
Throughout the year, Durham Region receives proclamation requests from the community. The 2026 list will be updated as requests are confirmed. If you have a date you would like recognized, please submit a proclamation request.
Throughout the year, Durham Region receives proclamation requests from the community. The 2025 list will be updated as requests are confirmed. If you have a date you would like recognized, please submit a proclamation request.
| Proclamation | Date |
|---|---|
| Hospice Awareness Day | January 29 |
| Reggae Month | February |
| National 211 Day | February 11 |
| Dominican Republic Independence Day | February 27 |
| Black Health and Wellness Day | March 1 |
| Neurodiversity Celebration Week | March 17 to 23 |
| Transit Operator and Worker Appreciation Day | March 18 |
| World Behaviour Analysis Day | March 20 |
| Dig Safe Month | April |
| World Autism Day | April 2 |
| International Roma Day | April 8 |
| National Public Safety Telecommunicator Week | April 13 to 20 |
National Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Week | April 20 to 26 |
| National Day of Mourning | April 28 |
| National Speech-Language-Hearing Month | May |
| Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month | May |
| Community Living Month | May |
| National Public Works Week | May 18 to 24 |
| Victorian Order of Nurses (VON) Week | May 18 to 24 |
National AccessAbility Week | May 26 to 31 |
| Italian Heritage Month | June |
| Portuguese Heritage Month | June |
| CDKL5 Awareness Month | June |
| National Deafblind Awareness Month | June |
Seniors Month | June |
Pride Month | June |
Filipino Heritage Month | June |
BGC Club Day | June 6 |
| World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) | June 15 |
| Sickle Cell Awareness Day | June 19 |
| Emancipation Day | August 1 |
| India Independence Day | August 15 |
| Hunger Action Month | September |
| National Day for Truth and Reconciliation | September 30 |
| Islamic History Month | October |
| ADHD Awareness Month | October |
| Hispanic Heritage Month | October |
| National Disability Employment Awareness Month | October |
| Circular Economy Month | October |
| Pink Shirt Day (CIBC Run for the Cure) | October 3 |
| Local Government Week | October 19 to 25 |
| Child Care Worker and Early Childhood Educator Appreciation Day | October 21 |
| World Polio Day | October 24 |
| World Stroke Day | October 29 |
| Royal Canadian Legion Poppy Campaign | October 31 to November 11 |
| Louis Riel Day | November 16 |
| Do It In Durham Entrepreneurship Week | November 17 to 21 |
| Transgender Day of Remembrance | November 20 |
| Shop in Durham Week | November 23 to 29 |
| International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women | November 25 |
| World AIDS Day | December 1 |
| Giving Tuesday | December 2 |
| International Day of Persons with Disabilities | December 3 |
Throughout the year, Durham Region receives proclamation requests from the community. The 2024 list will be updated as requests are confirmed. If you have a date you would like recognized, please submit a proclamation request.
