Draft: this lesson was written with AI help and has not yet been read by a human editor.
1 What your class asks
This lesson asks you to analyse current equity and social justice issues in Canada, their underlying social circumstances and strategies for addressing them; Islamophobia is one of the examples the expectation names. The museum holds nothing on Canada itself. It offers one United Nations day against it; the Canadian circumstances and strategies come from your class. 1
Curriculum expectations, with their official codes
- C1.2 analyse a broad range of current equity and social justice issues in Canada […] with reference to the underlying social circumstances and potential strategies for addressing the issues
2 The lesson
What can a commemoration do about an issue?
Look at what the United Nations chose to do about it, and ask which circumstances in your own community a strategy like that would meet.
Go deeper
Read what the Day's own texts say they are for. According to the record of the International Day to Combat Islamophobia, the 2022 resolution stresses that terrorism and violent extremism cannot and should not be associated with any religion, nationality, civilisation or ethnic group, and calls for a global dialogue on a culture of tolerance and peace based on respect for human rights and for the diversity of religions and beliefs 2 3. In 2024 the General Assembly condemned incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence against Muslims, called on member states to take legislative and policy measures, and asked for a Special Envoy 2. In May 2025 Miguel Ángel Moratinos was appointed; he says his role is "not to defend any one religion; it is to defend the human right of all people to practice their religion or faith – without fear" 2.
How do we know?
The record of the Day rests on two sources. The United Nations' own observance page gives the resolutions, the Special Envoy and the 2026 events 2; an English Wikipedia revision of 24 May 2026 gives the proposal by Pakistan's then prime minister in September 2020 and the reason for the date 3. The record of Canadian Islamic History Month cites a Government of Canada page, which states that the month was first established in 2007; the record notes that the page does not name the parliamentary instrument that created it 4. Both records report what was proclaimed, published and organised. Neither reports what changed as a result.
Think about it
The United Nations places the Day within its wider work against hate speech 2, and the Government of Canada page describes a month of educational materials, posters and videos 4. Take a position: can a commemoration, a campaign or an envoy address the circumstances behind an issue in a Canadian community, and what is the strongest objection to your position?
Into the museum
- International Day to Combat Islamophobia: the 2022 resolution, the 2024 resolution, the Special Envoy and how the Day is marked.
- Canadian Islamic History Month: the month's yearly campaigns as the Government of Canada page describes them.
- Iqra Khalid: the member of Parliament who introduced private member's motion M-103 in December 2016 5.
Try this
Read International Day to Combat Islamophobia. Write down three questions you would ask about this issue in a Canadian city, and say which record could help with each.
3 Carry it further
Where this lesson leads in the museum.
4 Check yourself
Nothing here is marked or sent anywhere. It is for you.
In your own words: what does International Day to Combat Islamophobia have to do with this lesson?
Compare with the card
A day set aside by the United Nations. The International Day to Combat Islamophobia falls on 15 March, the anniversary of the 2019 attack on two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, in which 51 people were killed during Friday prayer. The United Nations places the Day within its wider work against hate speech, including the 2019 Strategy and Plan of Action on Hate Speech and the #NoToHate campaign. What can a commemoration do that a law cannot?
I can now
Notes
- 1. Ontario Ministry of Education, The Ontario Curriculum: Social Sciences and Humanities
- 2. United Nations: International Day to Combat Islamophobia, 15 March (observance page)
- 3. International Day to Combat Islamophobia — English Wikipedia
- 4. Government of Canada: Commemorations and campaigns — Combatting Islamophobia (Canadian Heritage)
- 5. Iqra Khalid — English Wikipedia