#ProjectONRoute
Update on the info from June Newsletter:
Courage for Freedom’s gathering for sex trafficking awareness
Human trafficking awareness Project ONroute, also known as Project Maple Leaf, took place at ONroute stops across Ontario highways on July 30 to raise awareness and encourage reporting sexual exploitation.
Business and Professional Women of Ontario gave a talk at the Provincial Council of Women of Ontario’s AGM in April about this campaign for “World Day to End Slavery.” This international day aims to raise awareness about human trafficking happening close to home, with over 60% of trafficking cases in Canada being initiated along the 400 series highways.
The public was invited to join others campaigning on July 30th at 9:20 for one hour at the nearest ONroute location, and there are 20 across Ontario. Port Hope’s stop was well attended by municipal police, anti-trafficking advocates, and MPPs including Premier Doug Ford.
Courage for Freedom is an organization that helps rescued trafficked women alongside Farmtown Canada, which also advocates for prevention, intervention and postvention for underaged girls being exploited. #ProjectMapleLeaf continues to spread the message about the prevalence and signs to report sexual exploitation at busy stops around Ontario. For more information visit courageforfreedom.org.
If you suspect someone is a victim of human trafficking or sexual exploitation, call the new Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-833-900-1010. There are resources to seek help and no one is alone in the process. The helpline launched early this summer and is available in 200 languages.
Report on the 96th Semi-Annual Meeting of the Provincial Council of Women of Ontario
Nov. 20, 2019 at Queen’s Park, Toronto
It is with a sense of accomplishment that the Provincial Council of Women of Ontario (PCWO) presents its Annual Brief to Premier Doug Ford and members of the Ontario government of the day at the MPP’s local riding office. This is the 96th year that PCWO has submitted this to the provincial government.
In the words of Edeltraud Neal, “Over the past decades the PCWO has been a leader in bringing the government’s attention to matters of concern for many Ontarians.” Indeed the members who research, write and note on the resolutions are aware of issues for families, communities, the environment, and problems of poverty, health and jobs. They hope their policy resolutions will be discussed by MPPs. An invitation was issued to the Premier and politicians to drop in Room 230 of the PCWO semi-annual meeting to speak with the delegates.
Edeltraud Neal, PCWO president, welcomed delegates and also gave her report. Present were 17 members, delegates, federates and guests who all participated in giving reports. The local councils represented include Toronto, Ottawa, London, and Niagara District. Some federates were the Women’s Institute of Ontario, the Business and Professional Women of Ontario (BPW), the Ontario Dental Hygienists’ Association and Ontario Home Economics Association.
Heather Ellis from BPW gave an update on the Human Trafficking Awareness Day and said #ProjectMapleLeaf (previously also known as #ProjectOnRoute) will launch from Ontario on Feb. 22, 2020 as a national awareness campaign to end trafficking and support the survivors of this tragic business.