Join us at Speak Out to earn the basics of community work and advocacy through four workshops and hands-on practice creating your own advocacy campaign.

Mondays 6-8pm, Jan 19 & 26, Feb 2 & 9

Link to register: https://forms.gle/VGhWZJTobR3K4rC86

A space for folks that don’t identify with the gender they were assigned at birth or are questioning their gender to connect.

We’ll alternate between discussion topics, and a social space to play games, make some art and get to know each other.

• Age 10-15 group: 4:30-6pm

• Age 16+ Group: 6:30-8pm

To register, contact Declan to schedule a short intake call.

Email gendercare@durhamchc.ca

Call or Text: 905 213 1207

Welcome to Crafting with Pride! For this session, we will be making banners out of beads.

We will be meeting every month for games, activities, crafts, and discussions around community and identity.

This is a program for 2SLGBTQIA+ community members and allies ages 16 – 25.

For more info, contact teens@pickeringlibrary.ca

A space for folks that don’t identify with the gender they were assigned at birth or are questioning their gender to connect.

We’ll alternate between discussion topics, and a social space to play games, make some art and get to know each other.

• Age 10-15 group: 4:30-6pm

• Age 16+ Group: 6:30-8pm

To register, contact Declan to schedule a short intake call.

Email gendercare@durhamchc.ca

Call or Text: 905 213 1207

Start 2026 on a high note and celebrate community, connection and fresh beginnings at the annual Mayor's Levee!

Free activities:

• Meet and greet with Mayor Foster and members of Council

• Free public skating from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. on Pad B

• Live music and entertainment

• Inflatables

• Hot chocolate

• Face painting and henna art

• Community booths showcasing local organizations

What even is a Mayor’s Levee?!

We’re so glad you asked! A New Year’s Levee is a long-standing tradition in communities across Canada. It’s an open house hosted by the Mayor and Council to welcome residents, reflect on the year that has passed, and look ahead with optimism. Most importantly, it’s a chance for neighbours to connect in a relaxed and welcoming setting.

The Maple Leafs and Marlies acknowledge the importance to use our platform to amplify and celebrate Indigenous culture in our city and surrounding communities. As we continue to work toward reconciliation with the Indigenous community, we have the responsibility to support local Indigenous artists and artisans, vendors and creators and youth.

Recognizing the deep history of the Indigenous community, we want to acknowledge, celebrate, and uplift Indigeneity from the past, present and beyond.

Celebrate New Year’s Eve with us at Chestnut Hill Developments Recreation Complex! Bring the family for an evening of fun, music, and activities before the big countdown.

In the lobby, enjoy family games, crafts, and music. At 8:30 pm, Mayor and/or Council will welcome guests and lead the countdown and balloon drop as Auld Lang Syne plays.

Ring in 2026 with free fun for all ages!

🏊‍♀️ Free Swim: 6:00 – 8:00 pm

⛸️ Free Skate: 6:00 – 8:30 pm

🎈 Balloon Drop: 8:30 pm

Bring the whole family - see you there! ✨

It’s a time of celebration and new beginnings!

The Ajax Family New Year’s Eve Party delivers a fantastic event for the whole family. This event features arts & crafts, interactive activities, public skating, and more. Party favours are included as participants gather on the ice rink for a special countdown and balloon drop at 9 p.m. It’s a great way to ring in the New Year!

Nominal fees apply for food and beverages available at the ACC Snack Bar. Activities are subject to change without notice.

There is only one entrance into the event - Pad 4 entrance. Admission is on a first come, first served basis. There is no re-admission once you leave.

New Years in Oshawa

Kick off the new year at this free family-friendly event, which will feature skating, swimming, live entertainment, children's activities, and more.

Admission is FREE and first-come, first-served. Lineups and outdoor wait times may happen, so please plan ahead

Doors open at 5:45pm

We can't wait to see you there and share an amazing day together!

(Free admission on a first-come, first-serve basis)

*Changes to this year's event: To make sure everyone has a safe and enjoyable time, we'll have new capacity limits in place this year.

Get into the holiday spirit with a Festive Family Swim & Skate at the Delpark Homes Centre!

