Have a Heart Day

Have a Heart Day is a child and youth-led reconciliation event that brings together caring Canadians to help ensure First Nations children have the opportunity to grow up safely at home, get a good education, be healthy, and be proud of who they are.

Did you know that Have a Heart Day has been celebrated each year on February 14 since 2012? 
 

We're so excited to be planning another in-person gathering for Have a Heart Day 2024. Educators and special supporters, be sure to keep an eye out for your official invitations!

 

No matter where you live, you can still celebrate Have a Heart Day in your own way.

Take a look through the list below for ideas on how you can honour the day with your classes, families, or communities:
 

  • Host your own Have a Heart Day event in your school or community. Choose a day leading up to Valentine's Day that makes sense for your class or community. Gather in your gymnasium or community centre and showcase your commitment to love and fairness for First Nations kids by singing songs, reading poems, and writing to elected officials. Download and edit our Have a Heart Day poster to use for your event (in the resources below) and be sure to register your Have a Heart Day celebration to be showcased on our interactive map!
     
  • Send a Valentine’s Day card or letter supporting Have a Heart Day to the Prime Minister and your Member of Parliament. You can come up with your own card or letter or use the letter and colouring pages found below.
     
  • Get creative by completing our Snow Bears Activity or making some Have a Heart Day cookies with your class or family. Find the Snow Bears Learning Activity and Spirit Bear's Recipe Cards in the resources below.
     
  • Spread the word and post photos of your Have a Heart Day letter, cookies, snow bear or however you choose to celebrate on social media! Use the hashtag #HaveAHeartDay and/or #JourneeAyezUnCoeur. Please follow us @CaringSociety and @SpiritBear on Twitter and @SpiritBearAndFriends on Instagram and tag us in your festivities for a chance to be featured!
     
  • Teachers, bring reconciliation into the classroom to get your students ready. Do Project of Heart. For other great ideas, visit our website for Spirit Bear’s free resources, and don’t forget that you can take pawsitive action with Spirit Bear throughout the year!
     
  • Explore the Have a Heart Day website for more ideas and Have a Heart Day resources. We will be updating our website and our social media leading up to #HaveAHeartDay, so stay connected!
     
  • Listen to Senator Kim Pate’s 2020 Have a Heart Day statement in which she commends the children and emphasizes the importance of their cause. You can read Senator Pate's message for Have a Heart Day 2020 in the resources below.
     

Through activities like Have a Heart Day, we are creating a movement where the landscape of Canada is only one of honour and possibility for First Nations children.

 

Have a Heart Day Resources

Have a Heart Day on Parliament Hill

Have a Heart Day is a child and youth-led reconciliation event that brings together caring Canadians to help ensure First Nations children have the opportunity to grow up safely at home, get a good education, be healthy, and be proud of who they are. Each year, schools from Ottawa, Gatineau and the surrounding areas come together on Parliament Hill to read their letters and poems, sing songs and stand together for love and fairness.

Due to ongoing construction at Parliament Hill, Have a Heart Day 2024 will take place at an alternate location. We look forward to gathering on Parliament Hill with children and youth in the years to come. 

Thank you for standing with First Nations young people to ensure that they can grow up safely at home, get a good education, be healthy and be proud of who they are!

Send a Letter to the Prime Minister or your Member of Parliament

Mail may be sent postage-free to the Prime Minister and any Member of Parliament at the following addresses:

Office of the Prime Minister
80 Wellington Street
Ottawa, ON
K1A 0A2

Submit an automated letter to the Prime Minister 

Name of Member of Parliament
House of Commons 

Ottawa, ON
K1A 0A6

Find the name and mailing address of your MP