19 organizations fighting human trafficking awarded grants from the Alberta government

Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Services Mike Ellis announces the 19 recipients of provincial grants to organizations that help prevent human trafficking in Alberta.

Nineteen organizations devoted to the prevention of human trafficking and support of victims will share in a $5.5 million grant fund, the provincial government said Friday.

Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Services Mike Ellis announced the names of the organizations during a media conference in Calgary.

“Human trafficking leaves lasting scars on victims, survivors and communities,” he said.

“We are taking a strong stance against traffickers and bolstering support networks for survivors. This funding will empower community-based organizations to provide specialized services that protect vulnerable individuals and disrupt the cycle of exploitation.”

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Paul Brandt, country music star and co-chair for the Alberta Centre to End Trafficking in Persons, says awareness of human trafficking is vital, but it must be paired with action.

“When we combine awareness with action, we truly can end human trafficking and exploitation,” he said.

The organizations receiving grants include:

- Alberta Native Friendship Centres;

- ALERT;

- Buckspring Foundation;

- Catholic Social Services;

- CEASE;

- Central Alberta Child Advocacy Centre;

- Chiniki First Nation;

- Goodstoney First Nation;

- HER Victory;

- Hull Services;

- Kainai Transition Centre Society;

- Métis Nation of Alberta;

- Narrow Road Society;

- REACH;

- RESET Society;

- Salvation Army;

- The Alberta Centre for Human Trafficking;

- Tsuut’ina Nation; and

- Waypoints.

The money will be used to help increase the capacity of programs at each facility to help cut down on waitlists for survivors to connect with supports.

The grants focus on three areas: prevention, protection and empowerment.

National awareness day on Feb. 22

It comes a day before the National Human Trafficking Awareness Day.

Brandt also leads #NotInMyCity (#NIMC), a Calgary-based advocacy group that works with stakeholders to develop human trafficking prevention strategies.

The group says the day will help raise awareness, mobilize partnerships and take action to prevent, disrupt and end human trafficking and sexual exploitation.

“Human trafficking is the largest illegal income source worldwide and is one of Canada’s fastest-growing crimes, with more than one in five trafficking victims under the age of 18,” the group said in a news release.

In the past year, #NIMC has gathered feedback from hotel and airport partners on combatting trafficking and supporting survivors.

Last year, Calgary International Airport opened a “soft room,” where survivors are able to receive immediate support.

To date, more than 14 airports have implemented #NIMC initiatives including in-terminal supports, awareness materials, training programs and digital signage.

#NIMC’s free e-learning course has been completed by more than 16,000 people.