Transgender Day of Remembrance marked in Halifax with flag raising

Transgender Day of Remembrance was marked with a flag raising at Nova Scotia’s province house.

HALIFAX — A crowd of about 50 people gathered in front of the Nova Scotia legislature in Halifax on Thursday for a flag-raising ceremony to recognize Transgender Day of Remembrance.

Lisa Lachance, NDP critic for LGBTQ+ affairs, hosted the event to raise the trans flag in honour of transgender people who have died because of violence, discrimination and hate.

“Today, as we remember transgender people who have lost their lives, this government must commit to improving life for all Nova Scotians, including the trans and gender-diverse community,” Lachance said in a statement Thursday.

Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston said everyone deserves to live authentically, safely and with dignity, and that his government is committed to advancing inclusion and safety for all transgender and gender-diverse people.

“That includes the work that’s currently underway on Nova Scotia’s first 2SLGBTQIA+ Action Plan, led by the Office of Equity and Anti-Racism, and informed by ongoing collaboration with communities across the province,” Houston said in a statement.

Lachance said Houston’s government should better support transgender and two-spirit Nova Scotians who face barriers to health care and affordable housing. They noted that Nova Scotians are still waiting on the completion of the action plan, which was first announced in May 2024.

“The Houston government has let the cost of living balloon beyond what people can afford, and the reality is, it’s even harder for transgender people to get ahead. Transgender and Two-Spirit Nova Scotians too often face discrimination, hatred and violence in our communities,” Lachance said.

In Prince Edward Island, Premier Rob Lantz urged Islanders to deepen their understanding of the systemic challenges and prejudice transgender people face.

He said no one deserves to live in fear or be harmed.

“As a society, we must remember that we are all people -- no matter who you worship, who you love, or how you identify -- no one deserves to live in fear, be threatened, or experience violence or harm,” Lantz said in a statement.

“As a small province, our strength lies in our ability to come together in support of one another. I encourage all Islanders to take this opportunity to pause, reflect, and actively work toward greater understanding and inclusion.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 20, 2025.

By Lyndsay Armstrong