REDress program co-ordinator and Maureen Wood, left, and Canadian Federation of University Women Parksville-Qualicum Jacqueline Russell display the red dresses in the Parksville Civic and Technology Centre on Friday, Nov. 24.
The REDdress Project is meant to bring awareness to missing and murdered Indigenous women in Canada.
Indoor displays will be located at the Parksville Civic and Technology Centre, Qualicum Beach Town Hall, Qualicum Beach Civic Centre (after Nov. 26), the MAC, TOSH, the Parksville Community Conference Centre and the Parksville constituency offices of Parksville-Qualicum MLA Michelle Stilwell and Courtenay-Alberni MP Gord Johns.
On Monday, Nov. 27, opening blessing ceremonies will be held at both town hall in Qualicum Beach and at city hall in Parksville. At 9 a.m., members of the Qualicum First Nation will join Mayor Teunis Westbroek, Rev. Andrew Twiddy and Oceanside RCMP representatives for a blessing at Qualicum Beach Town Hall. At 1:30 p.m., the Parksville opening blessing will take place at the PCTC with Mayor Marc Lefebvre, Oceanside RCMP and other participants still to be confirmed.
The displays are open to the public during each facility’s normal business hours.