Turn on the Lights

03/18/2024

9 years ago (yesterday), Turn on the Lights was born. What started as a little idea grew into so much more. Something we have always been proud to have created.

We said, if we help one person, we did the right thing.

Those 9 years, we have accomplished things we never thought possible. We have connected with so many people, so many families.

We held events, did fundraising, financially assisted those who needed it most, met with ministers, supported two bills, became a registered non-profit, all while doing it on the side.

We are family run, we did it all with no government funding, we did it while working our full time jobs, we did it while working and attending further post-secondary. We even did it while navigating our own Justice through the legal system.

So many things have changed over those 9 years. We have fuller, more open conversations around survivors of sexual abuse. We are continuing to be victim-centric and so many more organizations are available now. More help, more funding, just more.

Women and men are speaking more about their experiences and we hope we helped play even a minuscule part in that. We hope we gave our community a safer place to talk and heal.

Over the last year, our family has been hit with some ongoing health related problems, things that have taken more time then expected. This compounded with more and updated services being available, we have decided to take a step back.

We will always use our voices to speak against sexual abuse. We will always participate in events, assist with other organizations, and continue to be advocates in our community.

This was not a decision taken lightly and took many lengthy conversations on the best way forward.

This page will remain active for those to look back on the posts made previously and we will continue to check messages and assist with helping survivors get to the places who can continue helping.

We are forever grateful for those who have supported our non-profit. Without the support we were given, we never would have been able to make changes and help others.

Thank you for helping turn on the lights.

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03/09/2024

Happy International Women’s Day 💡

02/27/2024

You are the storm

01/22/2024

12/31/2023

Wishing you and yours a wonderful holiday season and a happy new year.

We will see you in 2024.

09/22/2023

My heart is broken for the survivors and those who support and love them. Know that our community will continue to stand with you and support you in whatever you need.

We need to start actually showing up for survivors, believing, talking to, walking with survivors and become educated in how survivors process trauma in different way.

But this is not a failure.

After reporting the crime 3+ years ago, they walked together into the court room and faced their abuser. They were made to feel small on the witness stand as the defence questioned the kind of survivors they were. Why they didn’t do this or that.

They continued to hold firm and stand together, supporting each other.

I hope the survivors in this case rest now. Take time to be angry, sad, however they feel. Let it out of the body, and then when things feel ready, start their healing journeys. Know that you’re not alone, and that there’s a whole community here when you’re ready.

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John Vanderzwaag has been found not guilty of two counts of sexual assault dating back more than 20 years, after a jury in Charlottetown deliberated for more than nine hours.

09/21/2023

We will see you in 2 weeks at the march.
Take Back the Night - PEI

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