Anti-Violence Organizing

"Take Back the Night" Button created by the Sudbury Rape Crisis Centre in 1989.

This subsection contains material on specific campaigns, protests, marches, boycotts, court cases, and other organized efforts to draw attention to misogyny and incidents of violence against women, provide political education, and advocate for community action, policies, and laws to create safer environments.

Archival Materials

Buttons

This button is an example of men starting to speak up as allies to end violence against women.
Another Man Against Violence Against Women

  • Year created:

    --

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)

  • Language:

    English
This pin responded to the ongoing acts of physical violence, intimidation, and harassment against lesbians and gays, noting that being lesbian and gay is not a crime while "bashing" is.
Being Lesbian or Gay is Not a Crime – Bashing Is

  • Year created:

    --

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)

  • Language:

    English
This is a solidarity button against violence against women (French).
contre la violence faite aux femmes – solidarité

  • Year created:

    --

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)

  • Language:

    French
Undated Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) button commemorating December 6th Day of Mourning.
December 6th. Mourn. Organize. Change. Hope (CUPW)

  • Year created:

    --

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)

  • Language:

    English
Canadian Auto Workers button to commemorate Dec. 6 and calling for an end to violence against women and our daughters.
End violence for our daughters: CAW/TCA

  • Year created:

    --

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)

  • Language:

    English and French
This button commemorates the murder of 14 women, just because they were women, at L'École Polytechnique in Montreal on December 6, 1989. Although many other buttons have been designed by various groups, this button is one of the most well-recognized and worn.
In commemoration of the 14 women killed in Montreal, December 6, 1989/ En commémoration des femmes assassinées à Montreal le 6 decembre 1989

  • Year created:

    1991

  • Visual Artist:

    Joss MacLennan

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)

  • Language:

    English and French
The White Ribbon campaign was founded in 1991. Since then men have worn white ribbons in the days leading up to December 6th, the anniversary of the Montreal Massacre as a pledge to work against violence against women.
Men Against Violence Against Women

  • Year created:

    1991

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)

  • Language:

    English
No to Violence button produced by Federation of Women Teachers' Associations of Ontario (FWTAO)
No To Violence: Federation of Women Teachers’ Associations of Ontario

  • Year created:

    1982

  • Region:

    Ontario

  • Language:

    English
This undated button by unknown source calls for resisting violence, revolting against oppression, and reclaiming freedom.
Resist Violence – Revolt Oppression – Reclaim Freedom

  • Year created:

    --

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)

  • Language:

    English
This button is one of many worn by women to raise awareness of sexual violence and demanding that it be stopped.
Stop Violence Against Women

  • Year created:

    --

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)

  • Language:

    English
Take Back the Night

  • Year created:

    --

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)

  • Language:

    English
"Take Back the Night" Button created by the Sudbury Rape Crisis Centre in 1989.
Take Back the Night – Sudbury Rape Crisis Centre

  • Year created:

    1989

  • Region:

    Ontario

  • Language:

    English
This pin shows support for The Toronto Rape Crisis Centre and its work with women who have experienced sexual violence and to eradicate violence against women and children. The Toronto Rape Crisis Centre was established in 1974, one of the first in Canada.
Toronto Rape Crisis Centre

  • Year created:

    --

  • Region:

    Ontario

  • Language:

    English
We Will Not Be Beaten

  • Year created:

    --

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)

  • Language:

    English
Women Against Violence Against Women (WAVAW) was a feminist organization active especially in Toronto and Vancouver.
Women Against Violence Against Women (WAVAW)

  • Year created:

    --

  • Region:

    Ontario

  • Language:

    English
Take Back the Night marches and vigils are organized by women in communities across Canada as a protest and form of direct action to end violence against women. This button was created by the Toronto Rape Crisis Centre is the Toronto event in September 1986.
Women Unite – Take Back the Night

  • Year created:

    1986

  • Region:

    Ontario

  • Language:

    English

Documents
BCFW – Coming Soon

  • Year created:

    1980

  • Region:

    British Columbia

  • Language:

    English
Boycotting The Coulson

  • Year created:

    1984

  • Region:

    Ontario

  • Language:

    English
thumbnail of CLC December 6th Statement 1992
CLC Statement December 6, 1992: A National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women

  • Year created:

    1992

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)

  • Language:

    English
For Every Woman Raped in Every War

  • Year created:

    1979

  • Region:

    Ontario

  • Language:

    English
How Many More of Us?

  • Year created:

    1991

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)

  • Language:

    English
Paying for Violence: Some of the Costs of Violence Against Women in B.C.

