The City of Brampton will mark Red Dress Day on May 5 with a series of public installations across the city to honour missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and Two-Spirit people.

The installations, inspired by the REDress Project by Métis artist Jaime Black-Morsette, will feature red dresses displayed at several locations, serving as a visual reminder of lives lost and those still missing.

A central installation will be unveiled during a public event at Ken Whillans Square on Tuesday, May 5 at 10 a.m. The display will remain in place until May 29.

Additional installations will be set up at Brampton Fire Headquarters and stations, the Youth Hub at Susan Fennell Sportsplex, Flower City Community Campus and Brampton Transit terminals at Bramalea, Brampton Gateway and downtown.

Observed annually on May 5, Red Dress Day raises awareness of the ongoing crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and Two-Spirit people, while also recognizing the families and communities who continue to seek answers.

City officials say the installations are intended to create spaces for reflection and remembrance, while reinforcing the need for continued action.

“These installations are a powerful visual reminder of the individuals who are still missing and those whose lives have been tragically taken,” said Rowena Santos, regional councillor for Wards 1 and 5 and chair of the city’s community services section. “They underscore the critical need for action to address this ongoing crisis.”

The initiative is presented in partnership with The Indigenous Network, Algoma University and Peel Regional Police.

Brampton has taken steps in recent years to address gender-based violence, including a 2023 declaration recognizing gender-based and intimate partner violence as an epidemic. The city says the Red Dress Day installations align with ongoing efforts to respond to the Calls to Justice from the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.

Officials say the displays are meant not only to honour victims, but also to encourage continued awareness, healing and accountability within the community.


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