BROCKVILLE – Members of community agencies, women and their allies plan to march at 7 p.m. on Friday, September 16, 2022 to take a stand against sexual violence in the community. The Take Back the Night event, hosted by the Anti-Violence Coalition of Leeds and Grenville (AVCLG) speaks out against violence and raises community awareness as a preventative measure against future violence and raises awareness of the services AVCLG Coalition members offer the community.

The Take Back the Night rally and march is a visual and vocal stand against sexual assault and harassment. Participants will gather at 6:30 p.m. at Armagh Sifton Park at Blockhouse Island. Participants can bring their signs or use materials provided by AVCLG. A rally at 6:45 p.m. will be followed by a march around Blockhouse Island to the Women’s Memorial Monument and to the Brockville Rail Tunnel.

Take Back the Night is an international event and non-profit organization with the mission of ending sexual, relationship, and domestic violence in all forms. The Anti-Violence Coalition of Leeds and Grenville (formerly Victim Issues Coordinating Committee) has been recognizing Take Back the Night in Leeds and Grenville since 1996.

While the march began to protest the violence that women experienced while walking in public at night, the purpose of these marches was to speak out against this violence and raise community awareness as a preventive measure against future violence. The mission of Take Back the Night has since grown to encompass all forms of violence against women, though sexual violence against women is still the top focus

Participants from across Leeds and Grenville are all welcome to participate. The event is strollers, leashed pets welcome

There is no pre-registration required for the march on Friday, September 16. Participants should bring or wear comfortable walking shoes, water bottle, flashlight and reflective gear, noise makers and/or signs or use the materials provided. There may be uneven terrain along the marching route.

If you have been affected by violence, the Assault Response and Care Centre (ARCC) and Victim Services of Leeds and Grenville (VSLG) help those experiencing sexual or domestic violence to recover and heal. For information regarding services, call ARCC at 1-800-567-7415 or VSLG at 1-800-939-7682. Connect with the Anti-Violence Coalition of Leeds and Grenville on Facebook or visit

www.avclg.com or email vicc@outlook.com.