Chris Puglia
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Sep 13/02) - Women and men in Yellowknife will march next Thursday evening in an effort to end violence.

The annual Take Back the Night March is designed to spread awareness about violence against women and children as well as promote safer communities.

"Women around the territories march on that night in almost every community. It's really quite impressive," said Barbara Saunders, president of the NWT Status of Women Council.

The march in Yellowknife will focus on areas that have been identified as high-risk.

"The route will go along the path along Frame Lake where there was some controversy. And we generally go along the street where the Gold Range and the Right Spot are," said Saunders.

Major Karen Hoeft, director of community development with the Salvation Army, will be speaking after the march. She also wrote a song last year for the event.

"Healthy communities is something I believe in and something we can work towards," she said.

Hoeft said the key is for people to look out for each other.

"We're not a big urban setting where someone would walk by a person being raped on the street, but people do turn a blind eye. I know some of our street people are at risk at night."

Participants in the march will meet at the NWT Status of Women Council office at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 19. The march will be followed by a gathering at Javaroma.