Thunderclouds are forming near the Library and Archives Canada building in downtown Ottawa, but this time, they bring not rain and lightning, but a sense of celebration and contemplation for the new national 2SLGBTQ+ monument.
Known as Thunderhead, the monument stands as a tall white column with unique cloud-shaped openings. Todd Ross, co-chair of the LGBT Purge Fund, described it as a structure with inverted clouds within, lined with mirrored tiles to create a disco ball effect.
Situated close to Wellington Street and the Portage Bridge, Thunderhead commemorates the discrimination faced by 2SLGBTQ+ individuals nationwide, particularly during the Canadian government’s prolonged campaign known as the LGBT purge. This initiative, spanning from the 1950s to the mid-1990s, involved the investigation and expulsion of numerous individuals from the RCMP, Canadian Armed Forces, and federal public service due to their sexual orientation.
Ross himself was discharged from the Canadian navy in 1990 due to his homosexuality, leading him to join a significant class-action lawsuit against the government. The funds from this legal battle were used to finance the design and construction of the monument.
Designed by a team based in Winnipeg and led by Liz Wreford of Architects Public City, Thunderhead symbolizes destruction and renewal through the concept of thunderclouds. The monument’s unique features, such as skylights and mirrored interiors, create a vibrant play of light and color reminiscent of a thunderstorm.
The surrounding park complements the monument by shedding light on Canada’s history of anti-2SLGBTQ+ discrimination. An interpretive wall narrates this history, including the persecution of two-spirit individuals by the government, while a healing circle made up of stones selected by two-spirit elders from each province and territory stands nearby.
Michelle Douglas, executive director of the LGBT Purge Fund, views the park as a place for diverse experiences and emotions, offering reflection and hope. She shares a similar past with Ross, having been discharged from the Armed Forces in 1989 and later engaging in legal action against the government to end the military’s discriminatory practices.
The Thunderhead site serves as a dynamic monument, acknowledging past discrimination while fostering a hopeful outlook for the future. It features a stage and gathering spaces for various events and performances.
Ross envisions the monument and park as versatile spaces for both celebration and activism. He emphasized the importance of having a place for people to come together during challenging times.
The official opening ceremony of Thunderhead will be graced by Gov.-Gen. Louise Arbour, followed by the commencement of Capital Pride 2026 the next day, running until August 30.