SMITHS FALLS — A decade of remembrance will be marked in Smiths Falls next month as the community gathers for the 10th annual Red Dress Day ceremony.
The event, organized by Flora Riley, takes place May 9 at 2 p.m. at the bandshell, where red dresses will once again be displayed in honour of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.
For Riley, the event is deeply personal.
She has long shared the story of her sister, Daphne Brown, who was murdered by her husband more than 50 years ago. That loss continues to shape the ceremony each year, grounding it not only in national awareness, but in lived experience and grief that still resonates today.
“I do this for Daphne,” Riley said, describing the dresses as symbols that call attention to those who are no longer here and the families still seeking justice.
Riley, an Inuit woman with roots in Labrador and Newfoundland, has led the local event from its early days as a smaller, more private gathering to a visible public ceremony in the heart of town. Over the years, it has grown into an annual moment of reflection that brings together community members, Indigenous leaders, and local organizations.
The installation is part of a broader movement across Canada, using empty red dresses as a visual reminder of lives lost and voices that must not be forgotten.
Residents are invited to attend the May 9 ceremony, which will include reflection, community participation, and a continued call for awareness and action.
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