Human trafficking survivors' group to bridge resource gap in north

The window in Nicole St-Jean's office lets in a lot of light while talking about a dark topic.

"Because we're one of the bigger cities in northern Ontario, we see a lot of human trafficking," St-Jean says.

"Whether it's people from our community, or people from elsewhere."

St-Jean is a crisis response coordinator with Sudbury and Area Victim Services. She says she dedicates all of her time at work to helping mostly female trafficking victims transition into survivors.

Group made up exclusively of survivors

The province's new advisory roundtable for survivors of human trafficking might help. It's a permanent, formal group, made up of Ontario survivors from different backgrounds and regions.

The group will eventually influence provincial policies and programs, as well as advise other groups when it comes to human trafficking issues. This could include removing barriers to resources, ensuring Indigenous perspectives are present and measuring the success of the province's strategy.

Jennifer Richardson, director of the provincial anti-human trafficking coordination office, will chair the group.

She says she'll be able to relate to the group as a survivor herself, but also recognizes the need for different points of view.

"I can't provide a perspective of an Indigenous person who`s been trafficked. I`m not Indigenous. I can`t provide a perspective of a newcomer. I`m not a newcomer," says Richardson.

"I wanted to make sure that we were ensuring that Ontario`s strategy was led by survivors."

Lack of training results in 'hidden' crimes

Richardson says she believes trafficking crimes are more hidden in some regions since counselors and community members aren't trained to know the signs.

"I don't think that's specific to the north," says Richardson. 

"But I think there's more opportunity because of the remoteness, the isolation, the lack of resources in the north for people to become more specialized in the area so they can identify it better."

Roundtable could bridge resource gap

St-Jean says she hopes survivors from the north use their voice in this roundtable. She says they could bring specialized safehouses to Sudbury — a resource that doesn't exist, but is critical to the healing process.

"Often they may enter treatment for addictions or special trauma counseling. But once they come out of that, often they have to relocate to another community, so that they can fully recover from what`s gone on in their lives," she says.

"It`s hard to come out of a trafficking situation when you don`t have a safe place that you can just think for a few days and just decompress and decide what you want."

Survivors can apply online before Sept. 15. The first roundtable is scheduled to meet this fall.