Ottawa’s annual Take Back the Night rally wound through Centretown and ended at City Hall Thursday night, where participants spoke out about feeling unsafe in their communities.
Take Back the Night is organized by the Women’s Event Network, and planned by a small committee of community members and representatives from women’s groups in Ottawa. Women and allies rallied at Minto Park before marching through downtown and the Byward Market. An information fair was held after at City Hall.
Valerie Collicott is the policy and administrative coordinator at Women’s Initiatives for Safer Environments (WISE) Ottawa and part of the six person strong planning committee for Take Back the Night. She said the goal of the event was to make women feel safer in their cities.
“Things need to change so women can feel safe. We shouldn’t have to worry about being assaulted or raped,” she said. “This is unacceptable.”
This year, Collicott estimated there were over 500 attendees, and a mix of women, children, and men. Ottawa police provided support for the group as they crossed intersections.
Take Back the Night first came to Ottawa in 1978, and Collicott said she’s been one of the organizers since 1999. In her 16 years, she said she thinks the event has become even more forceful.
“I think the messages are getting strong. The demands that people make are really more powerful now. I think women are finding their voice,” she said.
“This is our 37th year. What does that say, that we are still out walking in the street? Things are not changing. Women are being assaulted, raped, and stalked,” Collicott said. “Some of the messages are the same, but the voices are louder.”