ALBERTA EVENTS
CALGARY
Highbanks Society National Child Day Celebration
Date: Thursday, November 20, 2025 5:00-7:00pm
Location: Highbanks Society, Calgary
Highbanks Society will celebrate National Child Day during its Annual General Meeting, featuring an evening of interactive activities and youth leadership. From 5:00–6:00 p.m., children and youth can visit a series of rights-themed activity stations—each focused on a specific right—and contribute to a community world map by adding pins to represent their origins. During this time, young people will also take over the organization’s Instagram account, sharing photos and reflections from the event in real time. From 6:00–7:00 p.m., the Annual General Meeting will begin, called to order by two of Highbanks’ older youth, followed by a reading of Learning My Rights with Mousewoman. The celebration highlights empowerment, belonging, and the importance of children’s rights in everyday life.
More information can be found on the Highbanks Society website.
LETHBRIDGE
YMCA of Lethbridge National Child Day Event
Date: Saturday, November 22, 2025, 9:30 – 4:30pm
Location: Cor Van Raay YMCA, Lethbridge
Celebrate National Child Day with a full day of community, creativity, and fun at the Cor Van Raay YMCA. Families are invited to enjoy a Community Fair, free access to the rec room and indoor play spaces, and a raffle featuring prizes donated by local partners.
Children can also participate in a Language Wall activity in MPR 5—writing, painting, or drawing greetings in their home languages to be displayed in child minding. To wrap up the celebration, join the DJ in the pool from 2–4 pm!
EDMONTON
ARCQE’s National Child Day Conference
Date: Saturday, November 21–22, 2025
Location: Edmonton Convention Centre (in-person & virtual)
This year’s theme is grounded in Article 3 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, emphasizing the importance of placing children at the heart of all matters that affect them.
Be a part of a supportive early learning community focused on SpARCQEing conversations on children’s rights, democratic practice, citizenship, community, and culture, ensuring children are uplifted and represented.
More info can be found on the National Child Day Conference 2025 – ARCQE site.
VIRTUAL EVENTS
Starling’s National Child Day Summit
Date: Friday, November 21, 2025
Location: Virtual (3:30–6:30 p.m. PST | 4:30–7:30 p.m. MST | 6:30–9:30 p.m. EST)
This year’s National Child Day Summit, Our Rights Matter, Too!, is a national gathering for youth ages 14–30 who are providing support or care for a parent with substance use and mental health challenges—and for their allies.
Hosted by Starling’s Community in partnership with the Young Caregivers Council of Canada, the summit creates space for youth to share their voices, experiences, and rights while connecting with peers and advocates across the country.
More information can be found on the Starling’s National Child Day Summit 2025 page.
John Humphrey Centre – Intersections Documentary Release
Date: Wednesday, November 20, 2025
Location: Official online release with national media distribution
The John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights will launch Intersections, a 40-minute documentary exploring youth access to justice in Canada. The film draws on consultations with young people about their experiences with safety, education, housing, and food security, amplifying their perspectives on systemic barriers and change.
More information can be found on the John Humphrey Centre website.
RESOURCES
Unicef Reimagine Playbook 2023
Child Rights Impact Assessment Online Tool
Are you looking to learn more? UNICEF’s Child Rights Impact Assessment Online Tool and Training is a 2.5-hour course sharing tools that can be used widely by those who want to better understand the impacts of new or changing policies on children, youth, and young adults.
Free Play for Kids
Type: Ongoing Community Resource
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Free Play for Kids provides free, barrier-free sports and recreation opportunities for children who might not otherwise have access to organized play. Through partnerships with local schools, community leagues, and organizations, Free Play offers daily after-school programs, meals, transportation, and mentorship in a safe, inclusive environment.
Founded on the belief that every child deserves to play, the program connects young people with positive role models and builds confidence, teamwork, and belonging through sport.
More information: freeplayforkids.com