Human Trafficking Resources
Human Trafficking
Human trafficking is a hidden crime and involves the recruitment, transportation, harbouring and/or exercising control, direction or influence over the movements of a person in order to exploit that person, typically through sexual exploitation or forced labour (commonly referred to as sex or labour trafficking). There is no universal experience of human trafficking, and it is known to result in severe trauma for survivors, who may have non-linear healing journeys as they work to rebuild their lives.
With the rise of sex trafficking in Ontario, all educational stakeholders, including youth, parents, educators, administration and support staff can play significant roles in both response and prevention. Announced in 2021, the Ministry of Education mandated all school boards in Ontario to develop anti-sex trafficking protocols as part of Policy/Program Memorandum 166 | Education in Ontario: policy and program direction | ontario.ca to implement prevention initiatives and respond appropriately when trafficking is suspected/identified. There is an urgency to this work, with cases increasing as a result of COVID-19 and intensified online engagement from youth. Waterloo Region, situated along the 401 corridor is particularly vulnerable to this issue. Decolonizing our approaches to preventing human trafficking are paramount, as Indigenous and Metis women and girls are disproportionately represented among human trafficking victims, making up nearly 50%, despite being only 4% of the overall Canadian female population.
How is Human Trafficking Relevant to Me, My Child, or My Students?
Although human trafficking is a global issue it is also a local issue. Waterloo Region, due to its proximity to the 401 and other major highway networks, is a hotspot for human trafficking. These corridors make it easy for traffickers to transport their victims to larger cities across Ontario and even into Quebec, other western and eastern provinces, and into the United States. Human trafficking is a very secretive crime that does not always happen through abduction as depicted in popular Hollywood films. Traffickers typically develop relationships with their victims to gain their trust and entrap them into their schemes. It is important to know the signs and be aware of the tactics traffickers use particularly to target minors.
How it Happens
Traffickers use tactics to identify and groom vulnerable children and youth by fulfilling their unmet needs – such as love, affection, a sense of belonging and other basic needs like housing or food security – and/or by using threats, physical violence and control. An unstable home life and past trauma, as well as other factors such as a history of childhood abuse or involvement with the child welfare system, can leave students more susceptible to being trafficked.
Traffickers may befriend students using online platforms and pretend to be interested in them, isolate them from family and friends, and then normalize abuse through a gradual grooming process.
Some warning signs include:
- A new relationship and unwillingness to introduce this person to anyone, or share details about them
- Avoiding eye contact
- Fear and/or avoidance of authority figures including teachers, adults, police etc.
- Having few or no personal belongings
- Leaving and travelling between regions, with no identified purpose
- Missing school, poor or dropping grades
- NEW clothes, shoes, jewelry, electronics (i.e. cell phone) or beauty treatments (hair, nails, etc.) from an unknown source
- Not in control of their own money
- Signs of abuse (cuts, bruises, malnutrition, exhaustion, etc.)
- Withdrawing from friends, family and activities; increased isolation
London District Catholic School Board. Human Trafficking: Grade 6 Supplementary Lesson Package. Winter 2020.
Human Trafficking and Online Safety Handout for Parents and Caregivers
Students are encouraged to speak with a trusted adult at home or at school including teachers, support staff, guidance counsellor, or principal.
Nationally, the Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline confidentially supports victims 24/7. Call 1-833-900-1010
Local Community Partners
| Services | Contact Info |
|---|---|
| Stop Human Trafficking | Waterloo Regional Police
To report human trafficking, contact the listed numbers/email. If you are in danger or in crisis now, please call 911.Partner: Not in My City |
Phone: call Waterloo Region Police at 519-570-9777, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477
Email: Intel.HT@wrps.on.ca |
| Human Trafficking – Victim Services of Waterloo Region
Provides support and services to victims of crime and tragic circumstances within the Region of Waterloo. |
Phone: 519-585-2363 (Monday to Friday)
Email: vswr@wrps.on.ca |
| Urgent care for Human Trafficking – SADVTC Waterloo
For medical care treatment options, come to the Emergency Dept. of WRHN Queen’s Blvd or Cambridge Memorial Hospital. A specially trained nurse and social worker are available to be called in, with your consent. Services available for all ages. 24/7. |
Phone: SADVTC: 519-749-6994
Website: SAVTC Homepage Address: SADVTC: 400 Queen Street South, Kitchener, ON N2G 1W7 |
| Kids Help Phone is Canada’s only 24/7 e-mental health service offering FREE, multilingual, and confidential support to young people. Children and youth can connect with a professional counsellor via phone/text (24/7) or via Live Chat Counselling Services daily (7pm-12am). No appointment necessary. No data, internet connection, or app is required. | Phone: 1-800-668-6868 or text CONNECT to 686868[African, Caribbean, and Black youth can text RISE to 686868]
Website: Kids Help Phone Website App: “Always There” – download for free on iOS and Android |
| The Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline is a 24/7 Confidential Hotline in more than 200 languages and TTY to connect callers with supports and services. | Phone: 1-833-900-1010 |
| Human trafficking is a child protection concern, and can be reported for youth (up to their 18th birthday) by calling Family and Children’s Services of the Waterloo Region.
