Human sex trafficking
It's a serious threat to everyone's basic right to live free of violence. Many victims face long-lasting effects of trauma and the number of people lured into this life continues to increase. Most victims are female.
Male victims are under-reported. Unless they can access support, many boys shift from being victims to victimizing other boys and girls.
Ontario accounts for more than half of the cases in Canada. The GTA is near all major highways and the airport, making it a sex trafficking hot spot. This allows for easier movement of victims across Ontario and Canada.
Human trafficking rates in Peel increased by 60% from 2023 to 2024. This speaks to the urgent need to address this heinous crime.
The numbers
- 70% of human trafficking victims identified by police are under the age of 25.
- 62% of Canadian human trafficking cases originate in the GTA.
- 12 to 24 years old is the average age of victims.
- 63% of victims trafficked in Ontario are Canadian citizens.
What we're doing
In June 2018, Peel Region Council endorsed A Strategy to Address Human Sex Trafficking in Peel Region, which included a 3-year pilot of dedicated services. In June 2022, Peel Region Council endorsed the permanent program with an intended outcome to increase awareness and coordinated access to dedicated and dignified services to victims, survivors, and those at-risk of sex trafficking in Peel.
The strategy aligns with the Province of Ontario's anti-human trafficking strategy 2025-2030.
Peel's strategy aims to address human sex trafficking through:
- Prevention
- Intervention
- Exits and Housing
This approach:
- Supports victims, survivors and those at-risk of sex trafficking.
- Bridges the gap in services.
- Provides safe housing and dedicated services that are trauma and violence-informed.
Help is available
If you're a victim or survivor of human sex trafficking or forced labour, or you know someone who is, contact the Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-833-900-1010.
Increase awareness through prevention education and awareness programming delivered in partnership with the Peel Human Trafficking Service Providers Committee.
The Peel Region Anti-Human Sex Trafficking Prevention Strategy is being developed to ensure private corporations, the public, including students, parents and schools, and cross-sectoral partners are aware of the signs of sex trafficking, how to address it and dedicated supports in Peel where victims, survivors and individuals at-risk can access services.
The video, What is Sex Trafficking, was produced by Rhonelle Bruder, a survivor and advocate. The target audience of this video is parents, caregivers and school-aged children.
Our Disrupting Human Trafficking in Peel learning module provides an overview about human sex trafficking. Private businesses, the public, community organizations, and municipalities can use this module to increase awareness.
A Peel-specific e-learning module has is also available on our internal channels for Peel Region staff.
Training sessions are being delivered to frontline and management Peel Region employees. The focus is on how staff can support someone who may be at-risk of or has shared personal experience with sex trafficking.
If you would like more information about the Peel Human Sex Trafficking Strategy, email us at antihumantrafficking@peelregion.ca
An integrated services hub called nCourage opened in 2021 to increase access to easy, reliable, wrap-around services for victims and survivors. Contact them at 905-568-1068, by email or visit ncourage.ca for more information.
Services include:
- Case management
- Trauma counselling
- Outreach
- Client navigation
- Life and job skills
- Continuing education
- Family reunification
- Access to health care
- Addictions support
- Financial support
All services are free-of-charge and are offered onsite at a confidential location.
We've increased access to safe and supportive housing for victims and survivors. This includes two separate houses for sex trafficking victims and survivors:
- 1 safe emergency house (for up to 6 months).
- 1 transitional house (from 6 months to 2 years).
The safe house opened in 2020 and the transitional house opened in 2021.
Contact Elizabeth Fry Hope and Help for Women at 905-459-1315 or by email. Visit efryhopehelp.com for more information.
The Peel Human Trafficking Service Providers Committee (the Committee) was borne out of a Peel Police conference, in collaboration with survivor leader Timea Nagy in 2015. The Committee is trauma and violence informed, includes the meaningful involvement of survivors and is comprised of organizations from Peel and the Greater Toronto Area within the legal, health, education, academia, justice, and social services sectors. The Committee aims to:
- Collaborate on a coordinated approach to address trends, issues and gaps relating to human trafficking; by participating in dedicated pathways of supports and services for victims and survivors.
- Increase human trafficking knowledge and awareness, through prevention education.
- Collaborate on advocacy, knowledge sharing, resources and events to support our community for all 3 pillars (Prevention, Intervention, Exits and Housing) of the Peel Anti-Human Sex Trafficking Strategy.
This is achieved through prevention education, capacity building and leading and fostering collaboration for joint action against human trafficking in Peel Region and beyond.
Peel Anti-Human Sex Trafficking Lived-Experience Remuneration Guide (May 2024)
There's consensus within the human trafficking sector that individuals with lived experience of human trafficking must be involved in the work, however, few have engaged in a way that is ethical, non-tokenistic and meaningful. This report aims to collate available evidence, best and promising practices to advocate for moving from theory to action.
Access the remuneration guide.
From Concept to Action: A Strategy to Address Human Sex trafficking in Peel (May 2021)
This detailed guide shares the process of developing and launching Peel’s strategy to address human sex trafficking. It includes our learnings, resources, best practices and key messages that can be adapted to other local contexts. Our hope is that the guide will assist other communities, organizations, law enforcement, municipal governments, schools and collaboratives looking to develop their own anti-sex trafficking strategies and prompt thinking about ways to allocate resources, utilize champions, define activities, prioritize efforts and leverage existing partnerships.
To receive a copy of a resource, contact antihumantrafficking@peelregion.ca.
Digital dangers: How to keep our children safe in a digital world
Peel District School Board, in collaboration with Peel Region, Our Place Peel, Peel Children’s Aid Society and Peel Regional Police are hosting a free community event focused on keeping children and youth safe online.
Children are spending more time on digital devices, and it’s important for families to understand the risks and how to protect young people. This session provides practical guidance, expert insights, and tools you can use right away to support safe online experiences.
Online platforms provide a perfect opportunity for children and youth to be lured, groomed and tricked into fake relationships that can lead to sex trafficking.
Brampton
February 19, 2026
Cyril Clark Theatre
6:30 – 8:00 p.m.
Mississauga
February 25, 2026
Noel Ryan Auditorium, Hazel McCallion Library
6:30 – 8:00 p.m.
Caledon
March 3, 2026
Mayfield Secondary School
6:30 – 8:00 p.m.
Who should attend
- Parents and caregivers
- Educators
- Community members
- Anyone wanting to better understand online safety for children and youth
What you will learn
- The most common online risks facing young people.
- How online predators and traffickers use digital tools.
- Tips to help children stay safe on social media, gaming platforms, and messaging apps.
- Local supports and resources available to families.
Cost
This is a free community event. Space is limited (175 maximum capacity).