The Rowan House Women's Emergency Shelter's One Billion Rising march went in High River Tuesday.

Chair of the board, Chris Tulloch says it's an important event.

"Rowan House participates in the One Billion Rising event every year because we believe that we have to , not just provide shelter accommodation to women in need but to change the way society thinks, to really disrupt and let people know this is everybody's problem," he says. "There's and awful lot of NYMBY-ism, not in my backyard, and there's still people that believe that domestic violence is a problem for immigrants or working class families but it's not true."

About 50 people turned out to hear from Tulloch, High River Mayor Craig Snodgrass, Okotoks Mayor Bill Robertson and Highwood MLA Wayne Anderson.

Tanya Ryan also performed for those assembled.

This year's march focused on ending exploitation.