VIDEO: Hundreds attend Take Back The Night in Kitchener
Posted Sep 18, 2015 04:33:40 AM.
Last Updated Sep 18, 2015 05:27:09 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Drivers had to wait a couple extra minutes if they were on King Street around 7pm on Thursday.
Around 200 women and children took over the streets of Kitchener for the 32nd annual Take Back The Night march.
This year’s march was fueled by Premier Kathleen Wynne’s announcement in Guelph, that the province will increase funding by $1.75-million for sexual assault centres.
Sara Casselman with the Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region says the money will do more than just help fund programs.
“This is a critical infusion of funds for centres and its also a really strong message to survivors in our community, that the province of Ontario is standing with them.”
Organizers of the march say they hope to bring awareness to the rights of women and transgender to feel safe in our community regardless of age, where they are, or what they’re wearing.
Casselman says the funding will help local centres offer more resources.
“Our community has been growing at a phenomenal rate, and the demand for our services has been growing. So this will help support the services that we offer to survivors in our community.”
The annual march acts as a symbolic gesture to demonstrate women should not have to be escorted by men to feel safe in our community.
