In a show of solidarity with two religious groups, the City of Ottawa illuminated their Heritage Building yellow on Jan. 27 to honour International Holocaust Remembrance Day and again in green on Jan. 29 as a tribute to victims of the Islamic Cultural Centre of Quebec City attack.
During a Jan. 22 council meeting Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe and Rideau-Rockcliffe Coun. Rawlson King shared City Hall’s plans to symbolize its commitment to stand against Islamophobia and antisemitism.
“This tragic event serves as a reminder that we need to be ever vigilant to stand up to Islamophobia, and hate, terror, racism in all its forms,” King said.
This year marks the City of Ottawa’s first participation in the Green Square Campaign, which was launched by the National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM) after the 2017 Quebec City mosque attack, to promote awareness and education surrounding Islamophobia.
On Jan. 29, 2017, hundreds of Muslims gathered at the Islamic Cultural Centre of Quebec City to observe the evening prayer when a gunman opened fire, killing six men, leaving 17 children without fathers. The attack marked a dark chapter in Canada’s history, reminding Canadians of the dangers of Islamophobia and hate.
The campaign’s use of green honors the mosque’s carpets, where victims last stood to pray before their lives were tragically cut short.
Leading up to Jan. 29, the Green Square Campaign is responsible for curating workshops, classes and resources across Canada to raise awareness about Islamophobia. Many Islamic centres and associations in Ottawa participated, including Bilal Masjid, The Islamic Society of Cumberland, which hosted group prayers followed by educational sessions. Sakeenah Canada, a charity that provides culturally and religiously sensitive services for women and children facing domestic violence and homelessness, hosted a webinar focusing on resilience and mental wellness in the face of Islamophobia, while Rhoda Masjid, a Mosque in Orleans, put together “Ascension,” a Sufi music charity concert.
On Jan. 27, City Hall’s Heritage Building, along with landmarks across Canada, was lit in yellow to commemorate International Holocaust Remembrance Day, honouring and remembering the millions of Jewish men, women, and children killed by the Nazi regime during the Second World War. International Holocaust Remembrance Day in the City of Ottawa was officially proclaimed by Mayor Sutcliffe last year to promote greater public awareness and understanding of this tragic chapter in history.
Jodi Green, an advocacy and interfaith relations specialist for the Jewish Federation of Ottawa, said that while she has always felt the City’s support for the Jewish community, she was particularly excited to seeing active participation this year.
“There were sites on the three major university campuses that were illuminated, Tabaret Hall at uOttawa, the pedestrian walkway at Algonquin, Carleton University, as well as the NAC. In the past we’ve also had the War Museum, the OAC and other major landmarks in our city, so we were actually really, really pleased this year as it’s the first the City Hall has participated,” she said. “It’s great that this year they stepped up and were able to light the yellow lights and remember the six million who perished.”
During the Jan. 22 meeting, King described the City’s decision to illuminate the Heritage Building as a reflection of Ottawa’s allyship with Jewish and Muslim residents alike. He noted any associated costs would be absorbed within existing budgets, emphasizing that the gesture is not just symbolic but also practical.
“Islamophobia has no place in our city. Antisemitism has no place in our city,” King said. “These initiatives were well-received by council and the public and mark an important milestone for the City of Ottawa in combating hate.”
The Heritage Building will be illuminated again on Jan. 27 and Jan. 29, 2026.
