The Peel Committee Against Women Abuse (PCAWA) is excited to share that Take Back the Night (TBTN) will be returning to Peel Region this fall. Take Back the Night is an annual anti-violence rally and march that is held to increase awareness and support of women and gender diverse person’s right to live without the fear of violence, focusing on ending sexual violence.
“PCAWA has been coordinating Take Back the Night in Peel Region since 2016 and we are grateful to be able to bring it back for the first time since the pandemic. I think our community needs the opportunity to gather once again in solidarity to take back the night.” – Rebecca Pacheco, PCAWA Coordinator
When: Thursday September 29th, 2022
Where: Ken Whillans Square (2 Wellington St. W.), Downtown Brampton
Time: 5:00-8:00 PM
Speaker: Arleney Jane (she/her)
Allyship Activity Facilitator: Wil Prakash Fujarczuk (he/him)
The event will begin with a community fair in Ken Whillans Square that will include 15 booths hosted by PCAWA member organizations. Stop by and learn about the support and services they offer to survivors of violence. There will also be sign making stations for attendees to create messages of solidarity that they can carry during the march as well as light refreshments.
We are thrilled to share that Arleney Jane (She/Her) will be joining as the Keynote Speaker for the evening. Arleney is a Psychotherapist, Registered Social Worker, and Trauma-informed, Sex Positive Confidence Coach with a focus on sex workers and criminalized women. She is a community leader who has been a long-time advocate for sex worker rights and full decriminalization of sex work. Women, trans and gender-diverse folks will be invited to march together, sharing messages of strength,outrage and the need for systemic change. Cisgendered men will be invited to stay back in Ken Whillans Square to participate in a facilitated allyship activity led by Wil Prakash Fujarczuk (he/him). Wil is the Manager of the Sexual Violence Prevention Education Program at McMaster University and will lead a conversation on what practical everyday allyship looks like and how to practice self-reflection, accountability, humility and listening.
“We look forward to gathering as a community to unite to Take Back the Night! Progress can never come fast enough and it will take many to create the awareness and impact that is needed to end sexual violence.” – Rebecca Rogers, Director of Advocacy, Communications & Programs at Embrave: Agency to End Violence
A special thanks to the TBTN 2022 Planning Committee members: Embrave: Agency to End Violence, HOPE 24/7, Shelters Movers, East Mississauga Community Health Centre, Catholic Cross Cultural Services, ROOTS, Catholic Family Services, Malton Neighbourhood Services, Moyo Health and Community Services, Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness, Butterfly and Newcomer Center of Peel!
