Red Dress Day

Red Dress Day is observed annually on May 5 in Canada. It is a day of remembrance and awareness that honours Indigenous women and girls who have experienced violence, as well as their families and communities. The day is often marked by the display of red dresses, symbolizing the lives that have been lost.

We’ve compiled a selection of resources on this topic. While not exhaustive, it offers a meaningful place to begin.

Documentaries/Films to watch:

1. Highway of Tears (2014) - Available to rent/buy on Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video, Google Play
2. Finding Dawn (2006) - Amazon Prime, NFB.ca
3. This River (2016) - NFB.ca
4. Taken - some seasons are on Prime Video, others may be On Demand with your TV provider (channel: APTN)
5. Missing (2014) - Youtube
6. Who Killed Alberta Williams? (2016) - Podcast

Learn more about what some organizations are doing:  

1. The Hamilton Native Women's Centre will be hosting a vigil on 5/5/2026 at 1 pm 
2. The Hamilton Native Women's Centre accepts donations.
3. Red Dress Day Exhibit in Toronto
4. University of Waterloo is having an event
5. This event at the Seeds of Change Gallery in Toronto
6. The Women’s Centre of Calgary will host a Red Dress Day Sharing Circle on May 5, 2026 from 3:30–5:00 pm
7. A Red Dress Day Ceremony will take place in Pitt Meadows, B.C. on May 5, 2026 at 1:00 pm
8. The Office of the Treaty Commissioner in Saskatoon will host a Red Dress Day speaker series event
9. The Ottawa Aboriginal Coalition will host a Red Dress Day sunrise ceremony on Parliament Hill on May 5, 2026

Other things to consider: 

Connections with: https://moosehidecampaign.ca/campaignday/

Interested in learning more about Indigenous reconciliation? Hearts Exchanged is a learning and engagement program that invites participants to listen, reflect, and grow in their understanding of Indigenous histories, relationships, and ways forward. Through stories, teaching, and guided conversation, it offers a meaningful opportunity to deepen awareness and take steps toward reconciliation in your own community.

We encourage you to learn more, and consider how you might want to engage in this important day of remembrance.