⛸️ Festive Family Skate – December 23

Enjoy an evening on the ice with Santa from 6:30–8:30 p.m. Learn more at oshawa.ca/Skate.

These events are drop-in only. Capacity limits may apply. Regular leisure swim and skate admission fees apply. Details at oshawa.ca/Admissions.

Get into the holiday spirit with a Festive Family Swim & Skate at the Delpark Homes Centre!

🏊‍♀️ Festive Family Swim – December 20

Make a splash with Santa from 2–3:30 p.m. Learn more at oshawa.ca/Swim.

These events are drop-in only. Capacity limits may apply. Regular leisure swim and skate admission fees apply. Details at oshawa.ca/Admissions.

Join us at the 2SLGBTQI Colours program for Youth in Grade 9 to 12! This recreational program aims to bring together like-minded teens, meet new people, get community resources & info, and talk about issues that matter to you, all while participating in creative arts, crafts or interactive activities. Snacks will be provided.

Registration is required. To learn more or register, please contact Alyssa at: 289-404-1665

Let's welcome author Yolanda T. Marshall for a Kwanzaa Storytime!

Yolanda is an award-winning Guyanese-born Canadian author and columnist. She is also the author of over 20 books, including A Piece of Black Cake for Santa, Sweet Sorrel Stand, What's in the Cookie Tin?, C is for Carnival, Hot Cross Buns for Everyone and My Soca Birthday Party: with Jollof Rice and Steel Pans. This traditionally published author writes diverse, inclusive, and festive children’s literature, representing the African/Caribbean diaspora.

This is a drop-in program, no registration is required.

Human Rights Day is observed by the international community every year on 10 December. It commemorates the day in 1948 the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The formal inception of Human Rights Day dates from 1950, after the Assembly passed resolution 423 (V) inviting all States and interested organizations to adopt 10 December of each year as Human Rights Day.

When the General Assembly adopted the Declaration, it was proclaimed as a "common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations", towards which individuals and societies should "strive by progressive measures, national and international, to secure their universal and effective recognition and observance".

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights sets out a broad range of fundamental rights and freedoms to which all of us are entitled. It guarantees the rights of every individual everywhere, without distinction based on nationality, place of residence, gender, national or ethnic origin, religion, language, or any other status.

Pansexual Pride Day is an annual celebration of the pansexual community, which recognises, celebrates and brings visibility to those who identify as pansexual. It is celebrated in December each year and is an important opportunity for pansexual people to come together, celebrate their identities, and advocate for a more inclusive society.

The celebration of Pansexual Pride Day helps bring visibility to this often overlooked part of the LGBTQ+ community. It’s an opportunity for members of the community to come together, celebrate their identities, raise awareness about pansexual rights, and create a more inclusive society. On this day, many people choose to wear something in the colors of the pansexual flag (pink, yellow & blue) as a way to show their pride and solidarity with the community. Additionally, many events are held throughout the day with activities such as panel discussions, workshops, film screenings and more.

The theme of this year's World AIDS Day is “Overcoming disruption, transforming the AIDS response."

The commemoration of World AIDS Day, which will take place on 1 December 2025, is an important opportunity to highlight the impact that the funding cuts from international donors have had on the response to AIDS as well as to showcase the resilience of countries and communities stepping up to protect the gains made and drive the HIV response forward.

In 2025, a historic funding crisis is threatening to unravel decades of progress. HIV prevention services are severely disrupted. Community-led services, vital to reaching marginalized populations, are being deprioritized while the rise in punitive laws criminalizing same-sex relationships, gender identity, and drug use is amplifying the crisis, making HIV services inaccessible. 

Tickets now available:

$30 each or reserve a full table of 8 for $250

Etranser: kevanwithana@hotmail.com

Join the Women's Committee of Durham Region for a Women's Abuse Awareness Month Event:

MISSING & MURDERED INDIGENOUS WOMEN & GIRLS
🗓 November 25, 2025
📍1425 Phillip Murray Ave., Oshawa
⏰ 1pm-4pm

See you there!

When Brothers Speak is North America’s largest and longest-running showcase of Black male spoken word artists. Since 1999, this annual event has been a staple in the entertainment calendar, bringing powerful performances from Toronto, across Canada, the U.S., and the U.K.

