Every day, people navigate our city with a map of fear in their minds—streets to avoid, keys held like weapons, a constant state of alert. This reality is the consequence of gender-based violence. For decades, one movement has stood up to say "no more." It's a protest, a rally, and a reclamation. It is Take Back the Night.

This fall, the streets of Toronto will once again fill with the sounds of chants, drums, and solidarity. This is your guide to the 2025 Take Back the Night march: how to participate, what to expect, and why this event remains one of the most vital demonstrations of community power in our city.

Born out of the feminist movements of the 1970s, Take Back the Night began as a direct response to the violence and fear that women were forced to endure. It was a radical act: women marching together through the dark, demanding the right to be safe in public spaces.

Today, the movement has grown. Take Back the Night Toronto is an inclusive protest against all forms of sexual and gender-based violence, including violence targeting trans, non-binary, Two-Spirit, and 2SLGBTQ+ community members. It is a space to honour survivors, remember those we have lost, and collectively demand a world free from violence.

Mark your calendars and get ready to raise your voice.

• Date: Thursday, September 25, 2025

• Time: 6:00 PM - Rally & Community Fair | 7:30 PM - March Begins

• Starting Point: Ontario Legislature at Queen's Park, Toronto

• Organizers: TBTN Toronto is organized by a coalition of community partners dedicated to ending gender-based violence, including local shelters, crisis centres, and university groups.

The event will begin with a rally featuring speakers, performers, and community organization tables. The march will then proceed through the downtown core, reclaiming the streets with our presence and our voices.

There are many ways to be a part of Take Back the Night.

1. Join the March: This is the heart of the event. Come alone or with friends. Bring a sign. Lend your voice to the chants. People of all genders who are committed to ending sexual and gender-based violence are welcome as allies and participants.
2. Volunteer: Marches like this depend on community support. Check the websites of Toronto-area sexual assault centres closer to the date for calls for volunteers. Roles often include route marshals, accessibility support, and setup/teardown crew.
3. Make a Sign: Create a sign with a message that resonates with you. Some powerful ideas include: "Believe Survivors," "My Clothes Are Not My Consent," "No Justice No Peace," "End Rape Culture," or simply "Take Back the Night."
4. Spread the Word: Amplify the event. Share the details on your social media using the hashtag #TBTNToronto2025. Invite your friends, family, and colleagues.
5. Participate from Home: If you are unable to attend in person, you can still be part of the movement. Share messages of solidarity online, watch for a livestream of the rally, or light a candle at home to honour survivors and victims of violence.

In a world that still questions survivors and excuses perpetrators, Take Back the Night is more critical than ever.

• It Makes Violence Visible: The march is a massive, unignorable public statement that sexual and gender-based violence is an epidemic that will not be tolerated.

• It Creates Solidarity: For survivors, seeing a crowd of people marching in support can be an incredibly powerful and healing experience, shattering the isolation that trauma creates.

• It Challenges Victim-Blaming: The very act of marching at night is a direct rejection of the toxic narrative that victims are responsible for their own assaults. We demand safety, not curfews.

• It is a Space for Rage and Remembrance: TBTN is one of the few public spaces where righteous anger against injustice is welcome and understood. It is a place to grieve, to rage, and to turn that powerful emotion into a collective call for systemic change.

On September 25th, join us. March with us, shout with us, and help us build a city where everyone can walk through the night, free and fearless.

Take Back the Night is an annual protest and march against sexual and gender-based violence. The 2025 Toronto event will take place on Thursday, September 25, 2025, at the Ontario Legislature (Queen's Park). It's a powerful opportunity for the community to come together to demand safer streets and honor survivors of violence.

The event begins at 6:00 PM with a community fair and rally, featuring speakers and performers. The march through downtown Toronto will start at 7:30 PM. Participants will then return to Queen's Park for a closing ceremony.

Take Back the Night is an inclusive event for everyone who stands against sexual and gender-based violence. It is a space that centers the experiences of women, trans, non-binary, Two-Spirit, and 2SLGBTQ+ individuals, but allies are welcome and encouraged to participate in the rally and march in solidarity.

There are many ways to participate:

• Join the March: Show up at Queen's Park on September 25th to lend your voice to the protest.
• Volunteer: Events like this rely on volunteers. You can sign up to help with organization and marshalling.
• Create Signs: Make and bring signs with messages that challenge violence and support survivors.
• Spread the Word: Use the hashtag #TBTNToronto2025 on social media to raise awareness.
• Participate from Home: If you can't attend in person, you can still show solidarity by sharing messages and content online.

Take Back the Night remains a vital movement because sexual and gender-based violence is still a pervasive issue. The event serves to:

• Make Violence Visible: It brings a private issue into the public sphere, forcing society to confront it.
• Build Solidarity: It creates a powerful sense of community and support among survivors and their allies.
• Challenge Victim-Blaming: The march is a defiant act that reclaims public space and challenges the idea that survivors are responsible for the violence they experience.
• Honor and Remember: It provides a space for collective grief, rage, and remembrance for those who have been harmed or lost to violence.

Yes, the organizers strive to create a safe and inclusive environment for all participants. The event is a space for empowerment and solidarity, with a focus on supporting the most marginalized members of the community who are disproportionately affected by violence.