Bonnie Trash and OLEXA perform at Guelph’s Take Back the Night
In a powerful demonstration of community resilience and advocacy, hometown drone rock heroes Bonnie Trash and gothic post-punk singer-songwriter OLEXA are set to bring their powerful voices to the stage as part of the annual Take Back the Night celebrations.
This special performance is an integral part of the efforts led by the Guelph-Wellington Women in Crisis (G-W WIC), a community-based organization dedicated to supporting women and gender-diverse people impacted by violence.
The celebration kicks off on September 17. The event will begin with a rally and march against sexual violence at Marianne’s Park (176 Gordon Street), featuring speakers, poetry, and a collective voice for change. The procession will conclude steps away from the artists, who will take the stage at the Royal City Mission (50 Quebec Street).
“There’s a real excitement in gathering together and yelling about something,” noted Charlie Butler, highlighting the significance of these collective actions. “In a world where we scan through the internet and see awful thing after awful thing, we can start to think, ‘Does anyone care?’ Going to a rally gets you connected. Not in a way where we stand around and be sad, but we make our community hear that we care about something and we’re going to change it. We can’t forget about joy while we change the world — that’s what music is about.”
The concept of Take Back the Night has deep historical roots, tracing back to 1970s public outrage over violence against women that spurred campus demonstrations and international advocacy. This tradition was later adopted across North America in the 1980s.
G-W WIC itself is built on a foundation of activism and immediate care. The organization began in the 1970s when a team of eight women volunteers established a rape crisis hotline at the University of Guelph. As the movement evolved, the organization expanded dramatically, eventually establishing an emergency shelter for women and their children, which evolved into the current Marianne’s Place facility.
Today, the organization provides a comprehensive network of support services, ensuring survivors have access to critical resources. These services include a 24-hour crisis line, an Anti-Human Trafficking Program, a Family Court Support Program, a Sexual Assault Centre, a Rural Women’s Support Program, and Transitional Housing and Support Programs designed to help individuals leave abusive situations.
By bringing together the arts and community action, Take Back the Night continues to serve as a vital reminder that collective voices are essential. It underscores the ongoing commitment to creating a safer world, where joy and advocacy work hand-in-hand to drive meaningful change.
Buy on Amazon
Credit