Hosted by ACDR

Join us for a free event to remember, honour and celebrate the lives of those lost to anti-trans violence.

Transgender Day of Remembrance is an annual observance that honours and remembers those who have lost their lives due to anti-transgender violence.

The Transgender Day of Remembrance was established in 1999 by Gwendolyn Ann Smith, a transgender woman, in response to the brutal murder of Rita Hester, a transgender woman, in Allston, Massachusetts. Since then, it has grown and is now observed in cities around the world as a day to remember the lives lost to anti-trans violence.

The Maple Leafs and Marlies are proud to support diverse communities, including members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community. While we recognize that barriers to participation still exist within our sport, we stand firm in our belief that no one should face discrimination or exclusion based on their identity.

We are committed to promoting a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment within hockey—both in our arenas and on our social platforms. We invite all fans to join us in fostering an environment where everyone can feel supported and be their true selves.

Intersex Day of Remembrance, also called Intersex Day of Solidarity, is observed annually on November 8th to commemorate the birthday of Herculine Barbin, a French intersex person whose life and memoirs highlighted the harm of medical and social practices imposed on intersex people. The day calls for global solidarity and political action to end shame, secrecy, and unnecessary, non-consensual medical interventions like "corrective" surgeries on intersex individuals, particularly children.

STEP INTO THE SPOTLIGHT AT CMHA DURHAM’S NIGHT FOR THE STARS GALA

Welcome to an evening where elegance meets purpose. A Night For The Stars is a Fundraising Gala dedicated to supporting mental health. Every ticket, bid and sponsorship helps fund vital programs, making a real impact. This event is more than just a celebration, it’s a movement dedicated to bringing mental health to the forefront.

Tickets: https://cmhadurhamgala.ca/

Become A Sponsor: https://cmhadurhamgala.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Gala-Sponsorship-Package-And-Form.pdf

Make A Donation: https://give-can.keela.co/cmha-gala-sapphire-gala?eblastId=QYT86ZE8fhaXuek7G&emailId=QYT86ZE8fhaXuek7GgN2DjEwpD7Wv3XbdR1759327203230

Join us for the Together Against Hate Durham conference!

Hosted by the Region of Durham as part of its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) strategy, this event is proudly funded by the Canada Race Relations Foundation (CRRF) – National Anti-Racism Fund.

Held at the Ajax Community Centre, the Together Against Hate Durham conference will feature inspirational speakers and meaningful panel discussions.

The conference will also highlight the powerful impact of public awareness through its recently launched campaign. The campaign was informed by contributions from a coalition of 39 Durham Region community organizations, with over 65 coalition members involved in its development.

Together, we will explore the importance of remaining united against hate, discrimination and prejudice, and work toward building a society that embraces diversity and fosters acceptance for all.

Refreshments will be provided.

This day celebrates the life, love and diversity that exists between transgender parents and their children and transgender children and their parents. It is observed annually on the first Sunday of November.

Transgender Awareness Month is an annual celebration of transgender history and the transgender community. It is celebrated every November to commemorate the Transgender Day of Remembrance, which occurs on November 20th. The month is centered around educating people about the transgender community, raising visibility of transgender people, and advocating for their rights.

The primary goals of Transgender Awareness Month are to increase visibility of transgender people and to raise awareness about the discrimination and violence that the community faces. During the month, organizations, communities, and individuals come together to host events and activities to celebrate the transgender community and educate the public about the unique experiences of transgender people. These events may include marches and parades, lectures and workshops, film screenings, and art exhibitions.

Nia Centre for the Arts is proud to announce the return of A Black Art Fair for its third edition - bigger and bolder than ever!

Dedicated to showcasing and selling original works by Black-Canadian artists at every career stage, A Black Art Fair brings together over 30 artists from across the country. This is a unique opportunity to connect with artists, collectors, curators, and art lovers nationwide.

Whether you’re an avid collector, a casual art enthusiast, a gallerist, or a first-time buyer, this weekend-long event invites you to explore diverse artistic disciplines, engage with the community, and discover works that speak to you. Support Black artists, grow your collection, and bring home Black art.

Curated by Alica Hall and Anthony Gebrehiwot