The Joy Smith Foundation is launching Canada’s first and only online education centre dedicated to comprehensively addressing human trafficking on a national scale next week.
Widely considered Canada’s leading authority on human trafficking, the Joy Smith Foundation will oversee the Centre and develop all course content.
Joy Smith, who served in both the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba and in the House of Commons of Canada, founded the organization in 2011 to combat human trafficking.
“Canadians may be surprised to learn that it is happening in cities and towns across our country," explained Smith.
“Every day, at-risk youth and adults are manipulated and forced to participate in the sex trade or labour market.”
An advocate against human trafficking, Smith made Canadian history as the first sitting MP to amend the Criminal Code twice, strengthening sentencing for traffickers and expanding Canadian laws to reach internationally.
The National Human Trafficking Education Centre will provide free and fee-based courses for teachers, parents and front-line responders who want to play a role in the prevention and intervention of human trafficking.
“What starts as a seemingly innocent conversation online or in real life can quickly turn into something sinister that affects lives forever,” Smith said.
Instructor-led and online courses range in length and will be accessible through the Centre’s portal.
“It’s a social responsibility we all share,” noted Janet Campbell, president and CEO of the Joy Smith Foundation.
The free 60-minute launch event will bring together a number of special guests including survivors, police officers, community leaders and several of Canada’s favourite music artists.
The launch will take place Thursday, Oct. 28 at 5 pm and can be registered for here.
Campbell added: “Together, we can prevent this heinous crime and help survivors and families across the nation to heal. It’s a social responsibility we all share."
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