The newly built 2SLGBTQI+ National Monument celebrates the resilience, strength, and contributions of queer and trans communities while inspiring continued progress toward equality. For generations, 2SLGBTQI+ people in Canada have faced discrimination, exclusion, criminalization, and persecution because of who they are, who they love, and how they express themselves.
The 2SLGBTQI+ National Monument recognizes this history, including the colonial roots of homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia, and the harms inflicted during the LGBT Purge by the Canadian Government.
About the activity
Guided tour - Discover the stories behind Thunderhead, the 2SLGBTQI+ National Monument
This guided tour explores the monument’s design, symbolism and architecture, while highlighting the history and contributions of 2SLGBTQI+ communities in Canada and the vision that inspired its creation.
Join Liz Wreford, Principal Landscape Architect at Public City Architecture, for an exclusive guided tour and enjoy a rare opportunity to speak directly with one of the creative minds behind Thunderhead, the 2SLGBTQI+ National Monument.
- Meeting point: at the main entrance – by the interpretation panel.
- Duration: 45 minutes
- Hours and language:
- 10 am to 10:45 am: English
- 11 am to 11:45 am: English
- Noon to 12:45 pm: French
Participation is first come, first served. Please arrive 10 minutes before the tour begins.
Please bring your own water bottle and wear comfortable shoes.
Accessibility
This tour is accessible for wheelchair users. The route includes some changes in grade and grassy surfaces. Some participants may require assistance to navigate certain sections of the tour.
Getting there
Address: 493 Wellington Street
Located on the Ontario side of the Portage Bridge, behind Library and Archives Canada, the monument is easily accessible from the Ottawa River Pathway and is within close proximity to downtown Ottawa attractions.
- Cycling and pedestrian access: The site is accessible by active mobility. Unsupervised bicycle racks are available on the site.
- Public transit: Major transit providers in the National Capital Region offer routes that stop near the site. Use their travel planners to find the best bus route (OC Transpo or STO).
- Vehicle access: There is limited free street parking nearby and paid parking at the Canadian War Museum and in nearby municipal lots.
About the site
There are accessible public washrooms on the ground floor of the Library and Archives Canada building and in the Canadian War Museum.