The 24th Take Back the Night march will see women and children take to the streets of downtown Prince George Friday night, with speeches starting at 6:30 p.m. at city hall and the walk to follow.
As is local tradition organizers are asking men who wish to support the walk to stay on the City Hall grounds for the reception hosted by the John Howard Society that will follow the half hour walk around downtown.
The march will be about half an hour long and travels up Seventh Avenue, left on Quebec Street, right down Ninth Avenue, left on Brunswick Street to Third Avenue, then right on Third Avenue, back down Quebec Street and then onto Seventh Avenue for the trip back to city hall. Downtown roads will be closed to traffic during that time.
"Take Back the Night held on Friday night is a march to honour the memory of the women who have not survived violence, to celebrate those women who have survived violence and to demand an end to violence," said Laura Nordin, new executive director of Surpassing Our Survival - SOS Society that currently provides services to victims of sexual violence between the ages of three and 71. "This is a walk for the entire community. The walk is not just for women and children who have experienced violence themselves but it's a community walk much the same as Relay for Life or the MS Walk or ALS Walk - just as all those diseases affect the community so does sexual violence and everyone knows someone who has been affected by sexual violence."
A show of community support is very important to the cause, Nordin added.
Several speakers will be in attendance to say a few words about the importance of the walk, including Dawn Hemingway, co-chair of the SOS Society and associate professor at UNBC.
The founders of the original Prince George Sexual Assault Centre, now known as the SOS Society, Ann Halikowski, Lorraine Hilland and Karen Underhill have been recently announced as among those honoured as Prince George Citizens of the Year who will be celebrated at a gala presented by the Prince George Community Foundation next month.
In Prince George the Take Back the Night March began in 1992 with a number of community agencies working collaboratively to protest violence against women. Each year the walk is held sees volunteers from several agencies come together to make it happen. Last year as resources diminished the march was put on hold to once again be held this year.
Men are respectfully requested to provide their support at the event by assisting with the reception after the march. Hot beverages and snacks will be provided by the John Howard Society.
For more information call the SOS Society at 250-564-8302.
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