Dawson Hutchings painted three pieces based on his memories of going blackberry picking with his grandmother Joan. Joan came to the reception on Friday at the Rails End Gallery to see her grandson's work not knowing he had chosen his memories of her as his inspiration. By Jenn Watt
Published Aug. 7 2018
Organizing has started for this year’s Take Back the Night walk raising awareness about sexual and domestic violence with changes aimed at increasing visibility and promoting better understanding of the issues.
To start the conversation the Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre is arranging a screening of the film A Better Man on Wednesday Sept. 19 – the night before the walk.
The film’s website says A Better Man “offers a fresh and nuanced look at the healing and revelation that can happen for everyone involved when men take responsibility for their abuse.”
Lisa Clarke community engagement manager of the Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre said plans to screen the film came at the request of Canadian Federation of University Women Haliburton.
“We had initially screened the Better Man film in Peterborough as part of conversations around Valentine’s Day and domestic violence. They wanted to bring the screening up to Haliburton” Clarke said. “As a group with other organizations in Haliburton we landed on screening the film the night before Take Back the Night as an opportunity to take action immediately on the issue of building a safer and more welcoming community and communities without violence.”
Clarke said A Better Man is a glimpse into one couple’s story of domestic abuse.
“The story of A Better Man is a documentary from a filmmaker from Toronto. She documents 20 years after her relationship with an abusive partner when they come together to discuss the abuse and discuss ways in moving forward and having some closure” she said.
Most years the Take Back the Night walk has started at the high school but organizers thought it would increase visibility if it started in Haliburton’s park and included a candlelight vigil through the streets. Visible Voices Open Arts Studio and YWCA Haliburton will have a presence at the event. There has been discussion around introducing more interactive parts of the walk including storytelling and a call out to artists to perform or create visual art.
Take Back the Night Haliburton is planned for Thursday Sept. 20 at Rotary Park. Sign-making will take place at 5 p.m. The rally and walk starts at 7 p.m. If you’d like to get involved with Take Back the Night email takebackthenight@kawarthasac.ca.
