Help Sarita raise money

On Sept 19th, 2026, I am going to run a 10K to bring human trafficking out of the shadows and support the lifesaving work of the Joy Smith Foundation.

Many Canadians don't realize that human trafficking isn't just happening somewhere else—it is happening in our provinces, our cities, and our neighborhoods. The average age a youth is groomed into sex trafficking in Canada is just 13 to 14 years old.

The Joy Smith Foundation works tirelessly to disrupt this cycle by educating parents, empowering youth, and providing wrap-around support to help survivors heal and reclaim their lives. Every dollar raised through my 10k goes directly toward their prevention and crisis intervention programs.

By donating to my run, you are providing the resources needed to protect a vulnerable youth and restore hope to a survivor. Thank you for your support!

Please take the time to read the important information below regarding this issue. Education, Awareness and Action is our greatest weapon against Human Trafficking. 

Human Trafficking in Canada: The Fast Facts

The Myth: Human trafficking is an overseas issue involving victims smuggled across borders.

The Reality: According to Statistics Canada, the vast majority (roughly 90%) of trafficking victims in Canada are domestic—meaning they are Canadian citizens or permanent residents trapped right here at home (Durisin & van der Meulen, 2023).

1. Who is Impacted?

Predominantly Women and Girls: Over 90% of police-reported human trafficking victims in Canada are female.

Extreme Youth Vulnerability: Human trafficking is a crime against the young. The vast majority of victims are young women and girls, with a significant portion of those being minors under the age of 18.

2. Where is it Happening?

Urban Hubs and Transit Corridors: Human trafficking happens nationwide, but Ontario accounts for more than 60% of all police-reported incidents in Canada (Conroy, 2023).

The Top 4 Cities: Nearly half (45%) of all national cases are concentrated in four major metropolitan areas: Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, and Halifax (Conroy, 2023).

Hotels and Highways: Traffickers heavily utilize local hotels, motels, short-term rentals, and major highway corridors (like the 400-series in Ontario) to move and exploit victims away from their support networks.

3. The Business Model: Force and Manipulation

The "Loverboy" Tactic: Traffickers rarely kidnap strangers. Instead, they typically use grooming, manipulation, or fake romantic relationships to build trust before exploiting the victim.

A Highly Lucrative Crime: Globally, human trafficking is considered the third most lucrative illicit industry, generating tens of billions of dollars annually by treating human beings as renewable commodities (Timoshkina, 2009).

What You Can Do to Help Prevent It

Learn the Signs: Educate yourself and your family on grooming tactics and signs of exploitation (such as a sudden change in behavior, unexplained gifts, or multiple cell phones) by using free resources from organizations like the Joy Smith Foundation.

Talk openly with Youth: Build open, judgment-free communication with the young people in your life about online safety, healthy relationships, and boundaries, as predators heavily utilize social media platforms for initial grooming.

Support Survivor-Led Initiatives: Donate, volunteer, or raise awareness for organizations that provide frontline crisis intervention, safe housing, and long-term recovery programs for survivors.

Know Who to Call: Save the Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline number (1-833-900-1010) in your phone. It is a confidential, 24/7 service to safely report suspicions or access support without involving law enforcement directly if a victim isn't ready.

Together, through spreading awareness on this issue and by taking action, we can end human trafficking!

References:

Conroy, S. (2023). Trafficking in persons in Canada, 2021. Juristat Bulletin—Quick Fact, Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 85-005-X.

Durisin, E. M., & van der Meulen, E. (2023). Sexualized nationalism and federal human trafficking consultations: Shifting discourses on sex trafficking in Canada. Toronto Mu Research Repository. https://doi.org/10.32920/22726406

Timoshkina, N. (2009). Sex trafficking of women to Canada: Results from a qualitative metasynthesis of empirical research. Canadian Council for Refugees.