WHEREAS May 5, 2025, marks the 15th anniversary of the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and 2SLGBTQIA+ People, also known as Red Dress Day; and

WHEREAS the REDress Project was created by Jaime Black as a public art installation in response to the missing and murdered Indigenous women; and

AND WHEREAS the colour red signifies the colour the spirits can see and the colour red is calling back the spirits of the those missing and allows them a chance to be among us and have their voices heard; 

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that I, Shawn Pankow, Mayor of the Town of Smiths Falls declare May 5, 2024, as Red Dress Day in the Town of Smiths Falls and encourage all citizens to take a moment and reflect on the missing Indigenous women and girls and those who are no longer with us.