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The Take Back the Night March is today in Timmins

Usually about 200 people participate
2018-09-18 Take BAck the NIght MH
Timmins Mayor Steve Black with the official proclamation for Take Back the Night, which is being held today at 6:30 p.m. in Timmins at 355 Wilson Ave. Maija Hoggett/TimminsToday

A crowd will be taking to the street later today for the annual Take Back the Night march.

The action kicks off with a rally at 6:30 p.m. at the Timmins and Area Women in Crisis at 355 Wilson St., with the walk at 7 p.m. Everybody is welcome to attend.

“We’re marching for women to feel comfortable walking at night alone, that’s kind of the ultimate premise is that women can feel safe and confident walking down the streets at night,” said organizer Jackie Kaye.

Usually, she said there are about 200 people who take part in the local event.

After some housekeeping and the speech from the keynote speaker in the centre's parking lot, she said the group walks the route together.

“We chant, so there are picket signs pre-made that if people are comfortable and they want to take one they can,” she said.

“We blast our music, we honk our horns, we let the City of Timmins know that we’re here and this is what we’re marching for.”

Julie Lalonde is the keynote speaker and said tonight is about reminding people to keep coming out and being apathetic.

“There’s a new group in Canada that’s now measuring rates of femicide in Canada, so we know that since Jan. 1, 106 women and girls have been killed across Canada,” she said.

“For me it’s just really important to drive home that people are, I think, rightfully feeling super optimistic about Me Too and about the changes and the fact that we’re talking about this more openly. But we’re obviously not doing enough when so many women and girls are losing their lives to male violence.”

You can find out more about the Timmins event on Facebook.