Take Back the Night Coming to Tillsonburg

Thursday, 11 September 2025 11:18

Take Back the Night will be marching through Tillsonburg this year, shining a light on gender based violence.

TILLSONBURG - It's Tillsonburg's turn to host the Take Back the Night March in Oxford County.

The annual event shines a light on gender based violence and it has been observed in communities around the world dating back to the 1970s. The event in Oxford County alternates between Woodstock, Ingersoll, and Tillsonburg each year.

Sophie Foster is the Public Education and Fundraising Coordinator for Ingamo Homes, and she's also a member of the Domestic Abuse Resource Team of Oxford County (DART Oxford). Although several decades have passed since Take Back The Night first began, Foster says lots of women still don't feel comfortable walking alone at night or just being alone in general.

"We want to feel safe, we want to feel empowered and we want to feel secure. This night and this march is all about that, so we're going to have fun, we're going to have chants and it's a way to honour the victims as well."

Foster adds cases of gender based violence have been growing in recent years. She says a lot of the cases are connected to housing and financial pressures, which could cause stress and lead to violence in some cases.

She says Take Back The Night is all about taking action.

"I'm hoping that with the current climate that we're seeing with the Hockey Canada trial and the Jeffery Epstien files, events like Take Back The Night will give you a sense of action in your own local community."

Oxford County residents will gather at the clock tower on Bridge Street West in Tillsonburg at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday September 17th this year. They will be able to make their own signs and check out community displays, before the speeches begin at 6:45 p.m.. The march itself will kick off at 7:00 p.m. and it should last about 20 minutes, taking everyone on a 1.5km route leading back to the clock tower ahead of the closing ceremony at 7:45 p.m.

DART Oxford is offering a free shuttle from Woodstock to Tillsonburg for this event. It will leave the Woodstock Sobey's parking lot at 5:45 p.m. that day and leave Tillsonburg at 8:00 p.m.. Those who are interested can e-mail Foster at sfoster@ingamohomes.ca to secure a spot on the shuttle.

Sophie Foster stopped by the Heart FM studio to chat with Dan and Marcie on Wednesday September 10th. You can listen to the full interview below: