National Physicians’ Day in Canada 🇨🇦 is observed each year on May 1 to honor physicians for their dedication, compassion, and contributions to healthcare. The date was chosen to commemorate the birthday of Dr. Emily Stowe (1831–1903), the first woman to practice medicine in Canada and a pioneer in advancing women’s rights and access to medical education.
When Is National Physicians’ Day Observed in Canada
National Physicians’ Day is observed on May 1 every year in Canada. The date honors the birthday of Dr. Emily Stowe, the first woman to practice medicine in the country. Below is a table of upcoming observances through 2030:
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2025 | May 1, Thursday |
| 2026 | May 1, Friday |
| 2027 | May 1, Saturday |
| 2028 | May 1, Monday |
| 2029 | May 1, Tuesday |
| 2030 | May 1, Wednesday |
History and Origins
National Physicians’ Day was officially recognized in 2018, when the Canadian government passed legislation to establish May 1 as a day of tribute to physicians across the country. The choice of Dr. Emily Stowe’s birthday reflects both the importance of medical milestones and the recognition of equity and progress in the medical profession.
This observance builds on a long tradition of expressing gratitude to physicians, similar to the U.S. National Doctors’ Day (also called National Physicians’ Day), which takes place annually on March 30. While the U.S. date honors the first use of anesthesia by Dr. Crawford W. Long in 1842, Canada’s observance highlights a landmark figure in its own medical history.
Meaning and Significance
National Physicians’ Day emphasizes the essential role doctors play in caring for patients, advancing medical research, and responding to public health challenges. It serves as an opportunity not only for hospitals and professional organizations to celebrate doctors, but also for individuals and communities to express gratitude for the physicians who improve and save lives every day.
The observance also underscores the ongoing efforts to address physician burnout and the importance of supporting healthcare providers in sustaining their vital work.
How to Observe National Physicians’ Day
- Share messages of thanks with your doctor or local medical team.
- Highlight stories of physicians’ impact in your community.
- Participate in hospital or medical association events honoring doctors.
- Promote awareness using the hashtag #NationalPhysiciansDay.
Before You Go:
We have many more national days lists for you to explore.
- Food-related national days: complete list of national food days, pasta & noodles days, vegan & vegetarian days, celiac & gluten-free days, mushroom days, ice-cream days, pizza days, coffee days, chocolate days, wine days, alcohol & drinking days.
- Non-food national days: National Days Calendar 2025-2026 (check out the printable calendars in my Etsy shop), National Days for Teachers, and a wide array of special lists such as cat days, dog days, animal days, cleaning & organizing days, book days, music days, family & relationships days, national days for women, stationery days and even Harry Potter days.
- Country-specific national days: Australian national days, more coming soon.
đź“ť This article was originally published on July 27th, 2024. It has been thoroughly updated, and the publishing date has been changed to reflect the new version.
