SASKATOON, Sask. (CCN) — For the fourth year in a row, members of the Catholic Women’s League (CWL) in Saskatoon led the way in organizing a local event to highlight the scourge of human trafficking.
Saint Anne Parish CWL joined with the local branch of the Salvation Army, Saskatoon Police Service, and representatives of local organizations, including faith groups and Hope Restored, to hold the “Shine the Light” event Feb. 20, beginning with the raising of a flag at Saskatoon City Hall to mark Human Trafficking Awareness Day.
Feb. 22 was once again proclaimed by all three levels of government to focus on the modern-day slavery that exits in local communities across Canada, and around the world – an issue that includes the sexual exploitation of women and vulnerable youth, as well as other forms of slavery.
Anne Ashcroft of the Saint Anne CWL’s Human Trafficking Awareness Project welcomed those gathered for the flag-raising in the civic park at Saskatoon City Hall. Before Donna Aldous raised the flag, Bishop Hagemoen led a prayer for the protection and restoration of victims of human trafficking, and an end to exploitation.
The two CWL members then carried a “Stop Human Trafficking” banner on a silent walk to the nearby Parktown Hotel for a program that included lunch, displays, greetings from special guests and elected officials, and a panel discussion hosted by Stephen Moorgen of the Salvation Army.
Panelists Kendra Mazer of Hope Restored, Karen Lysyshyn, Bethany Ward, and Dione Meyer of Saskatoon Police services spoke about the realities of trafficking, the challenges of responding to human trafficking and sexual exploitation in the community – both in terms of outreach to victims and prosecution of perpetrators – and the vital importance of greater public awareness.
