Coquitlam Night Light Walk supports women and families affected by violence

Residents from across the Tri-Cities are invited to the second annual Night Light Walk at Town Centre Park in Coquitlam on Thursday evening. Organizers advise participants to arrive at 6:15 p.m.; the walk starts at 7 p.m. The three-kilometre walk raises money for second-stage housing, shelters for women and children fleeing abuse, and transitional support programs.

Tri-City Transitions executive director Jatinder Bhatti said the event supports families suffering in silence and lets them know help is available. It is also intended to bring people together. Bhatti said isolation is one of the biggest factors keeping women and children in abusive situations, making opportunities for connection critical. She added that everyone deserves to live free from violence.

Hosted by the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation, the event also aims to draw attention to the shortage of safe, affordable transitional housing. According to a release promoting the walk, many survivors struggle to find such housing and consequently stay longer in shelters, contributing to longer waitlists and higher turn-away rates. The release said second-stage housing fills this gap by giving survivors a safe, stable place to rebuild as they move towards independent living. Without longer-term support, some may face the choice of housing insecurity or returning to an abusive home.

Women and girls are disproportionately affected by intimate partner violence and may suffer physical injuries and psychological symptoms, including post-traumatic stress disorder. The article cites an estimate that 80 per cent of Canadians who experienced intimate partner violence did not report it to police in 2019.

Event information and registration: https://shelterfoundation.akaraisin.com/ui/NightLightWalk/g/50702