Members of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Indigenous Policing Bureau (IPB) will show their support for Red Dress Day on May 5, as well as their ongoing commitment to address the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) Calls for Justice.
The main hallway of OPP General Headquarters is lined with over 100 red dresses in remembrance of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. This display, which includes images of the women and girls, acts as a powerful visual representation of the pain and loss felt by the families and friends of victims as well as survivors.
IPB asks members of the OPP as well as the public to reflect and learn more about this ongoing national tragedy. Everyone is encouraged to honour MMIWG by working together to embrace and support community healing.
In 2019, Vanessa Willow, a resident of Rama First Nation, created and donated a red dress painting to the OPP in honour of the ongoing commitment to address the issue of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. This painting is currently on display as part of the Red Dress Day recognition.
Those passing by OPP General Headquarters (777 Memorial Ave., Orillia) in the evening hours will see the building lit up in red. Please take the opportunity to pause, reflect and be reminded of the love of the families and communities that grieve for missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.
