Related News

We seem to hear more and more about sex trafficking in the news these days. Some stories describe the alarming state of sex trafficking in our society. However, there are also good stories about predators being found, caught, shut-down, and prevented from preying on innocent people.

Here is a compilation of related news items.

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Freedom 8848 strives
to end human trafficking

CochraneToday.ca – Jan. 29. 2020

Freedom 8848 is preparing for their first annual fundraising climb to take place in Alberta’s Rocky Mountains on August 20-24th.

Stony Plain man who drives school bus charged with child pornography offences

Global News – February 27, 2024

A man from west of Edmonton who works as a subcontracted school bus driver for the Parkland School Division is facing several child pornography charges.

The Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams said Jared Corbett, 34, was arrested by its internet child exploitation (ICE) unit on Feb. 7 with the help of Parkland County RCMP.

Brandt says we’re awakening to depth of human trafficking crime (new)

CochraneNow – February 23, 2024

“Human life and dignity are not commodities to be bought and sold, and today in Alberta, we declare that no one should be for sale.” Paul Brandt

Canada’s justice minister tables sweeping bill to tackle harmful online content (new)

CTV News – February 26, 2024

Justice Minister Arif Virani has just tabled a long-awaited piece of legislation proposing sweeping new measures and requirements for platforms aimed at combatting harmful online content.

Alberta announces $3.5 million to help combat human trafficking (new)

CTV New –  February 22, 2024

The Alberta government has announced funding to help fight human trafficking. On Thursday, which is also National Human Trafficking Awareness Day in Canada, the province unveiled $3.5 million in funding to aid 20 anti-human trafficking community organizations in Alberta.

National Strategy To Combat Human Trafficking 2019-2024 (new)

Government of Canada –  2019

The National Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking (National Strategy) is a five-year National Strategy will strengthen Canada’s response to human trafficking.

Lethbridge organization helping girls in Mexico recover from being sex trafficked (new)

Calgary Herald –  January 14, 2024

Joy-Lynn Stickel is the executive director of Not4Sale, a Lethbridge-based organization with a home in Mexico where girls can recover after being sex trafficked. Stephen Tipper/Postmedia

Cochrane man faces additional child exploitation charges (new)

CochraneNow –  December 8, 2023

A Cochrane man has been charged with multiple child sexual exploitation offences.

Edmonton man charged after police turn up ‘extreme’ stash of violent child sex abuse material (new)

Edmonton Journal –  November 17, 2023
Warning: this story contains details some readers may find disturbing 

An Edmonton man is facing child porn charges after police found a cache of material “depicting extremely graphic abuse and violence” against young children.

Police link suicide of 12-year-old Prince George, B.C., boy to online sexual extortion (new)

CBC News – British Columbia –  November 27, 2023

Police in Prince George, B.C., are warning about the dangers of sexual extortion after the suicide of a 12-year-old boy in their community.

An Act to restrict young persons’ online access to sexually explicit material (new)

Parliment of Canada – November 23, 2023

Latest activity as of November 28, 2023
Debate at second reading on November 23, 2023 (House of Commons)

This enactment makes it an offence for organizations to make sexually explicit material available to young persons on the Internet. It also enables a designated enforcement authority to take steps to prevent sexually explicit material from being made available to young persons on the Internet in Canada.

Calgary Youth Cyber Safety Summit (new)

City News, Calgary – October, 2023

YouthLink Calgary and the Calgary Police Service join forces to teach kids how they can avoid being a cyber victim. Silvia Naranjo reports.

Local [B.C.] woman reaches fundraising goal in fight against human trafficking (new)

The Rocky Mountain Goat, Valemont B.C. – September 29, 2023

On August 17, 18, and 19th Tress Cole set out on the physical part of a bigger challenge, to help raise awareness and funds to battle human trafficking through an event called Freedom 8848. She climbed nine mountains over three days in the Kananaskis area, reaching the equivalent height of Mount Everest of 8848 metres. She had set a fundraising goal of one dollar for every metre, which she exceeded.

American man charged with child luring in Didsbury, Alta.

Global News – August 2, 2023

Mounties have charged an American citizen with child luring after police say they saw him trying to meet up with a youth that he was communicating with online.

311 Victims of Child Sex Abuse ID’d in Operation by DHS, Tim Tebow Foundation, Others

Christian Headlines – August 10, 2023

In what is being called the “first operation of its kind” in the U.S., the Department of Homeland Security partnered in recent weeks with officials in 13 countries and domestic organizations, including the Tim Tebow Foundation, to make 311 probable identifications of child sexual abuse by using technologies such as facial recognition and artificial intelligence.

