Hello Everyone, 

Take Back the Night (TBTN) is just around the corner - September 26th!

Take Back the Night has become synonymous with standing up against sexual violence that is directed towards women. The TBTN march is an opportunity to reclaim the streets and to speak up against the violence. The first recorded event with the principles and ideas of TBTN occurred in the United States in October 1975 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The event was organized as a response from citizens outraged after the murder of young microbiologist, Susan Alexander Speeth. She was stabbed to death blocks from her home while she was walking alone. In March 1976, the first "reclaim the night march" was held in Belgium to protest the ways violence affects the lives of women. 

The term "Take Back the Night" did not come into use until 1977, which comes from the title of a memorial read by Anne Pride at an anti-violence rally that same year.

Canada's first march was held in 1978 in Vancouver, BC. In 1981, the Canadian Association of Sexual Assault Centers announced that the third Friday in September be declared the evening for Take Back the Night marches. Guelph-Wellington Women in Crisis has held an annual Take Back the Night march for decades. The march is held in Marianne's Park. The park itself was dedicated to Marianne Goulden in 1993 by the city of Guelph. Marianne Goulden was one of the first women to stay at the Women in Crisis shelter. Marianne was stabbed by her common-law partner, Timothy Weldon, in front of her teenage daughter. (For more information on Marianne see sources below). The violence affects us all whether it be directly or indirectly. Come join the march and stand up against sexual violence against women. Let's refuse to give up the fight! 

Sources: 

Takebackthenight.org/about

Canadianwomen.org/node/1949

Citizensshift.org/node/6913&dossier_nid=1122 

Take Back the Night Guelph 2013

SAVE THE DATE!
Thursday, September 26, 2013

If you are interested in participating in the planning and preperation of the annuam march and rally to end sexual violence agaisn women and children please email wiceducator@gwwomenincrisis.org.

Take Back The Night 2012

Guelph-Wellington Women in Crisis

Take Back The Night 2012

This Thursday, September 27th at 6:30PM the Guelph-Wellington Women In Crisis organization invites the community to meet at Marianne's Park to begin this year's Take Back The Night rally and march through the city.

            Take Back the Night is an event intent on extending community awareness of sexualized violence against women and children. Thursday's rally will run from 6:30-9:00 PM at Marianne’s Park and City Hall and will include performances by the Women’s Drumming group and local poets. Men are encouraged to support the women, transwomen and children from the sidewalk as they march from Marianne’s Park to City Hall and all are welcome to join the following Unity March through the downtown area.

             Guelph-Wellington Women In Crisis is just one of the local co-coordinator and a proud supporter of the international Take Back The Night initiative originally founded by Katie Koestner, the first women to speak publicly on date rape. Women In Crisis promotes the safety and respect of all and aims specifically to end sexual assault and domestic violence against women and children.

Guelph General Hospital has responded to 58 victims of acute sexual assault this year (57 being female) and it's Paediatric Sexual Assault Care has reported taking in 11 female children. In addition, Emergency Services has responded to 21 females regarding domestic violence in Guelph.

Guelph-Wellington Women In Crisis has provided services to more than 1500 women yearly. Additionally our crisis line has responded to over 3000 calls each year. Women In Crisis intends to create awareness of the reality of domestic violence and sexual assault in the local community through Thursday's Take Back The Night event.  

2010 Take Back the Night

We're Taking It Back!

On Thursday, September 30^th at 6 pm, the Guelph community will gather at Marianne’s Park to take part in a rally and march to “say NO!” to sexualized violence against women and children.

The Take Back the Night rally will feature guest speakers, activities for children, t-shirt making, and community monologues. Everyone is welcome to come to the rally from 6 to 6:45 pm (at Marianne's Park), and 7:30pm (St. George's Square). Women, transwomen and children are invited to participate in the march that will leave Marianne’s Park at 6:45 pm. We welcome men to support participants throughout the march from the sidewalks, joining together in solidarity before and after the march.

The Take Back the Night location also has a deep significance to the Guelph community. The Take Back the Night is held at Marianne’s Park. The City of Guelph dedicated the park to Marianne Goulden in 1993, after she was stabbed by Timothy Weldon, her common-law partner, in front of her teenage daughter. Marianne Goulden was one of the first women to stay at the Women in Crisis shelter. She later became an employee of the shelter and women staying there soon began saying they were staying at “Marianne’s Place”, a name that has stayed to this day.

Take Back the Night is coordinated by Guelph-Wellington Women in Crisis. For more information, please visit the Take Back the Night Guelph Blog at takebackthenightguelph.blogspot.com

Media Contact:

Jessica St. Peter

Public Educator, Guelph-Wellington Women in Crisis

519 836 1110 ext. 234 (work)

wiceducator@gwwomenincrisis.org Website: takebackthenightguelph.blogspot.com

2010 Take Back the Night

Planning for 2010's Take Back the Night will be happening soon. Stay tuned for more details!

What a Night!

Thanks to all the enthusiastic rally supporters, marchers, volunteers, performers and contributors to Take Back the Night!
It was so much fun and many people took notice. We appreciate all the brave people who came out and raised their voices. It is all the more important for those who aren't able to speak out safely.

If you are interested in planning for next year, be sure to send us a message via e-mail or phone.