Thunderclouds are forming near the Library and Archives Canada building in downtown Ottawa, but these clouds symbolize joy and contemplation for the new national 2SLGBTQ+ monument.
Named Thunderhead, the monument is a tall white column with cloud-shaped openings. Todd Ross, co-chair of the LGBT Purge Fund, described it as having inverted clouds inside the pillar, enhanced with mirrored tiles to create a disco ball effect.
Situated near Wellington Street and the Portage Bridge, Thunderhead acknowledges the discrimination faced by 2SLGBTQ+ individuals across Canada, notably during the prolonged government initiative known as the LGBT purge.
From the 1950s to the mid-1990s, the federal government conducted investigations and dismissals of thousands of employees from various sectors due to their sexual orientation. Ross himself was discharged from the Canadian navy in 1990 on the grounds of being “not advantageously employable due to homosexuality.”
The monument, funded by a class-action lawsuit against the government, was designed by a team from Winnipeg led by Liz Wreford. Wreford explained that the concept of thunderclouds symbolizes both destruction and renewal, with the column’s design creating a kaleidoscope effect when sunlight hits the mirrored interior.
The park surrounding the monument sheds light on the history of anti-2SLGBTQ+ discrimination in Canada, with features like an interpretive wall detailing the past persecution of two-spirit individuals and a healing circle composed of stones selected by two-spirit elders.
Executive director of the LGBT Purge Fund, Michelle Douglas, emphasized the park’s significance as a place for reflection and celebration, referring to it as a beacon of hope. The site aims to serve as a living monument, recognizing past discrimination while looking towards the future.
Including spaces for performances and gatherings, the site hopes to be utilized for various purposes, from celebration to protest. The official opening ceremony of Thunderhead will be attended by Gov.-Gen. Louise Arbour, coinciding with the start of Capital Pride 2026 the following day.