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Warden, Deputy Warden Support Fight Against Human Trafficking

Essex County Warden Gary McNamara and Deputy Warden Nelson Santos supported the fight against human trafficking Tuesday at the launch of the Project Maple Leaf campaign, encouraging residents to report suspicious activity, particularly along the Highway 401 corridor.

“This isn’t just happening overseas. This is happening in our community,” said McNamara at the Tilbury OnRoute, where scores of people and politicians rallied against human trafficking. “We have to be the eyes and ears and we have to be willing to get involved. Each of us has a responsibility.”

Also on hand Tuesday were Windsor-Tecumseh NDP MPP Percy Hatfield, Windsor-West NDP MPP Lisa Gretzky, Windsor-Tecumseh NDP MP Cheryl Hardcastle and Chatham-Kent-Leamington PC MPP Rick Nicholls.

“The 401 is a corridor for human trafficking,” said Nicholls. “We’ve got to put an end to it. This cannot continue.”

 

Nelson Santos and Gary McNamara hold a sign reading "Project Maple Leaf"

 

Scenes like this played out at OnRoutes across the province Tuesday morning, the International Day to End Trafficking. The events marked the end of the #ProjectOnRoute campaign and the beginning of a broader national campaign against human trafficking dubbed #ProjectMapleLeaf.

Courage for Freedom is spearheading the campaigns and produced a short video that played on OnRoute television screens in July. Courage for Freedom is a Canadian charity that works with victims and government agencies to raise awareness and combat human trafficking.

Attendees at the events were encouraged to take pictures and use the #ProjectMapleLeaf hashtag on social media to highlight the reality that human trafficking exists in this country and that ordinary Canadians can help combat it by reporting suspicious activity.

“Take a sign, take a picture, post it to your social media feeds and join the movement,” said Norma Yau, who helped organize the event.

 

A large crowd holds sing reading Project Maple Leaf

 

Essex County OPP Inspector Glenn Miller called human trafficking the “modern form of slavery” and said people were being trafficked along Highway 401 while Tuesday’s event was taking place.

“If you see something that does not look normal, please call 911, please phone police,” he said.

The Canadian Centre to End Human Trafficking has launched a new hotline at 1-833-900-1010.

 

A group from Walpole Island First Nation holds signs in the fight against human trafficking.