Carleton Place to mark Red Dress Day on May 5 with community gathering

Residents in Carleton Place are being invited to come together in an act of remembrance and reflection as the community marks Red Dress Day on Tuesday, May 5, 2026.

Observed annually across Canada, Red Dress Day honours the thousands of Indigenous women and girls who have gone missing or been murdered, raising awareness about the ongoing epidemic of gender-based and colonial violence.

To mark the day locally, a public gathering will take place in the morning from 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. at the Mississippi River Gathering Place – Misi Zibi Mamidosewin, located within Riverside Park near Carleton Place High School.

According to the Town of Carleton Place, the ceremony is intended to offer a quiet and meaningful opportunity for participants to pay their respects and ensure the stories of those lost are not forgotten.

Community members are encouraged to visit the Mississippi River Gathering Place – Misi Zibi Mamidosewin Facebook page in advance, where a list of names has been shared. Attendees can choose one name to honour during the gathering.

As part of the ceremony, participants will be invited to approach a sacred fire, offer tobacco, and speak aloud the name of the woman or girl they have chosen to remember. The act is intended to acknowledge each individual life and keep their memory present within the community, according to town officials.