Niagara College is once again coming together with Brock University to honour Red Dress Day through its third annual REDress Day event, taking place on Friday, February 13, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Pond Inlet in Brock University’s Mackenzie Chown Complex.
Red Dress Day, also known as the REDress Project, is a national movement that raises awareness about Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people (MMIWG2S+). Often observed around February 14 to align with Vancouver’s Women’s Memorial March, the REDress Project was created by Métis artist Jaime Black, who began hanging empty red dresses in public spaces as a powerful visual reminder of those who are missing and those whose lives were taken due to ongoing colonial violence. The empty dresses symbolize absence, loss, and the continued impacts of systemic injustice on Indigenous communities.
As part of its commitment to this work, Niagara College will once again display red dresses across both the Welland Campus and the Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake Feb. 9 to 17, creating visible spaces for reflection, remembrance, and conversation within the College community.
The 2026 REDress Day event is organized by NC’s Indigenous Education team in collaboration with Brock University’s Hadiya’dagenhahs First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Student Centre and will offer a full day of learning, reflection, creativity, and community connection.
The morning will feature small breakout panel discussions led by key community partners, providing participants with opportunities to learn about the significance of Red Dress Day, the ongoing realities faced by Indigenous peoples, and ways to engage in meaningful allyship.
In the afternoon, attendees can take part in a variety of hands-on workshops, including painting, bracelet making, and beading. Additional highlights throughout the day include a hand drum demonstration, a live community art project, and opportunities to spend time in community with students, staff, and local partners.
“REDress Day is about remembering those who are missing, honouring those we have lost, and creating space for learning and healing,” said Aria D’Alimonte, Indigenous Culture and Events Coordinator. “When we come together as community to listen, create, and reflect, it helps keep these conversations alive and reminds us of our shared responsibility to support Indigenous Peoples.”
The REDress Day event is open to students, employees, alumni, and community members, and serves as an important space to honour those lost, support Indigenous communities, and continue learning about the injustices faced by MMIWG2S+ people.
Niagara College encourages all members of the community to attend, reflect, and stand in solidarity as part of this important day of remembrance, learning, and connection.
To register, please click here.
Learning resources
To learn more, visit NC’s Indigenous Education Sources page, available through the Libraries and Learning Commons or their Special Collection highlighting MMIWG2S+ peoples stories.