A Youth in Transition Anti-Human Trafficking Coordinator provides support to youth 14+ who are connected to, or need to be connected to, Children’s Aid Societies and who are experiencing, or at risk of, sexual exploitation or human trafficking. Support for mental health and addictions, safety planning, housing, education, employment, financial literacy, and overall health and well-being |
Family and Children’s Services:
Phone: 519-576-0540 Sexual Abuse Treatment Program: call 519-576-0540 Website: Family and Children’s Services Homepage John-Howard Society: Phone: 519-743-6071 ext. 299 Address: 310 Charles Street East, Kitchener, ON, N2G 2P9 |
| Free, Confidential and Non-Judgemental – Sexual Assault Support Centre
The Anti-Human Trafficking Program includes counselling + safety planning for students age 12+, and a 24/7 Crisis line. |
Phone: 519-571-0121
24/7 Crisis Line: 519-741-8633 Website: SASCWR Homepage |
| Women’s Crisis Services
Holds beds for youth age 16+ who are victims of human trafficking. |
Phone: 24/7 support lines at 519-653-2422 or 519-742-5894
Website: WCSWR Homepage |
| Canadian Centre to End Human Trafficking
The Centre works with survivors, governments, businesses, non-profit organizations and communities, prioritizing research, education, policy. |
Hotline: 1-833-900-1010
Website: CCEHT Homepage* *valuable information on types of human trafficking, public report and policy recommendations, and public education. |
Community Partner
WCDSB is fortunate to have many community partners. Some that may be of most use if you are aware of, or suspect, sex trafficking include:
- Crime Stoppers: a non-profit, non-police organization that encourages members of the public to anonymously provide tips about criminal activity in exchange for cash. Learn more about Crime Stoppers through Ontario Association of Crime Stoppers or call 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) available 24 hours-a-day, seven days-a-week.
- Waterloo Regional Police Services: for emergency assistance, call 9-1-1. This service quickly links callers to Police, Fire and/or Ambulance Services. For non-emergencies, call 519-570-9777 Homepage | Waterloo Regional Police: Waterloo Regional Police includes Victim Services of Waterloo Region Human Trafficking – Victim Services of Waterloo Region which provides sexual assault and human trafficking support.
- Sexual Assault Domestic Violence Care Centre provides forensic nurses and social workers who are on-call 24/7 for those who have experienced sexual assault, domestic violence and human trafficking. They operate services through the Emergency Departments of Waterloo Region Health Network (WRHN) and Cambridge Memorial Hospital. Attend the emergency room, or contact their office at 519-749-6994 Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Treatment – Waterloo
- Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region Anti-Human Trafficking program includes counselling and safety planning for students age 12+ and a 24/7 Crisis line at 519-741-8633 Sexual Assault Support Centre Waterloo Region – We Support Survivors of Sexual Violence.
- Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline will explore the options that feel right for you. It’s a confidential, multilingual, and trauma informed service operating 24/7/365. They connect people who are being trafficked, and survivors, with local supports, services and law enforcement, if they so choose.
Community Education and Prevention Campaign
WCDSB joined Waterloo Regional Police Services (WRPS) in their partnership with #NotinMyCityCampaign, a recognized organization dedicated to raising awareness and driving collective action to prevent and end human trafficking and sexual exploitation.
Learn more about #NotinMyCity here: Home – #NotInMyCity The campaign brings together a broad network of partners, including airports, businesses, community organizations, and police services across Canada, to help protect some of the most vulnerable members of our communities.
To help you to recognize, prevent, and help stop human trafficking and sexual exploitation, access a Free 30-minute interactive e-learning course called “Mobilizing Communities to Disrupt Sexual Exploitation and Sex-Trafficking in Canada” found on the WRPS Website Not in My City | Waterloo Regional Police
WCDSB Anti-Sex Trafficking Actions
- Waterloo Catholic District School Board Human Trafficking AP Memo
- Annual Staff Training and Education:
- Education, for staff and students, is part of the government policy/program memorandum on anti-sex trafficking
- WCDSB educators and support staff have been learning how to recognize, prevent and respond to sex trafficking in order to identify the warning signs and safely connect those who are, have been, or are at risk of being trafficked, to appropriate and culturally responsive supports and community programs.
