April 2023 Dates of Interest

April 2 is World Autism Awareness Day. This year’s theme: “Toward a Neuro-Inclusive World for All.”

On April 6, for those of us in Ontario, Quebec, and some Maritime provinces, the rationale for the Maple Sap Boiling Moon (Iskigamizige-giizis) is pretty obvious. However, what you might not know is the Pink Moon is in reference to the blossoming of pink wildflowers. Other cultures also name moons. In Europe, the Celts had other moon names relating to the emergence of spring, including the Budding Moon, New Shoots Moon, Seed Moon, and Growing Moon. Neo-pagans refer to the Awakening Moon, while Anglo-Saxons call it the Egg Moon, which may be the origin of the story of the Easter Bunny laying eggs.

April 12 is the International Day of Human Space Flight, marking 62 years since cosmonaut Yuri Gargarin became the first human to orbit the Earth.

April 15 is Microvolunteering Day. If you have a working computer and a bit of time on your hands, CFIC has numerous opportunities for work on communications (including our newsletter, website, and social media), as well as event planning and organization. Drop us a line here.

April 23 is Earth Day. Find out more here.

April 23 to 29 is National Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Week — a good opportunity to make sure you have signed up to be an organ donor, and that your loved ones are aware of your wishes. 

April 29 is Canadian Independent Bookstore Day, when readers, writers, illustrators, publishers, and other industry supporters come together to celebrate indie bookstores across Canada

April Patents and inventions:

April 12, 1988 — patent # 4,736,866 is the first issued for a new animal life form, the “oncomouse.”

April 25, 1961 — Robert Noyce, the co-founder of Intel, was granted a patent for a semi-conductor device-and-lead structure, aka an integrated circuit.

April 27, 1920 — Elijah McCoy was granted a patent for an air-brake pump lubricator.

April Birthdays

English physician William Harvey (April 1, 1578) described the mechanism of blood circulation.

Noted astronomer and educator Eleanor Margaret Burbridge (April 2, 1948) was the first woman to be appointed to the Royal Greenwich Observatory.

Primatologist Jane Goodall (April 3, 1934) fundamentally changed our view of the behaviour of chimpanzees (and other primates, including humans). 

Dean Kamen (April 5, 1951) was the inventor of numerous innovative devices, including the Segway, and the first wearable insulin pump.

Mary Jackson (April 9, 1921) was the first African-American female engineer to work at NASA.

Artist and inventor Leonardo da Vinci was born April 15, 1452.

If you celebrate any of these, or have suggestions for upcoming celebrations or observances, please drop us a line or send a picture to CriticalLinks@centreforinquiry.ca.