Nearly 100 arrested in global child sex abuse operation launched after murder of FBI agents

CBS News – August 8, 2023

Close to 100 people have been arrested in Australia and the United States in connection with a global online child abuse network uncovered in the aftermath of a high-profile murder of two FBI agents, authorities announced this week.

Cochrane man to conquer 9 mountains in just 72 hours

CochraneNow – July 28, 2023

Cochrane’s Sheldon Betts is on a mission to climb 9 mountains in just 72 hours to aid the fight against sex trafficking.

Human trafficking probe at autism camp leaves Ont. community shaken

CTV News – July 20, 2023

On Wednesday, police charged Amber Maloney, 36, and her husband Lauriston Maloney, 42, with several offences, including recruiting, exercising control, exploitation, assault, forcible confinement, and financial benefit from committing a crime.

1M child exploitation photos and videos seized, 8 Albertans arrested

CTV News – June 28, 2023

Authorities have arrested eight people, including seven Calgarians, in connection with one of the largest seizures of child pornography in Alberta.

Court documents reveal new details in Alberta sexual assault, confinement investigation

Global News – June 9, 2023

This is an update to the ongoing case against Richard Robert Mantha.

Calgary police introduce hotline for sex workers to report abusive customers

Global News- May 30, 2023

A dedicated phone number and email address are available for people to report information to police in a less formalized way.

21-year-old Calgary man charged with trafficking teen girls

Global News- May 30, 2023

Contains links to several relevant videos.

 

How a Saskatoon investigation led to life sentences for convicted child sex trafficker in Philippines

Saskatoon StarPhoenix – Apr 19, 2023

Cpl. Jared Clarke had put the Philip Chicoine child pornography case out of his mind until he got a surprise call from Philippine police last month.

Edmonton man suspected of trafficking teens faces 34 charges: ALERT

Edmonton Journal – Apr 26, 2023

We believe that this man was sexually exploiting these two underage girls, manipulating and coercing them to work in the sex trade

Following the Money Trail

Globe and Mail – Apr 15, 2023
(May require a subscription to read)

Project Protect is helping FinTRAC, banks and police seize millions of dollars generated from sexual exploitation

Rocky View County man facing 16 charges after string of alleged sexual assaults

Cochrane Now – Apr 10, 2023

Bail set for ‘Dances With Wolves’ actor as police in Canada apply for more charges

Cochrane Now – Feb 9, 2023

ALERT interrupts child sexual exploitation in Airdrie, Alta.

Global News – Feb 2, 2023

Sextortion – Southern Alberta Internet Child Exploitation (ICE)

Global News – November 26, 2022

Why sextortion is the ‘fastest growing crime that no one knows about’

Police1 by Lexpol – Oct 4, 2022

Predators pose as teens online to coerce young girls and boys into sharing nude photos or videos of themselves

 

Bill S-203 – An Act to restrict young persons’ online access to sexually explicit material

Senate of Canada – Passed – June 28, 2021

This enactment makes it an offense to make sexually explicit material available to young persons on the Internet. It also enables a designated enforcement authority to take steps to prevent sexually explicit material from being made available to young persons on the Internet in Canada.

In a new lawsuit, more than 30 women accuse Pornhub of profiting from videos posted without their consent

CBS News – Updated June 17, 2021

A hidden army of ‘very brave’ nuns fight child trafficking

NBC News – April 4, 2021

Children for sale: Canada’s youth at the heart of the rising sex trade

Global News – Updated March 3, 2021

Calgary man charged with trafficking underage teen girls

Global News – Updated January 28, 2021

Calgary man charged with sex assault, sex trafficking of teenage girls, has died

Global News – Updated January 12, 2021

Mastercard and Visa suspend credit card use on Pornhub

DH News – Dec. 10, 2020

The New York Times –  Dec. 4, 2020
(May require a subscription to read)

The article describes videos on Pornhub’s website of assaults of unconscious women and girls, including child sex abuse material (CSAM). Kristof says Pornhub allows videos to be downloaded directly from its server, allowing for content to be spread, re-shared, and re-uploaded after it’s been taken down.

Neil Desai: Canada is failing to keep its children safe online

National Post – Dec. 1, 2020

Paul Brandt to chair Alberta Human Trafficking Task Force

Global News – May 19 2020

Prostitution During the Pandemic: Findings Show Need for Nordic Model

Dignity Journal – 2020

Sask. hotel association to offer training to prevent human trafficking

CBC News – Jan. 20, 2020

Florida man arrested after videos of missing teen surface on pornography website

NBC News – Updated Oct. 25, 2019

Police: 15 apps every parent should know that could be potentially dangerous

WMTV (NBC) – Aug. 14, 2019