All ages are encouraged to join Canton community partners: the Canton Police Department, the Canton Public Library, Canton Response to Hate Crimes Coalition (CRHCC) and Canton Leisure Services. These Canton community organizations proudly present this year’s National Night Out featuring Canton’s Annual ‘Not In Our Town’ Community Peace Rally.
National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods safer, better places to live. The community is invited to join us in a Candlelight Unity Vigil with musical entertainment, guest speakers, and a Canton Public Safety vehicle display. Additional activities include: refreshments and prizes provided by Target, this year’s event sponsor; a craft project provided by Home Depot; inflatables; a K-9 demonstration; and the Canton fire safety house exhibit.
“This event is an evening where the community is encouraged to come together and celebrate the community in which we live,” stated Canton Community Relations Coordinator Patty Esselink. “It is an opportunity to meet and interact with the police and fire personnel as well as meet the people who live around you.”
All ages are invited to attend this free event promoting tolerance and the “Not In Our Town” principles of building safe, inclusive communities for all. All activities will take place at Heritage Park’s north pavilion, located off of Heritage Drive.
The “Not In Our Town Peace Rally” is coordinated by the CRHCC. This group is an award-winning coalition of local law enforcement, leaders, and representatives of community organizations, faith-based organizations, public schools, and the community at-large, who are committed to raising awareness of hate crimes, bias incidents, and bullying. The CRHCC offers support to victims of hate/bias/bullying and helps to restore a sense of community when these incidents occur.
Canton will join forces with neighbors participating across thousands of communities from all 50 states, as well as United States territories, Canadian cities, and military bases worldwide for the 33rd Annual “National Night Out” (NNO) coordinated by the National Association of Town Watch (NATW). According to the NATW website, more than 38 million neighbors across over 16,000 communities are expected to participate in ‘America’s Night Out Against Crime’ this year.
For more information about this community event, visit www.cantonpublicsafety.org, www.niot.org or call 734/394-5460.