On May 5, the City of Brampton will observe Red Dress Day bringing awareness to Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit People (MMIWG2S), with a public installation at Ken Whillans Square and sites across the city.
“The red dress installations across Brampton are more than just a symbol – they are a reminder of absent relatives, friends and community members and are a call to acknowledge the deep injustices that have led to generations of loss and trauma. By creating space for awareness, education, and reflection, we honour the memory of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit people and support the path forward to healing and justice.”- Rowena Santos, Regional Councillor, Wards 1 & 5; Chair, Community Services, City of Brampton
The City’s Red Dress Day installation serves as a powerful reminder of lives lost and the ongoing need to address gender-based violence in Canada. Credit: the City of Brampton
Red Dress Day is a time to honour the lives of Indigenous women, girls and Two-Spirit people who have gone missing or been murdered as a result of colonial and gender-based violence. It is also a call to action for all Canadians to support grieving families, amplify the voices of Indigenous communities and work toward ending this national crisis.
This year, we remember the Indigenous women who were recently recovered from a Manitoba landfill, emphasizing the importance of giving a voice not only to those who are still missing and those whose lives have been lost, but also to the communities and loved ones who continue to be impacted. After extensive consultation with Indigenous communities, the National Inquiry into MMIWG2S released its final report in 2018, outlining Calls to Justice for all Canadians and all levels of government. Since 2020, the City of Brampton has been taking action on these Calls to Justice, which align with broader initiatives advancing gender equity, including the City’s 2023 declaration of gender-based and intimate partner violence as an epidemic.
Led by the City’s Equity Office and inspired by The REDress Project, the red dress installations will serve as powerful visual reminders of those who are missing or have been lost. The Ken Whillans Square installation will be unveiled during a public event with Mayor and Members of Council on May 5 and will remain on display until May 31.
Learn more about Red Dress Day at brampton.ca/MMIWG2S.
About the City of Brampton’s Equity Office
In 2021, the City of Brampton launched its Equity Office that now includes a Senior Advisor of Indigenous Relations. Their role is to guide and support the City’s reconciliation journey and ensure all initiatives are inclusive and respectful of diverse Indigenous cultures. The City of Brampton remains committed to learning and understanding and continues to build meaningful relationships with local Indigenous communities and has accepted the calls to action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s final report and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as guiding frameworks for reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples..
Learn about Brampton’s Equity Office, by visiting City of Brampton | Equity Office | Equity Office.
