Thursday, September 18, 5-8 p.m.

Meet us at Town Hall Square Park behind Carleton Place Town Hall. 

Thursday, September 18, 5-8 p.m.

Meet us at Town Hall Square Park behind Carleton Place Town Hall. 

Take Back the Night – Event Update (August 14, 2025)

We are making an important change to this year’s Take Back the Night event on Wednesday, September 18th. We will still gather at the park behind Carleton Place Town Hall at 5:00 PM for a condensed version of the evening — including the vigil, speeches, and our march.

The march will head down Bridge Street to Lake Avenue, where a free bus will be waiting at the Farmers’ Market (departing no later than 6:15 PM). Those not boarding the bus are welcome to continue marching back to the park.

The bus will take participants to Parliament Hill, where we will join allies in showing the federal government how much support women have — and how vital it is to protect the services and programs women across Canada rely on. The proposed 80% cut to wage funding will have serious impacts on women’s organizations across the country and the communities they serve. RESERVE YOUR SEAT ON THE BUS HERE. 

Regardless if you are coming on the bus or not, we want a big turnout this year for the march and the trip to Parliament Hill. Between what’s happening in the U.S., the Hockey Canada trial, increased rates of intimate partner violence across Lanark County, Ottawa, and the nation — and the proposed wage cuts — women are in a precarious position both here in Canada and around the world. We want our community to show up in solidarity with women and girls everywhere.

Dress Code: We encourage everyone, whether joining us at Parliament Hill or not, to wear LCIHCS swag or purple. LCIHCS t-shirts will be half price for those going on the bus, and swag will be available for sale at As Good As New during the week leading up to the event.

The bus is free — and we want as many people as possible to join us in Carleton Place or meet us in Ottawa.

Since 2006, Carleton Place has been host to one of the most well-attended rural Take Back the Night Marches in Canada. Even on the soggiest of nights, local residents turn out with their banners and noise-makers in record numbers. All to demand that a woman’s right to walk our streets safely be upheld.

Take Back the Night is about women’s right to be free of violence and to walk without fear.

From the Take Back the Night Foundation website:

History:  Take Back The Night is the earliest worldwide movement to stand against sexual violence, especially violence against women.  TBTN Events began in the 1960’s in Belgium and England with protests about how women were not able to be safe walking down the street alone.  In 1973, in the United States, a group of women at the University of Southern Florida dressed in black sheets holding broomsticks and marched through campus demanding a women’s center.  In 1975, a crowd in Philadelphia held a Take Back The Night Event to protest the murder of a microbiologist walking near her home after work.  In the 70’s San Francisco had a number of rallies in protest “snuff” pornography and violence against women.  These early events have grown into hundreds of events on college campuses and in communities of all sizes and locations.  The unifying theme of these events is to bring awareness to sexual violence and provide support for victims.

Foundation:  In 2001, Katie Koestner, the first woman in the US to speak out nationally and publicly about being the victim of campus “date” rape, reached out to event organizers and participants in the US and globally about uniting our efforts and sharing our history.  We wanted to bring the passion, energy and support of Take Back The Night to more communities.  In establishing the Take Back The Night Foundation, the ability to share our collective history and support each other in our cause became possible.  Today our Board Members and thousands of supporters work tirelessly to provide resources, funding, and healing to as many communities as possible.

Mission:  Our Mission as a charitable 501(c)3 Foundation is to end sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, sexual abuse and all other forms of sexual violence.  We serve to create safe communities and respectful relationships through awareness events and initiatives. People of all backgrounds around the world are taking back their voices by speaking out against these crimes and taking a stand through Take Back The Night.  Sexual violence, harassment, abuse, stalking, and trafficking continue in epidemic proportions.  We have made great strides, but our march is far from over.

Today:  Take Back The Night Events have been documented in over 36 countries, in over 800 communities, with more locations taking a stand every year.  We have reached over 30 million people with our message of strength and support, and our commitment to ending sexual violence.