02/23/2026
February 22 is Human Trafficking Awareness Day in Canada.
Human trafficking involves exploiting people for profit. This is done through threats, abuse, manipulation, control, and deception.
❌️ Myth: It doesn’t affect any residents in our community.
✔️ Fact: Anyone can be at risk of being trafficked. Some individuals at a higher risk include youth, Indigenous and racialized women, those who identify as 2SLGBTQQIA+, unhoused individuals and those struggling with substance use or mental illness. Visit the Victim Services of Brant website to learn about the possible indicators of s*x trafficking www.victimservicesbrant.on.ca
❌️ Myth: Traffickers are most often strangers.
✔️ Fact: Traffickers often build emotional connections and a relationship of trust to manipulate and exploit their victims.
❌️ Myth: There is nothing I can do to help.
✔️ Fact: You can educate yourself, learn the signs that someone is being groomed for trafficking, such as consistent absences from school, more than one cell phone, withdrawing or isolating themselves from friends and family and being secretive about their activities. Be aware and intervene by reporting potential cases to the Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline: 1.833.900.1010.
❌️ Myth: We don’t have services to help in our community.
✔️ Fact: Resources in our community include:
📞 Brant OPP Ontario Provincial Police - West Region: 1.888.310.1122
📞 Victim Services of Brant: 519.752.3140
📞 The Sexual Assault Centre of Brant: 519.751.3471
📞 The Assaulted Women's Helpline: 1.866.863.0511
📞 Willowbridge Community Services: 1.888.755.4173
Visit brant.ca/BrantCares for more information on local resources.
