2012 Community Forum

2012 Community Forum
Human Trafficking in Canada:  Toward a National Plan
   

On April 14, Booth University College facilitated diverse community dialogue on the topic of human trafficking.  The Salvation Army's Booth University College hosted its third Community Forum to facilitate guided community dialogue around a pressing issue affecting the residents of Winnipeg.  The Community Forum has traditionally been held on Global Youth Service Day to "kick off" Canada's National Volunteer Week as a way of reinforcing Canadian civil society.  The annual forum partners with local service agencies to guide community discussion in light of the University College's mission to "bring hope, social justice and mercy into our world."  

The topic for this year’s Forum was “Human Trafficking in Canada:  Toward a National Plan.”  Panelists included Joy Smith, Member of Parliament for Kildonan-St Paul, Dianna Bussey, the Social Services Consultant – Human Trafficking for The Salvation Army Canada and Bermuda Territory, Chief Donavan Fontaine of Sagkeeng First Nation, Tammy Reimer, Outreach Worker for Sage House, and a detective from the Winnipeg Police Service. Community discussion grappled with ways to partner given the different perspectives brought to the table.   The panel was moderated by David Northcott of Winnipeg Harvest who challenged panelists to explore what we, as a community, might be able to do together even as each gave voice to distinctive perspectives.  Identified areas of agreement included the importance of providing affordable, adequate housing for victims, strengthening awareness on trafficking and grooming methods in schools, supporting culturally appropriate counseling for victims, strengthening families and communities and the significance of nurturing relationships with vulnerable youth.  A special part of the event was a grooming skit written and performed by students from Sisler High School.  Jasmine Wiens from Green Valley School was presented with an award for her essay "Abolition."  ABOVE RIGHT:  Jasmine accepts the essay award from Booth University College Behavioural Sciences' student, Elissa Nasikapow Gabriel.

LEFT:  MP Joy Smith for Kildonan-St. Paul, Chief Donavan Fontaine of Sagkeeng First Nation and Tammy Reimer of Sage House respond to questions from the community.

This third Community Forum was attended by more than 180 people representing several churches, not for profit organizations, community members and local high schools.  Members of the community commented that the forum inspired them to become more involved with their community on the issue of Human Trafficking.  “I appreciated the diverse views of each of the panelists,”  said one member of the community. “There was a sense of working together for the common good.  Mercy, hope and justice permeated the discussion.  It is important for every Canadian to engage in the human trafficking conversation.  We must not look the other way.” In 2013, the Community Forum will address the topic of gangs in Winnipeg.

From the begining, the Forums have invited involvement from the next generation.  Forums offer a way to strengthen community connections among civic minded youth on the verge of launching from the K-12 structured environment.  Youth contribute one third of the Community Forum program. President Donald Burke captured the spirit of the forums when at our first event, he said, "Yes, today we are addressing questions about food security.  But we are also here to address questions that come down to the core of what kind of community we want to be in the coming years."  Community Forums are a place where the voices of concerned members of the community are given center stage.  One third of the program is devoted to an open-mic Q & A interaction from the floor with the invited panelists.  We invite community involvement for ongoing dialogue on these issues.