- WCDSB students learn explicitly and implicitly about human trafficking based on their age and grade. The elementary Health and Physical Education Curriculum 2019 Grades 1-8, helps students learn about consent, healthy relationships, and online safety, building foundational skills that support safe, healthy relationships throughout their lives.
- In Grades 1-3 students start to learn skills to identify, develop and maintain healthy relationships, to identify and respond to exploitative and coercive behaviour, and how to seek help as needed. These skills help protect students from sex trafficking by teaching them to identify when they are in an unsafe situation.
- In Grades 4-8 students continue to develop the skills they need to stay safe (in person and online), and how to help themselves and others. Students also learn about the impacts of sexually explicit media, including pornography.
- WCDSB students in grades 7-9 have access to the Youth Violence Prevention Symposium offered virtually by Victim Services of Durham Region. The symposium explores topics such as healthy relationships, online safety, and human trafficking awareness. Learn more here: Youth Symposium
- WCDSB schools promote National Human Trafficking Awareness Day, observed annually on February 22nd, through a poster campaign and parent/caregiver communications.
Resources for Families and Students
“Sex Trafficking” is a form of human trafficking but not its only form (i.e., labour exploitation). Sex trafficking is a form of sexual exploitation and is a crime under the Criminal Code of Canada. It can include recruiting, harbouring, transporting, obtaining or providing a person for the purpose of sex. It involves the use of force, physical or psychological coercion and/or deception. Sex trafficking can also include online sexual exploitation through social media platforms, sexual imagery and/or video”.
With advances in technology comes increased avenues for predators to sexually exploit children and youth online. Online sexual exploitation involves the use of the internet to trick, extort or coerce children into participating in sexual acts or encounters and/or sharing compromising images online. See Public Safety Canada’s online resources to learn more about the dangers of online sexual exploitation and how to prevent it.
In July 2021, the Ontario government issued Policy/Program Memorandum 166 | Education in Ontario: policy and program direction | ontario.ca, Keeping Students Safe, in response to the growing incidence of sex trafficking in Ontario.
Ontario accounts for 39% of the total Canadian population, yet since 2009, over two-thirds (68%) of all police-reported human trafficking incidents in Canada occurred in Ontario. Most victims of sex trafficking are between 13 – 18 years of age.
Effective January 21, 2022, every Ontario school board has a plan with core components to protect students and empower school communities to play a key role in fighting sex trafficking and keeping children and youth safe from sexual exploitation.
While anyone can be a victim, some people are at higher risk than others.
Young women and girls are particularly at risk, though boys and people who identify as 2LSGBTQIA+ are also targeted.
Indigenous and racialized individuals are especially vulnerable to experiencing sex trafficking. The intersections of colonization, intergenerational trauma, systemic discrimination, and barriers to accessing service, increase their vulnerability to trafficking.
What Makes Indigenous Peoples Vulnerable to Trafficking?
One in two victims of human trafficking are Indigenous women. Factors to consider:
- Historical and structural inequalities
- Forced displacement by government entities
- Linguistic barriers
- High rates of poverty among Indigenous communities
- High rates of abuse within and outside of Indigenous communities
It should be noted that Indigenous women have experienced particularly demeaning forms of discrimination throughout history which continues to plague them and their communities to date.
Indigenous and racialized individuals are especially vulnerable to experiencing sex trafficking. The intersections of colonization, intergenerational trauma, systemic discrimination, and barriers to accessing service, increase their vulnerability to trafficking.
All people may be vulnerable because of general risk factors such as:
- Current or past involvement in a Child Welfare System
- Developmental and neurodevelopmental differences
- Experience of abuse, neglect, violence
- Homelessness/Precariously Housed
- Mental health and addictions issues
- High number of adverse experiences
- Poor self-image, low self-esteem, lacking a sense of belonging
- Social isolation, lacking a network of friends & family
- Struggling in school
- Unmet needs, poverty
- Unstable/chaotic life home life
Luring: traffickers connect with their potential victim(s) either through social media, mutual friends, or by frequenting areas where they know the victim will be such as schools, malls, sports facilities etc. During the luring phase the trafficker gathers as much information as they can about their potential victim and ensures that they have opportunity to make a personal connection with them.
