Purple lights bring awareness to intimate partner violence throughout the UFVRD in the month of October

September 29, 2026 - Chilliwack, British Columbia
From: Chilliwack RCMP

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The RCMP invite the public to join us and our community partners for the annual Purple Light Nights ceremony to mark October as Intimate Partner Violence Awareness Month.

This community sponsored awareness campaign which originated in King County, Washington, in 2007, is launched with the annual illumination of purple lights to raise awareness of intimate partner violence and its effects on children and families.

Lighting Ceremonies: Thursday, October 1, 2026

Chilliwack Ceremony

Time: 7:00PM

Location: Chilliwack RCMP Detachment, 45924 Airport Road, Chilliwack

Hope Ceremony

Time: 6:00 PM

Location: Memorial Park, 3^rd Avenue, Hope

The month of October is a month for shining a light on intimate partner violence and sending the strong message that it has NO place in our community.  The campaign honours those who lost their lives to intimate partner violence, supports survivors, and gives hope to those experiencing abuse.

“Intimate partner violence is a social issue that can affect anyone regardless of their age, sexual orientation, economic background, or race.” Says Corporal Jackie Remple of the Chilliwack RCMP Intimate Partner Violence Unit, “It not only affects the survivors, but also affects the children in the home, family members, and sometimes even pets. The purpose of the purple lights illuminating the RCMP Detachment and other locations across the region this month is to bring community awareness to intimate partner violence and send the message that it has no place in our community.” 

“Silent Witnesses”, which are life-sized silhouettes of women, men, and children who lost their lives in acts of intimate partner violence will be placed throughout the City of Chilliwack, District of Kent and the District of Hope. Each silhouette represents a woman, man, and child who once lived, worked, raised children, and played amongst us. Because these women, men and children no longer “have a voice”, the silhouettes are called Silent Witnesses.

The Upper Fraser Valley Regional Detachment responds to a large number of calls for services annually, a number of these reports are related to intimate partner violence. Even one incident of domestic violence is too many and we must work together to change this.

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