Parliament Hill Hosts Solemn Red Dress Day Vigil
Ottawa stood at the centre of Canada's call for justice Tuesday as a vigil on Parliament Hill marked Red Dress Day — an annual day of awareness and mourning for missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit people (MMIWG2S+).
The gathering drew community members, advocates, and allies to the nation's symbolic heart, where red dresses — the iconic emblem of the MMIWG2S+ movement — serve as a haunting reminder of those who are gone. The vigil was a call to action, urging governments and Canadians to do more to address what advocates have long described as a national crisis.
What Is Red Dress Day?
Red Dress Day, observed annually on May 5, was inspired by Métis artist Jaime Black's REDress Project, which began in 2010. Black hung empty red dresses in public spaces to represent the missing and murdered — the empty garments a visceral symbol of absence and loss.
The day has grown into a national moment of reflection since the 2019 National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls released its final report, which concluded that the violence against Indigenous women and girls amounts to genocide. The report made 231 calls for justice directed at governments, institutions, and Canadians.
The Crisis Continues
Despite years of advocacy and the national inquiry's findings, Indigenous women and girls continue to go missing and be murdered at disproportionate rates in Canada. Families and advocates say progress on the calls for justice has been too slow, and that governments at all levels must be held accountable.
Tuesday's vigil on Parliament Hill — steps away from the federal government — was a deliberate choice of location, placing the grief and demands of communities directly in front of lawmakers and the public.
Ottawa as a Site of Remembrance
As the nation's capital, Ottawa frequently becomes the backdrop for Indigenous-led advocacy and remembrance. Parliament Hill vigils carry particular weight — they are visible, symbolic, and impossible to ignore for those who govern.
For the Ottawa community, Red Dress Day is both a moment of mourning and a renewed commitment to justice. Local Indigenous organizations and allies continue to work year-round to support families of the missing and murdered, and to push for concrete policy changes.
How to Show Support
Red Dress Day is recognized across Canada with events, red dress installations, and social media campaigns. If you want to support the cause:
- Learn about the 231 Calls for Justice from the National Inquiry
- Support local Indigenous-led organizations in Ottawa
- Participate in or organize community remembrance events
- Wear or display red on May 5 each year
The red dress is more than a symbol — it is a demand that no more families be left waiting for answers, and no more lives be lost without action.
Source: CBC Ottawa. Read the original story at cbc.ca.
