MNO Attends Unveiling of Thunderhead Monument in Ottawa

On August 21, 2026, the Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO) attended the official opening of Thunderhead, Canada’s national 2SLGBTQIA+ monument recognizing the LGBT Purge.

President Margaret Froh attended alongside Veterans’ Council President Brian Prairie, Chief of Staff Jennifer St. Germain, MNO Citizen and veteran Todd Ross, and MNO Citizen and Canadian Forces veteran Lynne Gouliquer, along with other invited guests.

Thunderhead recognizes the discrimination experienced by 2SLGBTQIA+ people across Canada, including the injustices of the LGBT Purge. From the 1950s to the 1990s, members of the Canadian Armed Forces, RCMP, and federal public service were investigated, harassed, and dismissed because of their sexuality.

Todd Ross, a Two-Spirit Métis veteran and advocate, attended with a deeply personal connection to the project. In 1990, he was discharged from the Canadian Navy for being “not advantageously employable due to homosexuality.” Ross later joined the class-action lawsuit against the federal government, with proceeds from the settlement helping fund the monument’s design and construction.

Ross serves as co-chair of Rainbow Veterans of Canada and co-chair of the LGBT Purge Fund, continuing his advocacy for recognition, justice, and support for those affected by the LGBT Purge.

Inspired by a thunderhead storm cloud, the monument symbolizes the 2SLGBTQIA+ community breaking through barriers and advancing justice and equality. Its reflective tiles catch and scatter light, creating a striking space for remembrance, recognition, and reflection.

The MNO was honoured to stand with 2SLGBTQIA+ citizens, veterans, advocates, and community members at the unveiling of this monument. Thunderhead is a reminder of the harms experienced by many Canadians and the ongoing work needed to advance dignity, justice, and equality.