The City of Brampton will mark Red Dress Day on May 5 with a public installation at Ken Whillans Square and several sites across the city, honouring the lives of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit People (MMIWG2S).
The red dress installations, led by the City’s Equity Office and inspired by The REDress Project, serve as solemn reminders of the lives lost and the ongoing impact of colonial and gender-based violence. The central installation will be unveiled at Ken Whillans Square in a public ceremony with Mayor Patrick Brown and Members of Council, and will remain on display until May 31.
“Red Dress Day is a solemn reminder of the thousands of Indigenous women, girls and Two-Spirit people who have gone missing or lost their lives as a result of racial and gender-based violence,” said Mayor Patrick Brown. “We acknowledge the pain and loss continuing to impact Indigenous families and communities across Canada. As a city, we stand in solidarity with those affected and reaffirm our commitment to truth, reconciliation, and meaningful action.”
This year’s observance is particularly poignant as Canadians reflect on the Indigenous women recently recovered from a landfill in Manitoba—underscoring the urgent need to support families, amplify Indigenous voices, and seek justice for victims and their communities. The 2019 final report of the National Inquiry into MMIWG2S issued Calls to Justice, which the City of Brampton has been addressing through local initiatives since 2020.
Regional Councillor Rowena Santos, Chair of the Community Services Section, emphasized the importance of the initiative. “The red dress installations across Brampton are more than just symbols. They are reminders of absent relatives, friends and community members, and a call to acknowledge the deep injustices that have led to generations of loss and trauma.”
Councillor Navjit Kaur Brar, Chair of the Corporate Services Section, added, “As we continue to address gender-based violence in our communities, it’s essential we centre and amplify the voices and experiences of Indigenous Peoples. These installations remind us of our collective responsibility to seek truth, justice, and equity.”
The City of Brampton’s Equity Office, established in 2021, now includes a Senior Advisor of Indigenous Relations to guide its reconciliation efforts. The City continues to embrace the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) as foundational frameworks for respectful and inclusive governance.
To learn more about Red Dress Day and Brampton’s response to MMIWG2S, visit: