A powerful new symbol of remembrance and justice was unveiled on Saturday May 10, 2025 at Chinguacousy Park in Brampton, Ontario: the Tamil Genocide Monument. The structure stands as a solemn tribute to the tens of thousands of Tamil civilians who were killed during the final stages of the Sri Lankan civil war in May 2009.
“The final stage of genocide is the destruction of memory, the denial of wrongdoing and the burial of evidence. Destroying the Tamil Genocide Mullivaikkal Memorial Monument at the University of Jaffna in 2021 was a way to erase the memory of the Tamil genocide and eradicate the wrongdoing by the Sri Lankan state,” said Vijay Thanigasalam, Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Member of Provincial Parliament for Scarborough—Rouge Park. “Today, I stand with profound honour as we mark the historic milestone of inaugurating the Tamil Genocide Monument, built in Canada to pay tribute to the lives lost in the Tamil Genocide."
The unveiling was organized by the National Council of Canadian Tamils (NCCT) and made possible through strong local support. “In the Tamil people’s long resilient journey in seeking international recognition, international accountability and remedial justice for the genocide being committed against Tamil people by the Sri Lankan state, the Tamil Genocide Monument is an important milestone,” said NCCT in a statement. “On behalf of the Tamil Canadian community, we are grateful for providing a significant and prominent space for us to share our painful traumatic experiences and to educate our fellow Canadians about the Tamil Genocide.”
NCCT extended heartfelt thanks to Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown, city council, and the broader Brampton community for their unwavering support and leadership in realizing the monument—a first of its kind in Canada.
