May 5, 2025
2025-05-05T00:00:00
Red Dress Day
Monday, May 5, 2025
May 5th is Red Dress Day, the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit People (MMIWG2S+). The City of Coquitlam stands with Indigenous communities across the country to remember and honour the lives of each person, friend or family member who was taken too soon.
People gather and wear red on May 5 to mourn and support the Indigenous families whose loved ones are missing or have been murdered. It is a safe and sacred time to grieve and represents healing, solidarity and respect.
The REDress Project is a visual art project started by a Métis artist, Jaime Black, in 2011. The art installation involves the hanging of red dresses in public spaces, such as outside homes, from balconies, and in high-traffic areas. It is believed that red is the only colour the spirit world can see, and by wearing red, missing spirits can find their way back home and be at peace. To learn more about The REDress project, please visit
To learn more, visit https://www.jaimeblackartist.com/exhibitions/