On October 3rd, the Violence Against Women Coordinating Committee (VAWCC), in partnership with local health, justice, and social service organizations, will host Take Back the Night – a powerful evening of solidarity, awareness, and action against gender-based violence in our community.
The gathering and march will bring together survivors, allies, and community members to shine a light on the realities of gender-based and intimate partner violence (IPV) and to demand a safer future for all.
The statistics are stark:
- More than 4 in 10 women in Canada have experienced some form of intimate partner violence in their lifetime (Statistics Canada, 2021).
- In Northern Ontario, girls and young women face violent crime at rates four times higher than the national average, with violence more likely to be severe and result in physical injury.
- Over six in ten Indigenous women have been physically or sexually assaulted since the age of 15, compared with just over four in ten non-Indigenous women (Statistics Canada, 2021).
- Police-reported intimate partner violence is 75% higher in rural communities than in urban areas.
- The vast majority of gender-based violence in Canada is not reported to the police:
- Only 6% of sexual assault incidents were reported to the police, making it the most underreported violence crime. (Adam Cotter, Canadian Centre for Justice and Community Safety Statistics, Stats Can 2019)
- 80% of people who had experienced gender-based violence did not report it to the police. (Conroy, S. 2021 Family Violence in Canada: A statistical profile 2019)
- 59% of transgender and gender diverse people experience violence victimization. (Stats Can 2020)
The impact on survivors can be devastating, ranging from physical injuries and traumatic brain injuries to mental health challenges, financial insecurity, and homelessness. Take Back the Night serves as both a call to action and a message of hope: together, we can raise awareness, strengthen supports, and work toward ending gender-based violence in our communities.
Event Details
Date: October 3, 2025
Time: 6:00 PM – Opening remarks followed by a March through Parry Sound
Location: Market Square Park, 27 Mary Street, Parry Sound, ON
All are welcome to join this important evening of reflection, resilience, and advocacy.
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