Image Credit: Facebook / Take Back the Night Kamloops

By Connor Gunn

SEXUAL VIOLENCE AWARENESS

Advocates push for awareness in downtown Kamloops ahead of Take Back the Night march Thursday

Oct 20, 2022 | 4:16 PM

KAMLOOPS — A local march is starting Thursday (October 20) evening in downtown Kamloops creating awareness around domestic and sexualized violence.

The Take Back the Night march started back in 1989 in Kamloops and advocates for women, men and transgender people to stand up against sexualized violence.

The march is organized with the help of the Kamloops Sexual Assault Counselling Centre (KSACC) along with Kamloops Immigrant Services and strives to increase recognition for people that have experienced sexual violence and to let them know they are not alone.

“There are a lot of women in the community who don’t come forward when they’ve been sexually assaulted. There are a lot of men, transgender people who don’t come forward when they’re sexually assaulted and I think showing support like that in a community like this and let it be advertised and talked about actually allows people to come forward and gives them strength to have a voice,” says Darcy Gorrill with Kamloops Immigrant Services.

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Affected individuals will be speaking at the march offering first-hand experience, support and information.

Gorrill says that an alarming number of people are victims of sexual violence and don’t tell anyone.

“Many of us that work in the field see it all the time but it’s hidden, if people really recognized that it was happening they’d be shocked, they’d be surprised.”

Members of the public are encouraged to join in the march that starts at St. Andrews on the Square at 5:30 p.m. Participants will make their way through the downtown.