  • Year created:

    1996

  • Author(s):

    Richard Kerr, Janice Mclean

  • Region:

    British Columbia

  • Language:

    English
The December 6 Fund of Toronto

  • Year created:

    1999

  • Region:

    Ontario

  • Language:

    English
The Schvester: International Women’s Day (1989)

  • Year created:

    1989

  • Region:

    Ontario

  • Language:

    English
the women’s monument – a symbol of healing and change

  • Year created:

    --

  • Region:

    British Columbia

  • Language:

    English

Ephemera
Take Back the Night T-shirt

  • Year created:

    --

  • Region:

    Ontario

Films

Still from the film "Marker of Change" depicting a stone slab with a description of the Montreal massacre etched into it.
Marker of Change: The Story of the Women’s Monument

  • Year created:

    1998

  • Filmmaker(s):

    Moira Simpson

  • Language:

    English

  • Region:

    British Columbia
Still from the film "Moving On" featuring an image of the London, Ontario skyline and the words 'Moving On' in neon teal.
Moving On

  • Year created:

    1986

  • Filmmaker(s):

    Tina Horne

  • Language:

    English

  • Region:

    Ontario
Un Espacio Para Todos (A Space for All)

  • Year created:

    1995

  • Language:

    English

  • Region:

    Ontario
Still from the film "Until Someone Listens" depicting a black and white archival image of white women who were institutionalized in the 20th century.
Until Someone Listens

  • Year created:

    1999

  • Filmmaker(s):

    Laura Sky

  • Language:

    English

  • Region:

    Ontario

Photos

Members of the Toronto Rape Crisis Centre participate in the 1983 International Women's Day March in Toronto.
International Women’s Day 1983 (Toronto) – Toronto Rape Crisis

  • Year created:

    1983

  • Photographer:

    Judy Blankenship

  • Region:

    Ontario
Photo from the 1990 International Women's Day March in Toronto shows demonstrator with Take Back the Night placard.
International Women’s Day 1990 (Toronto) – Take Back the Night

  • Year created:

    1990

  • Photographer:

    Amy Gottlieb

  • Region:

    Ontario
Placards at the 1990 International Women's Day March in Toronto focus on ending violence against women and children. Photograph by Amy Gottlieb.
International Women’s Day 1990 (Toronto) – Violence Against Women

  • Year created:

    1990

  • Photographer:

    Amy Gottlieb

  • Region:

    Ontario
The gathering on International Women's Day 1990 honours each of the fourteen women killed on December 6th, 1989 in Montreal.
Memorial Commemorating December 6, 1989

  • Year created:

    1990

  • Photographer:

    Amy Gottlieb

  • Region:

    Ontario
Photo of a banner highlighting violence against women and the impact of funding cuts to women's programs and services. It was part of the Banner Project, which asked women's groups across Canada to produce a protest banner that would become part of a huge banner in Ottawa. The goal was to show the strength and solidarity of women during the Third Commonwealth meeting of Ministers Responsible for Women’s Affairs in October 1990.
The Banner Project (1990): Battered Women’s Support Services

  • Year created:

    1990

  • Photographer:

    Amy Gottlieb

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)
"Montreal 6 December 1989" is the message of this banner. It was one of many protest banners created for the Banner Project (1990) when women's groups across Canada were asked to write a message that would become part of a huge banner in Ottawa. The goal was to show the strength and solidarity of women during the Third Commonwealth meeting of Ministers Responsible for Women’s Affairs in October 1990.
The Banner Project (1990): Montreal 6 Dec. 1989

  • Year created:

    1990

  • Photographer:

    Amy Gottlieb

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)
This banner was part of the Banner Project and focuses on the extent of wife assault and homicide in Canada. The Banner Project asked women's groups across Canada to produce a protest banner that would become part of a huge banner in Ottawa. The goal was to show the strength and solidarity of women during the Third Commonwealth meeting of Ministers Responsible for Women’s Affairs in October 1990.
The Banner Project (1990): Wife assault a leading cause of homicide

  • Year created:

    1990

  • Photographer:

    Amy Gottlieb

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)

Posters
First Mourn. Then Work for Change

  • Year created:

    1990

  • Visual Artist:

    Joss Maclennan

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)

  • Language:

    English
Ontario Federation of Students poster about date rape and highlighting No means No!
No Means No!

  • Year created:

    --

  • Region:

    Ontario

  • Language:

    English
Pleurez-les aujourd’hui. Agissez demain.

  • Year created:

    1990

  • Visual Artist:

    Joss Maclennan

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)

  • Language:

    French
Take Back the Night (Sudbury)

  • Year created:

    --

  • Region:

    Ontario

  • Language:

    English
A poster for a women's rally in Toronto organized by Women Against Violence Against Women (WAVAW).
violence against women

  • Year created:

    --

  • Region:

    Ontario

  • Language:

    English