| Proclamation | Date |
|---|---|
| Durham World Religion Day | January 20 |
| Hospice Awareness Day | January 29 |
| Dominican Republic Independence Day | February 27 |
| Black Mental Health Week | March 4 to 8 |
| International Women's Day | March 8 |
| Transit Operator and Worker Appreciation Day | March 18 |
| Neurodiversity Celebration Week | March 18 to 24 |
| World Behaviour Analysis Day | March 20 |
| International Transgender Day of Visibility | March 31 |
| Dig Safe Month | April |
| National Organ and Tissue Donor Awareness Week | April 21 to 27 |
| National Day of Mourning | April 28 |
| Community Living Month | May |
| Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month | May |
| Children’s Mental Health Week | May 6 to 12 |
| Day of Remembrance and Action Against Anti-Asian Racism | May 10 |
| National Public Works Week | May 19 to 25 |
| Victorian Order of Nurses (VON) Week | May 19 to 25 |
| Paramedic Services Week | May 19 to 25 |
| National AccessAbility Week | May 26 to June 1 |
| Pride Month | June |
| Seniors Month | June |
| Italian Heritage Month | June |
| Filipino Heritage Month | June |
| Cyclin-Dependent Kinase-Like 5 (CDKL5) Awareness Month | June |
| BGC Durham Club Day | June 7 |
| Emancipation Day | August 1 |
| Hunger Action Month | September |
| Prostate Cancer Awareness Month | September |
| Journée Franco-Ontarienne / Franco-Ontarian Day | September 25 |
| Canadian Islamic History Month | October |
| Circular Economy Month | October |
| Seniors for Climate Day | October 1 |
| World Homeless Day | October 10 |
| Waste Reduction Week | October 21 to 27 |
| World Polio Day | October 24 |
| Child Care Worker and Early Childhood Educator Appreciation Day | October 24 |
World Stroke Day | October 29 |
Do It In Durham Entrepreneurship Week | November 18 to 22 |
International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women | November 25 |
Shop in Durham Week | December 1 to 7 |
Giving Tuesday | December 3 |
International Day of Persons with Disabilities | December 3 |
Throughout the year, Durham Region receives proclamation requests from the community. The 2023 list will be updated as requests are confirmed. If you have a date you would like recognized, please submit a proclamation request.
| Proclamation | Date |
|---|---|
| Tamil Heritage Month | January |
| Alzheimer's Awareness Month | January 9 |
| World Religion Day | January 15 |
| Durham Region Hospice Awareness Day | January 29 |
| Global Community Engagement Day | January 28 |
| World Behaviour Analysis Day | March 20 |
International Transgender Day of Visibility | March 31 |
| Dig Safe Month | April |
| World Autism Awareness Day | April 2 |
| Toussaint Louverture Day | April 7 |
Organ and Tissue Donor Awareness Week | April 24 to 28 |
Emergency Preparedness Week | May 7 to 13 |
National Public Works Week | May 21 to 27 |
Victorian Order of Nurses Week | May 22 to 26 |
National AccessAbility Week | May 28 to June 3 |
National Deafblind Month | June |
Seniors Month | June |
Filipino Heritage Month | June |
Pride Month | June |
Indigenous History Month | June |
Brain Injury Awareness Month | June |
BGC Durham Club Day | June 2 |
National Public Service Week | June 11 to 17 |
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day | June 15 |
Hunger Action Month | September |
Franco-Ontarian Day | September 25 |
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation | September 30 |
Islamic History Month | October |
Circular Economy Month | October |
Pink Shirt Day | October 1 |
Child Care Worker and Early Childhood Educator Appreciation Day | October 17 |
World Polio Day | October 24 |
World Stroke Day | October 29 |
Do It In Durham Entrepreneurship Week | November 13 to 17 |
Shop In Durham Week | November 26 to December 2 |
Giving Tuesday | November 28 |
International Day of Persons with Disabilities | December 3 |
The following Durham Region proclamations were requested by the community in 2022. If you have a date you would like recognized please submit a proclamation request.
| Proclamation | Date |
|---|---|
| World Religion Day | January 16 |
| National Organ Tissue Donor Awareness Week | April 24 to 30 |
| Huntington Disease Awareness Month | May |
| Steps for Life Day | May 1 |
| VON Week | May 23 to 30 |
| Brain Injury Awareness Month | June |
| Seniors Month | June |
| Pride Month | June |
| World Elder Abuse Awareness Day | June 15 |
| National Indigenous Peoples' Day | June 21 |
| Circular Economy Month | October |
| Hispanic Month | October |
| Islamic History Month | October |
| Child Care Worker and Early Childhood Educator Appreciation Day | October 24 |
| World Polio Day | October 24 |
| Child Care Work and Early Childhood Educator Appreciation Day | October 18 |
| World Stroke Day | October 29 |
| "Do It In Durham" – Celebration of Global Entrepreneurship Week | November 14 to 20 |
| Transgender Day of Awareness | November 20 |
| International Day of Persons with Disabilities | December 3 |
| Shop In Durham Week | December 4 to 10 |
| Salvation Army Week | December 18 to 24 |
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