Take Back the Night

Take Back the Night is a global movement dating back to at least 1975 that protests gender-based violence and more specifically, sexual violence, intimate partner violence, and human trafficking. Everyone has the right to safety, wherever they may be — whether at home, at work, on the street, or anywhere else. Take Back the Night 2024 will be Thursday, September 19th at 6:00pm in Richmond Hill. 63 Dunsmore Cresscent, Richmond Hill, ON L4C 0C5. Find out more about our first in-person event since 2019 on our participate page or check out the FAQs.
Updates related to Take Back the Night in York Region will also be posted on our social media accounts, and we hope to see you there! Visit us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or send us a message.

Take Back the Night in York Region

In York Region, our event is planned by the Take Back the Night Planning Commitee, made up of community organizations and volunteers. We have more on the history of Take Back the Night in York Region on our FAQ page, and it’s important to mention that this event was first held in Anishinaabe communities on Georgina Island.

Our Vision

Our vision is a world free of all gender-based and sexual violence, where:

Survivors are given safety and support;
Survivors are believed, validated, and given resources and tools for their healing journeys;
Survivors feel empowered to share their stories on their own terms, in a way that meets their own needs and wants;
Services and supports are trauma-informed, diverse, and inclusive and accept the diversity of experience and reaction to trauma;
Advocacy, education, accountability, and justice are at the forefront, and social change is sought after with unyielding dedication.

Our Mission

Take Back the Night York Region is an annual protest and demonstration of solidarity and support to reclaim safety in our communities by creating space for survivors to share, sing, scream, express, or feel their stories with survivors and allies. Throughout the night, we march, rally, and come together to speak out against and bring awareness to the prevalence of gender-based and sexual violence, as well as intimate-partner violence. This night demonstrates the strength and power that survivors and their allies have to bring hope and change to our communities. Through this event, we invite everyone to join the movement and build solidarity with us, and we encourage them to speak out and act against injustices in our communities.

Our Values

We hope to further develop our values statement after our 2022 event; for now, they are:

Courage, Empowerment, Vulnerability
Justice, Accountability, Honesty
Community, Diversity, Inclusivity;
Empathy, Respect, Trauma-Informed Care