Hundreds will walk the street starting in Esquimalt on Thursday (Oct. 24) night in the inaugural local Royal LePage Shelter Foundation Night Light Walk.
Intended to shine a light on the path to ending domestic violence 200 attendees will walk alongside Lisa Gibbs, executive director of the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation with Esquimalt Mayor Barb Desjardins providing an opening welcome.
Funds raised during the three-kilometre walk support The Cridge Centre for the Family, a vital resource for women and children fleeing abuse in Greater Victoria.
“The Night Light Walk brings our community together to light up a night of hope to end violence against women. Funds raised help us help hundreds of women and children launch violence-free lives every year,” said Marlene Goley of the Cridge Centre in Victoria. “Everyone who joins the walk, supports the event, and donates, sends a powerful message that there is a community of support behind women’s efforts to get safe and stay safe. Thank you for supporting The Night Light Walk and The Royal Lepage Shelter Foundation.”
Every year in Canada, an estimated 360,000 children witness family violence. In 2022, there were more than 117,000 reports of intimate partner violence, and the rate of intimate partner violence was more than three times higher among women and girls, the foundation said in a news release.
Second-stage housing services, such as those provided by The Cridge Centre for the Family, offer a safe haven, counselling, legal advocacy and other essential resources.
An opening ceremony will offer inspiring words from shelter representatives and community leaders, accompanied by music and reflection.
Participants will illuminate a three-kilometre path, symbolizing hope and solidarity for those impacted by intimate partner violence. The event is more than just a walk – it serves as a powerful testament to our collective commitment to combating abuse and creating safe pathways for those in need. To date, the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation has raised over $46 million in support of shelters and violence prevention programs across the country.
Those looking to support can sign up online here and commit to raising a minimum of $50 and a youth fundraising minimum of $25.
The Night Light Walk starts at 7 p.m. (organizers recommend arriving at 6:15) beginning at Esquimalt Gorge Park, 1070 Tillicum Rd.
