On 20 November 2024, Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Borden held its annual Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) flag-raising ceremony, fostering reflection and promoting diversity within the Borden community.
The event, hosted by the Borden Pride Network in collaboration with the Defense Team Pride Advisory Group, highlighted the importance of inclusion, respect, and the shared responsibility to end discrimination and violence against transgender, Two-Spirit, and non-binary individuals.
Base Commander Colonel Melissa Ramessar and Base Chief Warrant Officer Jeremy Peters joined military personnel and community members to honor the lives lost to anti-transgender violence and to affirm the Base’s commitment to creating a safe and inclusive environment.
Honoring Lives Lost, Celebrating Courage
Canadian Forces School of Aerospace Technology and Engineering (CFSATE) Commanding Officer (CO) Lieutenant-Colonel David Letellier de St-Just highlighted the origins of TDOR, established in 1999 to memorialize the lives of Rita Hester and Chanelle Pickett, whose murders drew attention to the epidemic of violence against transgender individuals.
“Everyone has a right to live peacefully and, in a world free from violence,” LCol Letellier de St-Just said. “Our world needs people like you here today to spread love and respect for all and to build a community where we strive to eliminate violence.”
Guest speaker Jamie McKay, a public servant, reserve force officer, and proud transgender woman, shared her personal journey.
“By the time I reached university, I had a vague notion of what being trans was… but fear kept me from fully embracing my true self,” she recalled.
Despite challenges, McKay expressed gratitude for the support she received, noting that much of what she feared “came to be unrealized”. “I feel truly blessed for that,” she added.
McKay also reminded attendees of the sobering reality faced by many in the transgender community, citing recent tragedies, including the murder of 16-year-old Brianna Ghey in the UK last February, as a stark reminder of the work still needed to combat prejudice and violence.
Raising the Flag
The event concluded with the ceremonial raising of the transgender pride flag, a symbol of inclusion and solidarity. Attendees reflected on the flag’s design, with its blue, pink, and white stripes representing the masculine, feminine and non-binary diversity within the transgender community.
As the flag ascended, participants reaffirmed their commitment to fostering a safe, respectful, and supportive environment for all members of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). Following the ceremony, attendees gathered for a coffee meet-and-greet, continuing conversations about diversity and inclusion.
CFB Borden’s Transgender Day of Remembrance ceremony stands as a testament to the Base’s dedication to equality and its ongoing efforts to build a defense community that values all its members.
