As the prevalence of human trafficking in and around Fort Frances rises, experts say there are things that community organizations and even the general public can do to help those in need.
In an evening event held last week on Thursday, February 22,2024, and in connection to Human Trafficking Awareness Day, several local organizations joined forces to host “Giga Adaawanigo: We Will Not Be Silent!” a human trafficking dinner and education session. Held from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the auditorium at the Fort Frances Memorial Sports Centre, the night featured several guest speakers and an expert panel aimed at raising awareness around local trafficking, and what can be done in both small and large-scale efforts to help combat it.
The third presentation of the evening, held after the dinner, centred around recognizing and reporting human trafficking, as well as some of the supports available to social service organizations who might be on the front lines of encountering victims of human trafficking and being able to offer them help. Brandis Oliver, the Memengwaawag Liaison and case manager at Giishkaandago’Ikwe Health Services, along with Kris Carlson, the owner and operator of Flourish Education and Consulting with a degree in child abuse counselling and registered social worker, took to the stage in the auditorium to educate the attendees.
Oliver noted that, having met with victims of human trafficking within the area, there is a general fear of report what has happened to them, adding to the importance for others in service organizations and beyond to take the initiative themselves.
“I always tell people who come to any of my presentations, if you see something suspicious, please report it, because it could help save someone,” she said.
“Whether it’s a weird vehicle in your community or somebody that’s repetitively driving around your property or people following you or messaging you and you don’t know who they are. Just make sure you’re taking care of yourselves and keeping an eye on your surroundings and teaching that to young people.”
Carlson shared that a tool that many organizations don’t know is available to them in cases of human trafficking is an anti-trafficking restraining order, which is specific to a victim of human trafficking within the province of Ontario. The order can be enforced anywhere within the province, and can be obtained free of charge by accessing the Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-833-900-1010, or through the chat function on their website at canadianhumantraffickinghotline.ca/.
“The lovely thing about the restraining order is that the young person, if they are under the age of 16, then the parents or guardian or caregiver or service provider can actually apply for the restraining order without the young person’s consent,” Carlson said.
“An agency can also apply for a restraining order that covers their staff. The perpetrator is not notified while the restraining order is being placed through the courts, it’s only once the human trafficking restraining order is implemented that they are notified, and the person who has applied for the restraining order does not need to be notified. It’s actually the Crown Attorney’s office that is applying.”
Carlson said that once the individual to whom the order is applied is notified, they are told the locations they cannot be, and every breach of the order adds to a list of offences that can be used against them in the future. She noted that it is a “really strong tool” available to service organizations, and only one of 54 initiatives or resources implemented by the Ontario government as part of its anti-human trafficking strategy, all of which can be viewed at the Ontario Government’s website at https://www.ontario.ca/page/ontarios-anti-human-trafficking-strategy-2020-2025.
Carlson also noted that survivors of human trafficking can access free legal aid, an initiative that was formed due to the prevalence of victims of human trafficking often being forced to take on debts of other individuals. Known as Project Recover, it can be accessed through the Toronto Victim Services unit to help remove and eradicate debts connected to human trafficking.
One of the best tools that Carlson said organizations, businesses, municipalities and even the public have access to to combat human trafficking is CrimeStoppers, which she said has seen increased use and success in Thunder Bay and also protects the identities of the submitter unless otherwise ordered by the Supreme Court of Canada. While Carlson called it a “great system” she also warned that it is imperative to try and make as thorough a tip submission as possible to aid in the investigation.
“Here’s my thing; don’t do this half-assed like doing the dishes on a Wednesday night,” she said.
“You want to be giving descriptions of the vehicle; is it a sedan, is it a four-door car, two-door car, what colour is the car, if you can get a licence plate. What made the hair on the back of your neck stand up? So if you’ve noticed this vehicle in your community for the last two weeks, they’re usually there on this day and this day, it’s a black car, the first couple of letters or numbers in the licence plate, and the reason you’re concerned is this, this and this, that actually gives law enforcement some teeth to be able to, even if it’s not around human trafficking, to start potentially looking at surveillance in the area, but also might be the icing on the cake that they need to execute a warrant. We always want everyone to be sage, we want people to be able to also help keep our communities safe, and those are just a couple of tips I have.”
Carlson shared that, when in doubt, the Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline is available 24/7 and can provide resources and support to victims, survivors and service organizations alike.
