Creating Allies Against Human Trafficking

Teenage boys heard directly from a survivor of human trafficking about the toll the sex trade can take on a person and what they can do to stop more victimization.

“Any past, including mine could be redeemed. There is not one person I ever met your age that is a lost cause,” said survivor Casandra Diamond, of rescuing victims of human trafficking. She spoke at the Sex Trafficking Awareness & Prevention Symposium on February 7 at North York Civic Centre.

After her parents split, she said she made a series of bad decisions and didn’t have anyone to turn to for good advice.

“One of my so-called friends introduced me to stripping and I thought this could fill a void in life,” Diamond said. “At the beginning, the compliments and attention made me feel good somehow until I realized it was a false sense of security.”

Sex trafficked for years, Diamond was used by a trafficker to run a massage parlour.

“This is not a good day for me to stand in front of all of you and say I used to run Canada’s largest massage parlour,” she told the students from 10 different high schools. “When that happened, I crossed the line.”

On September 11, 2004, Diamond quit the sex trade industry.

“I went to a family friend’s house and slept for three days straight,” she said. “I woke up with so much pain inside. I was so disappointed and let down. I had to look in the mirror and decide who I am and what is my purpose.”

She told the group of teenage boys there are three groups of people involved in the sex trade – roles that they can avoid.

“Human trafficking creates victims, exploited for money and exposed to violence,” said Diamond. “They are the people who control and traffic sex workers, who live a life on the run from the justice system and others in the sex trade. And they are the buyers who create a demand for this exploitation.

“I don’t want you to be a buyer. I am asking you to be an ally, protector and preventer. Help yourself know about trafficking and if you think that somebody is at risk of becoming a trafficker, reach out. You can make a change.”

In 2014, Diamond founded BridgeNorth Women’s Mentorship & Advocacy Services, a registered charitable organization based in York Region, dedicated to ending sex trafficking in Canada through direct service, public education and advocacy. 

“Today, I have a community and roots in that community,” she pointed out. “I don’t move around anymore. Today, I have real friends in my life who pick me up.”

The Toronto District School Board (TDSB) and Covenant House Canada were among the principal collaborators with Toronto Police for the second symposium.

The first targeted high school girls to help them know the signs of human trafficking and avoid victimization.

This symposium aimed to support health decisions among the next generation of men.

“We want to support young male-identifying students to understand what healthy masculinity is, our own roles in care and making our school spaces safer and for peers to understand where to go when they need help,” said Shameen Sandhu who is the TDSB System Leader, Mental health & Professional Support Services.

“It is also about building capacity of young people to have the confidence to not only know with knowledge building of what is happening around sex trafficking and child exploitation, but also how they can protect themselves with their peers. It is not only bridging the supports we have in our schools, but also knowing where they can go in the community to get that support.”

Suzie Tarlattini, the Covenant House Canada Supervisor of the Awareness and Prevention Program, said awareness is a valuable first step towards change and prevention.

“It is also cool to be part of something that keeps people safe,” she said. “With a young person, you don’t know what might be helpful to them. Giving them as much as possible could assist them in helping themselves and others.”

Constable Isabelle Cotton of the Community Partnerships & Engagement Unit said collaboration is key.

“I believe we have to talk about bullying and human trafficking and educate our young people,” she added.

Another human trafficking symposium will be held in May for elementary students.