Thunderclouds are gathering near the Library and Archives Canada building in downtown Ottawa, but these clouds are not foreboding storms. Instead, they symbolize celebration and contemplation as part of a new national monument honoring the 2SLGBTQ+ community.
Named Thunderhead, the monument is a striking nine-meter white column featuring rounded cloud-shaped openings. According to Todd Ross, co-chair of the LGBT Purge Fund, the column contains inverted clouds and is lined with mirrored tiles, creating an immersive experience akin to being inside a giant disco ball.
Situated at the intersection of Wellington Street and the Portage Bridge, Thunderhead pays tribute to the discrimination faced by 2SLGBTQ+ individuals across Canada, particularly during the government’s decades-long LGBT purge. This purge, spanning from the 1950s to the mid-1990s, saw thousands of individuals expelled from the RCMP, Canadian Armed Forces, and federal public service due to their sexual orientation.
Ross, who was honorably discharged from the Canadian navy in 1990 due to his homosexuality, later joined a class-action lawsuit against the government. The proceeds from this lawsuit funded the design and construction of the monument.
Designed by a team from Winnipeg led by Liz Wreford of Architects Public City, Thunderhead uses thunderclouds as a metaphor for both destruction and renewal. The column’s openings and skylight allow sunlight to create a colorful kaleidoscope effect, while flickering lights inside mimic lightning flashes in a storm.
The park surrounding the monument serves as an educational space, shedding light on the history of anti-2SLGBTQ+ discrimination in Canada. It features an interpretive wall detailing this history and a healing circle made up of thirteen stones selected by two-spirit elders from each province and territory.
Michelle Douglas, executive director of the LGBT Purge Fund, believes the park will evoke a range of emotions and experiences, serving as a beacon of hope. Reflecting on her own discharge from the Armed Forces in 1989 and subsequent legal action against the government, Douglas emphasizes the park’s significance in recognizing past discrimination and fostering a hopeful future.
With spaces for performances and gatherings, Thunderhead aims to be a living monument that acknowledges the struggles of the past while looking towards a brighter tomorrow. Ross envisions the site as a place for both celebration and protest, offering a multifaceted space for the community.
The official opening ceremony of Thunderhead will be attended by Gov.-Gen. Louise Arbour, with Capital Pride 2026 set to commence the following day, running until August 30.