05-05-2025
Here's how the 15th Red Dress Day is being marked in B.C.
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Monday marks 15 years of Indigenous people and their allies gathering, marching and holding ceremony for the hundreds of Indigenous women and girls who are missing or have been murdered in Canada.
The national day of awareness and remembrance, known as Red Dress Day, was inspired by Métis artist Jaime Black after she created the REDress project — an art installation of red dresses hanging in public spaces that serve as a visual reminder of the Indigenous women and girls who are no longer with us.
Since 2010, Indigenous people and allies have taken part in the project — hanging red dresses, creating artwork, and marching together to remember loved ones and call those who are missing back home.
According to the Government of Canada, 63 per cent of Indigenous women have experienced physical or sexual assault in their lifetime. In 2023, Statistics Canada released a report showing that Indigenous women and girls were six times more likely to be murdered than other groups of people in Canada.
The federal government launched the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Woman and Girls (MMIWG) in 2016. In the final report released in 2019, 231 calls to action were made along with findings of genocide against Indigenous peoples in Canada.
Amnesty International, an international non-governmental organization focused on human rights, says Red Dress Day matters because it "makes the invisible visible."
"Red Dress Day is a significant day," said Don Tom, chief of Tsartlip First Nation and vice-president of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs (UBCIC).
"We must continue to bring awareness to ensure all Indigenous women are safe. It's a day to say we haven't forgotten the many women and girls whose lives have been taken too early. We demand justice and action on this day."
On Monday, the UBCIC and non-profit Justice for Girls will be making an announcement about the deaths of Tatyanna Harrison, Chelsea Poorman and Noelle O'Soup, alongside their families.
Harrison and Poorman were young Indigenous women, while O'Soup was an Indigenous teenager. Their bodies were found in Metro Vancouver within weeks of each other, in the spring of 2022.
Investigations into how the Vancouver Police Department handled the three cases are underway.
There are plenty of Red Dress Day events happening in B.C. this week. If you cannot make an event in person, wearing red is a sign of solidarity.
Find your local event here.
Abbotsford
REDress Day & MMIWG2S+ awareness walk event
When: Monday, 10 a.m.
Where: 32203 South Fraser Way
Chase
MMIWG walk and barbecue
When: Monday, 12 p.m. - 1 p.m.
Where: 6443 Hillcrest Rd
Clearwater
MMIWG 5K walk or run
When: Monday, 5 p.m.
Where: 416 Eden Rd.
Comox Valley
MMIWG2S+ awareness walk & event
When: Monday, 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Where: 411 Anderton Ave, Courtenay
Fort St. John
Red Dress Day 2025
When: Monday, 12 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Where: 9523 100 St.
Golden
MMIWG2S awareness and solidarity walk
When: Monday, 9:30 a.m.
Where: 611 10th Ave. North
Hope
Red Dress Day walk
When: Monday, 10 a.m.
Where: 6th Avenue Ball Park
Kamloops
Red Dress Day walk
When: Monday, 3 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Where: 707 Tranquille Rd.
Red Dress Day event
When: Monday, 11 a.m.
Where: 357 Chief Alex Thomas Way
Kelowna
Red Dress Day walk
When: Monday, 10:30 a.m.
Where: 442 Leon Ave.
Kitimat
Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples awareness gathering
When: Monday, 4 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Where: 606 Mountain Sq.
Haisla Nation Red Dress Day walk
When: Monday, 1 p.m.
Where: 500 Gitxsan Ave.
Lillooet
MMIWG2S+ event
When: Monday, 10 a.m.
Where: 780 Main St.
Lower Nicola Indian Band
LNIB MMIW awareness walk
When: Monday, 10:30 a.m.
Where: Lower Nicola Band Hall
New Westminster
Red Dress Day reflection
When: Monday, 3:15 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Where: 620 8th St.
Honouring MMIWG
When: Monday, 1 p.m. - 3 p.m.
Where: 796 Columbia St.
North Okanagan
North Okanagan Friendship Centre
When: Monday, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Where: 2904 29th Ave.
North Vancouver
Red Dress Day honouring ceremony
When: Monday, 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Where: 147 East 12th St.
Pitt Meadows
Red Dress Day ceremony 2025
When: Monday, 1:30 p.m.
Where: 11985 Harris Rd.
Penticton
Red Dress Day
When: Monday, 11 a.m.
Where: 1099 Lakeshore Dr. West
Prince Rupert
Red Dress fashion event
When: Monday, 3 p.m.
Where: Civic Centre Auditorium
Saulteau First Nations
MMIWG awareness day
When: Monday, 5 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Where: Crowfeathers
Seabird Island Band
Red Dress gathering
When: Monday, 11:30 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Where: Band office gym
Tsawwassen First Nation
MMIWG2S 5K walk
When: Monday, 10 a.m.
Where: TFN Rec Centre, 1929 Tsawwassen Dr.
Vancouver
Dancing with Our Ancestors exhibit
When: Monday, 4 p.m. - 8 p.m. (exhibit opening), & May 5-19
Where: UBC Robson Square Sun Room, 800 Robson St
National Day of Awareness MMIW+
When: Monday, 2 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Where: 1657 Charles St.
Victoria
Our Women are Sacred walk
When: Monday, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Where: 2 Hallowell Rd.
Witset First Nation
Red Dress Day 2025
When: Monday, 10:30 a.m.
Where: Smithers RCMP station
