Ottawa, Ontario, Oct. 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — On October 27, 2025, a wave of blue light will sweep across Canada as 60 iconic buildings and landmarks light up in recognition of World Occupational Therapy Day – a tribute that the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT) is proud to coordinate for the third year in a row. This global celebration shines a spotlight on the occupational therapists (OTs) and occupational therapist assistants (OTAs) who make a difference in the lives of their clients every day.
“When these 60 iconic structures light up blue, they will reflect the ripple effect created by the more than 20,000 OTs and OTAs operating on Turtle Island, in the country also known as Canada,” said Lisa Diamond-Burczuk, CAOT Board Chair. “Every day, they empower people to fully participate in the activities that matter most to them. This Monday, we encourage Canadians from coast to coast to celebrate the impact they have on our communities.”
Established in 2010 by the World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT), World Occupational Therapy Day has become the cornerstone of Occupational Therapy Month each October in Canada, celebrating the profession and the meaningful difference OTs and OTAs make locally, nationally and around the world.
This year's WFOT theme is: “Occupational therapy in action” demonstrates how OTs and OTAs around the world engage people in meaningful activities and participation, demonstrating the significant contribution of occupational therapy to health and well-being through active participation in the activities that people want, need and expect from them.
Some of the landmarks that will be illuminated across the country include Vancouver City Hall, Port Moody City Hall and the British Columbia Parliament buildings in Victoria, British Columbia; Lethbridge City Hall, Medicine Hat Town Square and Alberta Sami Lodge; Saskatoon City Hall and Alberta Prairie Wind Monument; the Winnipeg sign and Princess Auto Stadium in Winnipeg; the CN Tower in Toronto, the Hamilton Sign, the Fire Station 1 Memorial in Belleville, and the Waterilluminate in Waterloo, Ontario; Le Concorde Hotel and Restaurant Ciel in Quebec City, and John Abbott College in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue; Moncton City Hall and Avenir Center in New Brunswick, Cape Breton Regional Municipality City Hall, New Glasgow City Hall in Nova Scotia; the Shaw Building in Charlottetown and Summerside City Hall on Prince Edward Island; and the Confederation Building and City Hall of Saint John in Newfoundland.
The full list of attractions that will be lit up across the country to mark World Occupational Therapy Day includes:
Alberta
town hallLethbridge (October 27)
Red Deer City HallRed Deer (October 27)
Samis TipiMedicine Hat (October 27)
Saline Creek Pedestrian BridgeWood Buffalo (October 27)
City SquareMedicine Hat (October 27)
B.C.
BC Place StadiumVancouver (October 27)
British Columbia Parliament Buildings (grand entrance and fountains)Victoria (October 27)
Burrard Street BridgeVancouver (October 27)
town hallVancouver (October 27)
Bastion of NanaimoNanaimo (October 27)
Fountain and waterfall in the Confederation GardenVictoria (October 27)
Pedestrian bridge over the Fraser RiverQuesnel (October 27)
Port Moody City HallPort Moody (October 27)
World of ScienceVancouver (October 27, 17:30–21:00)
Vancouver Convention CenterVancouver (October 27)
Illumination of the Victoria Street BridgeVictoria (October 27)
YVR airport control tower lightsRichmond (October 27)
Manitoba
Esplanade RielWinnipeg (October 27)
Princess Auto StadiumWinnipeg (October 27)
Selkirk Water TowerSelkirk (27 October)
WINNIPEG signWinnipeg (October 27)
New Brunswick
Future CenterMoncton (October 27)
town hallMoncton (October 27)
Downing StreetMoncton (October 27)
Downtown PlaceMoncton (October 27)
Newfoundland and Labrador
Confederate BuildingSt. John's (October 25)
Saint John City HallSt. John's (October 27)
Nova Scotia
Big violinSydney (27 October)
Cape Breton Regional Municipality City HallSydney (27 October)
New Glasgow Town HallNew Glasgow (October 27)
Yarmouth Town HallYarmouth (27 October)
Ontario
Bay Street BridgeBelleville (October 27)
Brampton Clock TowerBrampton (October 27)
Belleville signBelleville (October 27)
Town Hall, Belleville (October 27)
town hallPeterborough (27 October)
town hallVaughan (27 October)
Community Center Clock TowerMississauga (October 27)
CN TowerToronto (October 27)
Collingwood Clock TowerCollingwood (27 October)
Fire Station 1 MemorialBelleville (October 27)
Fred A. Lundy BridgeNewmarket (28 October)
Guelph Market SquareGuelph (October 27)
Hamilton signHamilton (October 27)
Kingston City HallKingston (October 27)
Market SquareKingston (October 27)
Oakville Town HallOakville (October 27)
Ottawa signOttawa (October 27)
Toronto signToronto (October 27)
Quint West signQuint West (October 27)
Veterans Skyway BridgeTrenton (October 27)
waterilluminateWaterloo (27 October)
PEI
Shaw BuildingCharlottetown (October 27)
Summerside City HallSummerside (October 27)
Quebec
Hotel Le ConcordeQuebec (October 27)
John Abbott CollegeSainte-Anne-de-Bellevue (27 October)
Heavenly restaurantQuebec (October 27)
Saskatchewan
town hallSaskatoon (October 27)
Prairie Wind MonumentSaskatoon (October 27)
Royal University HospitalSaskatoon (October 27)
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ABOUT Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists
The Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT) is a national organization that supports more than 20,000 occupational therapists (OTs), occupational therapist assistants (OTAs) and students who work or study in Canada. We provide resources, services and training opportunities that help OTs achieve excellence in their professional practice. In addition, CAOT provides leadership in the development and advancement of the occupational therapy profession in Canada and abroad.
