A8 THE OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday September 15, 1999 Take Back The Night on Sept. 23rd By Sandra Omand SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER Once considered something for women only, the annual Take Back the Night walk has become an all gender, all ages event for anyone opposed to vio lence. This year the walk, organized by the Halton Rape Crisis Centre, is planned for Thursday, Sept. 23rd, 6:30 p.m. at Coronation Park and marks the ninth year the international event has been held in Halton. The centre is proud of the fact that men are included in the walk as it is something unique to Halton. Many of the other Take Back the Night events held throughout North America are still women only. Encouraging men to become involved was something the organizing committee, made up of 12 volunteers between the ages of 16-28 (one of whom is male), felt was crucial to the event's success. "We believe you can't fight issues of violence with only half the population," said Niki Pietsch, chair of the Take Back the Night committee. "Men have a place as husbands, brothers, fathers and, sometimes, as victims themselves." She said 2% of the clientele of the Halton Rape Crisis Centre are men. The centre, in addition to helping sexual assault survivors, also presents work shops on topics such as workplace harassment, homophobia and anti- racism in the hopes of preventing vio lence. Pietsch said although the focus of the walk is about violence against women, by recognizing such violence other forms of abuse, such as racism, ageism or homophobia, are also challenged. "A lot of times subtle forms of abuse and violence occur and people turn their heads. So raising our awareness is the first step towards challenging the exis tence of such violence," said Pietsch. Last year's event attracted between 300-500 people from babies in strollers on up. Pietsch is expecting much the same this year with the theme being "Step Away from Violence and Into a New Millennium." "We wanted to have a sense of opti mism as everyone is looking forward to newer and better things," said Pietsch. "We are hoping, eventually, issues of violence won't be so prevalent in the new millennium." The evening will get under way at the Coronation Park Band Shell, rain or shine, with Anjuli, a singer and 17-year- old student at St. Ignatius of Loyola, opening the evening by singing the Take Back the Night theme song. She will be followed by EJ, a noted folk singer from Toronto, Dream, a six member all-female band ranging in age from 13 - 16, and the high-energy dance routine of the Loyola Drill Team. The keynote speaker is Donna Spears, whose daughter Monica was killed by an ex-boyfriend. Deb Ellis, part of a group called Canadians in Support of Afghan Women, will also be on hand to talk about the plight of women in Afghanistan. The desperate situation of the women was brought to light in 1997 following a powerful article written by Sally Armstrong, the Editor-in-Chief of Homemakers magazine, and a longtime Oakville resident. Participants are encouraged to sign a petition demanding Canada put political pressure on the ruling government in Afghanistan to help the women. The petition will be presented to Foreign Affairs Lloyd Axworthy at a later date. Afghan women have been forced from their jobs as doctors and teachers, denied adequate medical treatment and tortured for inadvertently exposing something as innocuous as a wrist. The candlelight walk itself will get under way around 8 p.m., heading west out of the Park along Lakeshore towards Bronte to East Street then returning to Coronation. Candles and candle cups will be available to all participants for a small donation that goes towards keep ing the event alive. Refreshments -- coffee, juice, cook ies and fruit -- will be offered and after wards there will be an open mike for people to share their experiences and thoughts on violence in society. "The open mike session can get very emotional at times," said Diana Davis, a student at St. Ignatius of Loyola and a member of the committee. "It's a safe place where people can speak out and express outrage and con cern," added Pietsch. "People come away feeling empowered and inspired after the walk." T-shirts will be for sale for $10 and $15 and buttons for $2. Information tables will also be set up by organiza tions such as CAVEAT, Halton Family Services, Child Find, Hamilton AIDS Network and Halton Women's Place to name a few. Participants are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items for donation to the food bank. For more information call the Halton Rape Crisis Centre, (905) 825-3622. 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