Red Dress Community Art Installation Extended and Relocated to City Hall

Peterborough, ON – The Red Dress community art installation will continue its journey of remembrance, reflection, and awareness.  

The exhibit has been installed in the lobby of City Hall, 500 George St. N.  

Created in recognition of Red Dress Day, Canada’s National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQIA+ people, the Red Dress installation invites the public to pause, reflect and bear witness to the lives lost and the voices that continue to call for justice. 

Each piece of red fabric, yarn, or beading in the dress was contributed by members of the community, making it not only a symbol of loss, but also of solidarity and shared responsibility. 

The collaborative art installation originated at the Peterborough Public Library in May 2025. The relocation of the Red Dress to City Hall has been made possible through a partnership between the Peterborough Public Library, the Nogojiwanong Friendship Centre, the City of Peterborough, the City’s Indigenous Relations Advisor, and Ash Street, the artist behind the installation. The display reflects the City’s commitment to reconciliation, cultural awareness, and public education. 

“Bringing the installation to City Hall ensures it remains visible in the heart of our civic space,” said Community Services co-chairs Lesley Parnell and Alex Bierk in a joint statement. “It is a reminder that remembrance and reconciliation are not passive acts. They require presence, dialogue, and continued effort from all of us.” 

“This installation holds space for grief and remembrance, but also for learning and collective action. By moving the dress to City Hall, we are continuing to centre the importance of truth-telling and inviting all residents to take part in this journey,” said Shelley Knott, Indigenous Relations Advisor with the City. “The Red Dress is a reminder of the disproportionate violence faced by Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQIA+ people, a crisis rooted in colonialism and systemic inequity. According to Statistics Canada, more than 63% of Indigenous women in Canada have experienced physical or sexual assault in their lifetime.” 

Visitors can view the installation at City Hall, Monday to Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Visitors are also invited to engage in learning, allyship, and advocacy.  

The City encourages all community members to: 

• Learn more about the National Inquiry into MMIWG2S+ and its final report.   

• Support Indigenous-led organizations doing front-line and advocacy work 

• Attend public events, smudges, and ceremonies 

• Reflect on how to foster safety and accountability in the community