Grooming: The trafficker begins treating their potential victim in an overly positive way, such as showering them with gifts and compliments, and providing them with things they cannot source on their own, such as alcohol, vapes, transportation etc. Often the victim is led to believe that the trafficker is in a relationship with them. The trafficker makes promises of a better life for their victim while physical intimacy is introduced. The trafficker continues to collect information about their victim.
Coercion & Manipulation: Once the victim feels a strong sense of attachment and dependency to their trafficker, the trafficker’s mood shifts to be more sinister and volatile. The trafficker may make the victim question their love for them and encourage a “win them back” scenario typically involving sexual favours or activities for money or drugs.
Exploitation: The trafficker begins to threaten their victim and convinces them that they owe the trafficker financially. Intimidation and control surface where the victim experiences emotional, mental and physical abuse as well as isolation from friends and family. The trafficker might also begin to threaten the victims loved ones.
Parents/guardians/caregivers who suspect their children are involved in trafficking are encouraged to contact community agencies who respond to and support those impacted by human trafficking and Waterloo Regional Police Services who operates a Human Trafficking Division. They are also encouraged to report concerns to their student’s school principal, who will engage in the WCDSB Human Trafficking response procedure.
Students are encouraged to tell a trusted adult at home, or at school including teachers, support staff, guidance counsellors or principals.
If, or when, a student discloses or is suspected of involvement in sex trafficking, school staff are obligated to report this information. For more information, please see Administrative Procedure: Suspected “Child in Need of Protection” Reporting – APS020 Duty to report.
Supporting the student involved in sex-trafficking may take many forms including support from child protective services, community agencies, or national organizations. At the school level, students have access to a school social worker in addition to other student services staff.
The WCDSB Administrative Procedure: Human Trafficking – APH 036 is aligned with the WCDSB Strategic Plan, strategic priorities #1 and #4 focused on Catholic Faith and Culture; and Mental Health and Wellbeing, and outlines the steps staff and principals undertake to ensure a coordinated response to:
- Prevent, identify, and recognize human trafficking, responding with a “no wrong door” approach to help encourage students to come forward. APH036-CX_Response Procedures
- Foster psychological safety and trust between educators, administrative staff and students to address the risk factors of youth sex trafficking – feelings of isolation, lack of belonging and social connection.
- Raise awareness amongst staff and students on the signs a student is being targeted, lured, groomed, trafficked or is trafficking another student, and how to bring concerns forward to the school about luring, grooming, recruitment or exiting sex trafficking, without fear of reprisal.
- Raise awareness to prevent the recruitment of students for human trafficking, including curriculum-based learning about healthy relationships, consent, mental health and well-being, coping skills, personal and online safety.
From the Papal Desk
From the Papal Desk“Human trafficking is violence! The violence suffered by every woman and every girl is an open wound in the body of Christ, in the body of all humanity, it is a deep wound that also affects each one of us.”
— Pope Francis
Human trafficking is a profound violation of human dignity and the sanctity of human life, fundamentally at odds with Catholic Social Teaching and the Ontario Catholic School Graduate Expectations. Pope Leo XIV has described trafficking as a “crime against humanity” and reminds us that “true peace begins with the recognition and protection of the God-given dignity of every person.” Every person is created in the image and likeness of God and possesses an inviolable dignity that must be respected and protected. As Catholic educators, we are called not only to promote awareness and stand in solidarity with victims, but also to foster safe, inclusive, and caring learning environments where every person is valued and treated with dignity, justice, respect, and love.
Through faith formation, education, advocacy, and prayer, we help form discerning believers and responsible citizens who reject all forms of exploitation, uphold the inherent worth of every human being, and work to build a more just and compassionate society. In responding to the call of the Gospel, WCDSB Catholic educators have a responsibility to be vigilant, to educate students about the signs and risks of exploitation, to advocate for the vulnerable, and to witness to Christ’s love through a steadfast commitment to human dignity, justice, and the common good. As Pope Leo XIV reminds us, “the violence of human trafficking can be overcome only through a renewed vision that beholds every individual as a beloved child of God.”
WCDSB School – St. Josephine Bakhita
Our school is named after a truly inspiring individual – St. Josephine Margaret Bakhita (1869-1947). St. Josephine Bakhita is the patron saint of victims of human trafficking and her personal story of suffering, forgiveness, hope, resilience, strength, and love for God will be an inspiration for our students, faculty, and broader school community. She was known for her charismatic personality, gentle voice, and generous smile. St. Josephine Bakhita was Beatified in 1992 and Cannonized (declared a Saint) in 2000. She is the first Black woman to receive this honor in the modern era.
