National LGBTQ+ monument unveiled in Ottawa

Advertisement 1 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Breadcrumb Trail Links HomeNewsLocal NewsPublic Service National LGBTQ+ monument unveiled in Ottawa Thunderhead, located near the Portage Bridge and Wellington Street, commemorates victims of the decades-long LGBT Purge. Author of the article: By Michael McBean Published Aug 21, 2026 1 minute read Join the conversation Human rights activist Michelle Douglas raises her arms before delivering a speech during the opening ceremony of the national 2SLBGTQI+ monument known as Thunderhead in Ottawa on Friday, Aug. 21. PHOTO BY HYUNGCHEOL PARK /Postmedia Article content Canada’s new national monument recognizing historic discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community officially opened on Friday. Article content Thunderhead, located near the Portage Bridge and Wellington Street, commemorates victims of the LGBT Purge, a decades-long practice in which thousands of members of the federal public service, Canadian Armed Forces and RCMP were investigated, harassed or pushed from their jobs because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Article content Article content Article content The monument was paid for by the LGBT Purge Fund following a $145-million class-action settlement involving 719 people who had been targeted by the federal government because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. The settlement set aside $15 million for the monument and other memorialization projects. Article content The national 2SLBGTQI+ monument is known as Thunderhead. PHOTO BY HYUNGCHEOL PARK /Postmedia Article content The Evening Citizen The Ottawa Citizen’s best journalism, delivered directly to your inbox by 7 p.m. on weekdays. Sign Up By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Article content Gov.-Gen. Louise Arbour was on hand for the opening ceremony and said the monument paid tribute to survivors who helped end discriminatory government policies. Article content “The image of the thundercloud is particularly evocative in capturing the harm caused by the LGBT Purge,” she said. “A storm cloud, dark like the suffering endured.” Article content Thunderhead is a large white structure shaped around the image of a storm cloud, with cloud-like openings cut into its walls. Inside, small mirrored tiles catch the sunlight and create shifting reflections, while flickering lights are…