A new monument named Thunderhead has been unveiled in Ottawa, shedding light on the discrimination faced by 2SLGBTQ+ individuals in Canada’s history. The monument features a cylindrical shell cracked open by a thundercloud, revealing thousands of tiny mirrors that sparkle with light. Wayne Davis, a Canadian who was ousted from the military, RCMP, and civil service due to his sexuality, believes the monument’s visibility will help educate people about a dark chapter in Canadian history.
Davis, who was forced to leave the RCMP in 1985 after being seen in a gay bar, recalls the emotional turmoil of that moment. Despite rising through the ranks to staff sergeant and having a successful career, he was given an ultimatum to resign or be fired on the same day. This unjust treatment was part of a larger purge that affected an estimated 9,000 2SLGBTQ+ Canadians, who were targeted based on the discriminatory belief that their sexuality posed a security risk during the Cold War era.
Many victims of the purge, like Davis and Sgt. Robert David Van Norman, faced shame and ostracism, with their families often unaware of the true reasons behind their dismissal. Van Norman, a decorated RCMP officer, was forced to resign in 1964 after being spotted in a gay hangout, leading to a downward spiral that culminated in his death from AIDS in 1988.
Elenore Sturko, Van Norman’s great-niece and an Independent MLA, shared the untold story of her uncle’s struggles and the lasting impact of the purge on their family. Both Sturko and Davis were present at the unveiling of the Thunderhead monument, a symbolic representation of renewal and acknowledgment of the past injustices faced by the 2SLGBTQ+ community.
Funded in part by a settlement from a class-action lawsuit, the monument serves as a reminder of the resilience and perseverance of those who were wronged. As the monument was revealed, attendees were moved by a spoken word performance highlighting the transformative power of acknowledging past wrongs and embracing new beginnings.
