YWCA rallies to ‘Take Back the Night’

By Alejandra Pulido-Guzman - Lethbridge Herald on October 22, 2024.

Herald photo by Alejandra Pulido-Guzman Members of the community and various organizations joined the YWCA at their annual "Take Back the Night" rally on Friday night.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDapulido@lethbridgeherald.com

Last week marked the YWCA Lethbridge & District’s Week Without Violence and they hosted several events throughout the week, culminating with their annual “Take Back the Night” rally on Friday.

The Week Without Violence is part of a global movement with YWCA’s across the country and around the world to end violence against women, girls and gender diverse people.

Jill Young, CEO of YWCA Lethbridge & District, told the Herald Friday night after the “Take Back the Night” rally that the Week Without Violence allows them to highlight and amplify the voices of survivors of domestic violence, sexual violence and harassment.

“We want to not only highlight those voices but educate our community and really support a safe community for everybody,” said Young.

 She said they culminated the week with the “Take Back the Night” rally along with members of the community, members of partner organizations like the Lethbridge Police Services, Victim and Witness Services, The Watch, Lethbridge Family Services and City officials among others.

 “This year our theme was about collaboration and we wanted to speak about the voices that we have across so many different powerful organizations,” said Young.

 After the rally, which started at City Hall with a presentation by Deputy Mayor Nick Palladino, Young said they were hosting a film screening of a movie that was commissioned and created by the Alberta Council of Women Shelters (ACWS).

 “ACWS is an advocate for women shelters and domestic violence across the province, and this film highlights those voices of the survivors and talks about their journey through recovery and understanding the challenges of the legal system as they enter into this next phase of their life,” said Young.

 She said that Cat Champagne, executive director of ACWS, was in attendance to offer some opening words to present the film and provide some further context.

When explaining why they continue to rally every year for the ability to “Take Back the Night,” Young said they walk to share their voices and to have their voices heard.

“By taking part in the march, we are sending a clear message. We will not tolerate violence in any form, we support survivors, we will listen, we will believe them and we will work together to ensure that the streets of Lethbridge are safe for everyone, day and night,” said Young.

She added that “Take Back the Night” started in the 1970s in Vancouver and they have been rallying in Lethbridge for over a decade. Young said it started in terms of not being able to walk safely at night and women wanting to take their power back.

“We should be able to be safe regardless of our gender, regardless of our sexuality, regardless of what our facial appearance looks like, our cultural background. We deserve to be safe in our community, whether that’s day or night and it’s a powerful message to walk through the streets as the evening comes up on us,” said Young.

She said this is no longer a “women’s problem,” but everyone’s problem and it takes everyone to be allies in this message to make a difference.

Young added that the perception of safety, regardless of where it is, is important and people should be able to feel safe in any neighbourhood across the city, including downtown.

“Regardless of where I am, I will have keys in my hand, I will look behind me, I don’t wear earphones because I need to be safe and we shouldn’t have to do that. We shouldn’t have to compensate, whether that’s downtown or whether that is anywhere in Lethbridge,” said Young.