Sudbury groups raise awareness about human trafficking
Frontline workers across northern Ontario attended a conference Friday raising awareness about human trafficking.
The conference was organized by Greater Sudbury Police Service, Shkagamik-Kwe Health Centre and N’Swakamok Native Friendship Centre.
Darrell Rivers with Greater Sudbury police said the goal is to offer education, awareness and prevention.
“To give them a preliminary how to, what is human trafficking, what are the next steps, once they’ve identified a potential individual who is unfortunately in that situation,” Rivers said.
Tiffany Pyoli York with Sudbury and Area Victim Services said it’s important to recognize the signs.
“It’s any change in baseline behaviour, so something that is out of the normal for the youth or teen or child that you’re dealing with,” said Pyoli York.
She added it’s important to trust your gut.
“Go with your gut. If something’s not right, and be open to having those conversations. Ask the tough questions.”
Pyoli York said Sudbury is considered a hub area for human trafficking due to the accessible highways.
“In a few moments you can be hopping on the highway to Toronto, the Sault, to North Bay, Ottawa and beyond,” she said.
“It’s quite easy for traffickers to use those highways to get out of town and circulate those victims.”
Another focus is the prevalence of human trafficking in Indigenous communities.
“It’s something that’s been in our society for so long,” said Geesohns Manitowabi with Shkagamik-Kwe Health Centre (SKHC).
“Coming together today is about bringing that awareness and making those stories told and shared with all of the communities and the city.”
Sudbury police will hold online summer educational sessions about human trafficking to continue the conversation.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
'State or state-sponsored actor' believed to be behind B.C. government hacks
The head of British Columbia’s civil service has revealed that a “state or state-sponsored actor” is behind multiple cyber-security incidents against provincial government networks.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Mother assaulted by stranger while breastfeeding baby in her car: Vancouver police
A person was arrested in East Vancouver Thursday after allegedly entering a car while a mother was breastfeeding her four-month-old boy.
More than half the Canadians once detained in Syrian camps for suspected ISIS family members have returned home
A total of 29 Canadians have been freed from detention camps in northeast Syria and brought back to Canada since human rights advocates began lobbying for their release years ago.
Rare severe solar storm Friday could bring spectacular aurora light show across Canada
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Canada abstains from Palestinian UN membership vote but supports two-state solution
Canada was one of 25 countries that abstained from a United Nations vote on Palestinian membership that passed with overwhelming support on Friday.
Amish youth experience a rite of passage called Rumspringa. It’s not what you might think
The idea of “Rumspringa” has a specific spot in the American imagination. A rite of passage for young people in some Amish communities, Rumspringa is seen by most outsiders as a wild time away from strict Amish rules, when teenagers can experiment with the modern vices of the world.
Djokovic needs medical attention after getting knocked on the head by a water bottle at Italian Open
Novak Djokovic needed medical attention after apparently getting knocked on the head by a water bottle after a win at the Italian Open on Friday.