The 33rd annual Take Back the Night March hosted by Renfrew County Sexual Assault and Rape Crisis Support Centre will take place on Thursday, September 17, in Barry’s Bay. Participants should gather at Water Tower Park, 20 Mahon St., beginning at 6:30 pm. The march will begin at approximately 7:30 pm., followed by a social gathering and light refreshments.
Lori Norwood, Director of Renfrew County Sexual Assault and Rape Crisis Support Centre (WSAC) explained the significance of the event for our community. “Take Back the Night is one of the most important annual events in Renfrew County’s fight against sexual violence. In a region known for its rural beauty and close‑knit communities, the march serves as a powerful reminder that sexual violence happens here, too—and that survivors deserve safety, visibility, and support in every corner of the county.”
Norwood provides more detail: “For Renfrew County, Take Back the Night is a reclaiming of public and rural space. It challenges the silence and isolation that often surround gender‑based violence in small communities and brings people together to stand with survivors. The event highlights the reality that sexual violence affects individuals in every town and township, and it calls on neighbours, schools, workplaces, and local leaders to take an active role in prevention and accountability.”
For folks here in the Valley, she points out that Take Back the Night “also carries a deeper significance in a region marked by well‑known tragedies. Each year, the march becomes an act of collective defiance, a commitment to building a safer future and refusing to let violence define who we are.”
Ultimately, Take Back the Night is a promise: that Renfrew County will continue working toward a community where everyone can live free from fear, and where survivors are seen, heard, believed, and never alone.— Lori Norwood, Director WSAC
Renfrew County Sexual Assault and Rape Crisis Support Centre (WSAC) offers a 24/7 Crisis Line: 1-800-663-3060
Image at top courtesy Facebook: Renfrew County Sexual Assault and Rape Crisis Support Centre (WSAC)