Thunderclouds are forming near the Library and Archives Canada building in downtown Ottawa, but these clouds signify joy and contemplation for the new national 2SLGBTQ+ monument rather than impending rain and lightning.
Named Thunderhead, the monument stands as a nine-meter tall white column with cloud-shaped openings, providing a unique and reflective experience. Todd Ross, co-chair of the LGBT Purge Fund, described the monument’s design, highlighting its inverted clouds within the pillar and mirrored tiles that give it a disco ball effect.
Situated close to Wellington Street and the Portage Bridge intersection, Thunderhead serves as a symbol acknowledging the discrimination faced by 2SLGBTQ+ individuals across Canada, particularly during the extensive LGBT purge campaign by the Canadian government from the 1950s to the mid-1990s.
Ross, who was honorably discharged from the Canadian navy in 1990 due to his sexuality, later participated in a successful class-action lawsuit against the government. The funds from the lawsuit were utilized to finance the monument’s creation.
Designed by Liz Wreford and her team from Architects Public City in Winnipeg, Thunderhead embodies the concept of destruction and renewal through thundercloud imagery. The column’s construction allows sunlight to illuminate the mirrored interior, creating a colorful kaleidoscope effect resembling lightning during a thunderstorm.
The surrounding park complements the monument by shedding light on the history of anti-2SLGBTQ+ discrimination in Canada. It includes an interpretive wall detailing the persecution faced by two-spirit individuals and a healing circle made up of thirteen stones chosen by two-spirit elders from each province and territory.
Michelle Douglas, executive director of the LGBT Purge Fund, emphasized the park as a place for reflection and celebration, serving as a beacon of hope for visitors. The site is designed to act as a living monument, acknowledging past discrimination while looking towards a more inclusive future.
In addition to providing a space for reflection, the site features a stage and other areas for performances and gatherings. Ross envisions the monument and park as spaces for both celebration and protest, offering a platform for various purposes.
The official opening ceremony of Thunderhead will be attended by Gov.-Gen. Louise Arbour, followed by the start of Capital Pride 2026 the next day, running until August 30th.