International Mother Language Day

International Mother Language Day History

International Mother Language Day highlights the importance of linguistic and cultural diversity. This day also promotes the preservation and protection of all languages spoken worldwide, making people more conscious of the value of linguistic diversity and multilingualism. This Observance is not only vital in maintaining the distinct character and integrity of our languages, but it also promotes understanding, tolerance, and dialogue amongst different linguistic communities.

This day has special significance for Canadians, given their multicultural and multilingual society. The celebration, originating from a call made by Bangladesh and later sanctioned by the UN General Assembly, has been observed worldwide since 1999. In Canada, it resonates deeply as the nation embodies the ethos being celebrated: diversity, respect, and understanding. Canada's official languages are English and French, but the country has over 200 reported mother tongues based on the last census, ranging from Punjabi, Tagalog to the Indigenous languages of Cree and Ojibwe. Hence, International Mother Language Day underlines the need for language preservation, especially for the myriad of Indigenous languages that characterize Canada's rich cultural tapestry.

On this day, Canadian learning institutions, community centers, public spaces, and even social media platforms come alive with diverse celebrations. Events often include language learning workshops, cultural performances, reading sessions, exhibitions showcasing diverse linguistic heritage and even contests to foster awareness and appreciation. The involvement of multi-generational participants, ranging from school children to elders, also helps revitalizes local languages, ensuring their longevity for future generations. International Mother Language Day occurs each year on February 21.

Top 10 Facts for 2026 International Mother Language Day in Canada

• The official theme for 2026 is Youth voices on multilingual education, highlighting how younger generations use digital tools and creative content to revitalize endangered languages.
• The global observance was originally inspired by a proposal from Rafiqul Islam and Abdus Salam, two Bengali residents of Vancouver who wrote to the United Nations in 1998 to advocate for the protection of the world's diverse mother tongues.
• Canada officially recognized the day at the federal level when the International Mother Language Day Act received Royal Assent on April 27, 2023, following years of advocacy by community leaders and Parliamentarians.
• Toronto’s Dentonia Park is home to a permanent International Mother Language Monument, which is a replica of the iconic Shaheed Minar in Bangladesh and serves as a central gathering point for the local community.
• Residents in Winnipeg also commemorate the day at the International Mother Language Plaza in the Richmond West neighborhood, featuring its own dedicated monument to linguistic martyrs.
• Over 200 different mother tongues are spoken across the country, and approximately one in four Canadians has a first language other than English or French.
• The observance coincides with the International Decade of Indigenous Languages (2022–2032), a United Nations initiative aimed at drawing attention to the critical need to preserve and strengthen the more than 70 Indigenous languages spoken in Canada.
• Statistics show that 40 percent of the Canadian population can conduct a conversation in more than one language, reflecting a growing trend toward multilingualism in major urban centers.
• In major cities like Toronto, 42.5 percent of residents report a mother tongue other than Canada’s two official languages, with Mandarin, Punjabi, and Cantonese among the most widely spoken.
• Many participants refer to the day as Ekushey, the Bengali word for "twenty-first," in honor of the students who sacrificed their lives on February 21, 1952, to defend their right to speak their native language.

In the News and Trending in Canada for International Mother Language Day

Top things to do in Canada for this observance

• Gather with friends and family to assess your local education system. Does it provide adequate language instruction and second language instruction? Second language acquisition has been linked with critical thinking, creativity and flexibility of the mind.
• Generate awareness for International Mother Language Day by using the hashtags #InternationalMotherTongueDay, #IMLD, #motherlanguage or a hashtag followed by the language of your post (#english, #bengali, #xhosa).
• Attend Multicultural Festivals: Cities like Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal often host events, including music performances, art exhibitions, and food festivals, that celebrate the diverse languages spoken in Canada.
• Mother Tongue Book Fair: On International Mother Language Day, some locations host book fairs featuring works written in different languages.