Take Back the Night: Community Unites to End Gender-Based Violence in Barrie

Community members filled the rotunda at Barrie City Hall for Take Back the Night, an international protest march dedicated to ending sexual violence against women, girls, and gender-diverse people. The annual event is part of a global movement that has taken place for decades, calling attention to gender-based violence while empowering survivors and allies to reclaim public spaces.

In Barrie, the march was organized by Huronia Transition Homes, a local non-profit that provides shelter, crisis intervention, and ongoing support for women and children fleeing violence. Several regional organizations stood in solidarity, including the Gilbert Centre, which advocates for LGBTQ+ health and rights, and the Elizabeth Fry Society, which works to support and uplift women impacted by the justice system.

Participants marched through downtown Barrie, a symbolic act of reclaiming streets and spaces where women, trans people, and other marginalized groups often feel unsafe. For many, the march was both a protest and an affirmation: a reminder that safety, dignity, and justice are basic rights, not privileges.

Haily MacDonald, Executive Director of Huronia Transition Homes, spoke to LJI journalist Deepak Bidwai about the significance of the evening. She emphasized the importance of visible, collective action and highlighted the organization’s 24/7 crisis support services, which serve communities throughout Simcoe County. “We’re here not only to raise awareness, but to remind survivors that resources exist and they are not alone,” she said.

Sarah Tilley, Harm Reduction Program Manager at the Gilbert Centre, drew attention to the specific dangers faced by trans communities. “Trans women, and particularly trans women of colour, experience disproportionate levels of violence and discrimination,” she explained. “Events like this matter because they make space for conversations that often go unheard, and they demand that communities acknowledge and address these harms.”

Verónica Peña, Director of Human Resources and Operations at Huronia Transition Homes, also spoke with Bidwai after the march. She noted that, beyond its shelter programs, the organization operates the SAC Centre, which provides support to an additional 200 women, alongside “Choice for Children,” a program serving a similar number. Together, these services address both immediate safety needs and long-term support for families as they rebuild their lives. Peña stressed that the prevalence of violence against women in the region underscores the importance of continued investment in frontline resources.

Another voice of concern came from Anisa Carrascal of the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA). She warned that federal funding cuts to the Ministry of Women and Gender Equality could have devastating consequences for local organizations. Reduced funding, she explained, risks limiting access to essential services across Simcoe County — from crisis intervention and safe housing to counselling and mental health supports. Carrascal urged governments at all levels to maintain, and even expand, their commitment to community health and safety resources.

For those who gathered, Take Back the Night was more than a march — it was an act of resistance and solidarity. Survivors, advocates, and allies walked together to make their voices heard, to challenge the silence around gender-based violence, and to insist on a future where everyone has the right to feel safe in their own community.