Thank you!

Photo by Nick Iwanyshyn, Guelph Mercury

Jen Plyler, amateur boxer and coordinator of the Shape Your Life boxing program for women and trans survivors of violence speaks at Take Back the Night 2008 in Guelph on September 18, 2008.

Check out the article by the Guelph Mercury.

A big thank you to all the volunteers and participants in Take Back the Night 2008. The event was a success because of all your hard work. Over 120 people came to the event on Thursday night. A group of people from the Guelph Resource Centre for Gender Empowerment and Diversity wore their silkscreened TBTN Tshirts and brought beautifully painted signs. The Guelph Women's Drum opened the event with two songs. Then Juanita Wilkins performed to the crowd, while people mingled or sat on the grass. People signed the giant "Stop Violence" stop-sign and wrote what kind of violence they'd like to stop. At the Arts and Crafts table, banners were made, and children had their faces painted. There were even appearances by the Guelph Gryphons Women's Hockey team and some election candidates. There were baked goods provided by With The Grain and Guelph Water courtesy of containers from Wellington Water Watchers.

The march made its way through downtown Guelph with lots of people with strollers and dogs along for the walk. We were cheered on and supported by others along the way. We will keep on marching until the streets and homes are safe for all in this community.

If you are interested in participating in the 2009 Take Back the Night planning committee, please e-mail wiceducator AT gwwomenincrisis DOT org.

TONIGHT: TBTN Silkscreening and Sign Making Event

Bring your own T-shirt and create your own custom Take Back the Night wear!
Raise your Voice! Make your own Take Back the Night Sign!

Tonight, Wednesday September 17th at the Guelph Resource Centre for Gender Empowerment (University of Guelph) there will be a workshop on silkscreening and a sign making party!

5:30-7 pm
presented by the
Guelph Resource Centre for Gender Empowerment and Diversity (GRCGED)
University Centre, University of Guelph
facilitated by Aislinn Thomas

For more information, please phone GRCGED at
519 824 4120 ext. 58559
This workshop is open to everyone.

2008 Take Back the Night Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – September 16, 2008
Female Boxer to Speak at Guelph Take Back the Night Rally

On Thursday, September 18th at 6 pm, Guelph residents will gather at Marianne’s Park to take part in a rally and march to “say NO!” to sexualized violence against women and children. The event will open with a drumming circle by the Guelph Women’s Drum followed by a musical performance by folk singer Juanita Wilkins. The rally will also feature Jen Plyler a boxer from Toronto’s Shape Your Life program (which ran this year from the Toronto Newsgirls Boxing Gym). Shape Your Life is an initiative that helps female and trans survivors of violence empower themselves and gain self-esteem through the sport of boxing.

The Take Back the Night location also has a deep significance to the Guelph community. The Take Back the Night is held at Marianne’s Park. The City of Guelph dedicated the park to Marianne Goulden in 1993, after she was stabbed by Timothy Weldon, her common-law partner, in front of her teenage daughter. This month, Weldon requested to be released from the psychiatric facility where he is being held. An Ontario Review Board rejected the request on September 9th. Marianne Goulden was one of the first women to stay at the Women in Crisis shelter. She later became an employee of the shelter and women staying there soon began saying they were staying at “Marianne’s Place”, a name that has stayed to this day.

In 2007, a record 1053 domestic violence incidents were reported to Guelph Police—an average of 2.8 incidents per day. Reports of sexual assault, child pornography possession by Guelph and area residents, and other related crimes have appeared frequently in Guelph newspapers over the past year. In 2007, Guelph Police received 60 sexual assault complaints, an average of one sexual assault complaint per week. However, the vast majority of sexual assaults will never be reported to the police, and most survivors are left silenced.

“Take Back the Night is the one night of the year where women, transwomen and children can walk through the streets of Guelph unaccompanied,” explained Zhaleh Afshar, Public Educator, Guelph-Wellington Women in Crisis. “Most survivors of violence have been abused by people they know, with this march we demand safety in our homes and on our streets. Unfortunately, women and children are still not safe in our community”.

The Take Back the Night rally will feature activities for children, crafts, and face painting. Everyone is welcome to come to the rally from 6 to 7:30 pm. Women, transwomen and children are invited to participate in the march that will leave Marianne’s Park at 7:30 pm.
Take Back the Night is coordinated by Guelph-Wellington Women in Crisis. For more information, please visit the Take Back the Night Guelph Blog at takebackthenightguelph.blogspot.com

Media Contact:
Zhaleh Afshar
Public Educator, Guelph-Wellington Women in Crisis
519 836 1110 ext. 234 (work)
Website: takebackthenightguelph.blogspot.com

Find Take Back the Night on Facebook!

Click the "Find Us on Facebook" button to find our new page! We have just created a new Guelph-Wellington Women in Crisis Page on Facebook.

Find all the 2008 Take Back the Night information on our Guelph-Wellington Women in Crisis Facebook Page and send your friends an Invite through Facebook by becoming a Fan!

Volunteer Meeting - Tuesday, Sept. 9th

Are you interested in volunteering for Take Back the Night 2008? We are looking for volunteers and event helpers. Are you interested in getting involved with the event through speaking, having your organization's pamphlets at the event or in another way?

We will be having a Take Back the Night Volunteer Meeting next week!

Tuesday, September 9th at 3 pm
at Marianne's Park
(On Gordon Street, across the river by The Boathouse)
(please RSVP if you are planning on attending)

Rain location: Guelph-Wellington Women in Crisis Sexual Assault Centre
38 Elizabeth Street
(next to the Red Chevron)

Please send an e-mail to wiceducator AT gwwomenincrisis DOT org if you plan on attending this meeting.

Silkscreening and Sign Making Event!

ON the eve before Take Back The Night, learn how to make your own silkscreened craft and paint your own sign to bring with you to the rally and march.

The Silkscreening and Sign Making Event

Wednesday, September 17th, 2008
5:30-7 pm
presented by the
Guelph Resource Centre for Gender Empowerment and Diversity (GRCGED)
University Centre, University of Guelph
facilitated by Aislinn Thomas

For more information, please phone GRCGED at
519 824 4120 ext. 58559
This workshop is open to everyone.

Poster for 2008! Contact us for a copy!

Take Back the Night 2008

On Thursday September, 18th, at 6 pm. Guelph's Annual Take Back the Night Rally and March will take place at Marianne's Park in Guelph. We are currently looking for volunteers and organizations interested in having brochures or information at the event.

We welcome volunteers of all backgrounds in genders who are interested in ending violence against women and promoting equality. If you are interested in helping out with the event, please e-mail wiceducator AT gwwomenincrisis DOT org.

We will be posting a list of volunteer positions shortly.