Human Trafficking Awareness Day, February 22, provides an opportunity to raise awareness of an issue that continues to affect communities across Canada, including here in Toronto.
As a child welfare agency, we know this day serves as an important reminder of the realities faced by vulnerable children and youth and reinforces our commitment to their safety, protection and well‑being. This week, Liz Molligan, our Intake Director, represented CAST on Breakfast Television to speak about the prevalence of human trafficking. She also participated in a panel on TVO’s The Rundown, where she discussed human trafficking in Ontario and provided a child welfare perspective alongside Casandra Diamond, Founder and Director of BridgeNorth Advocacy; Kiaras Gharabaghi, Dean, Faculty of Community Services and Co‑Director, Centre for Combating Child Sex Trafficking and Online Child Sexual Exploitation; and Melanie Clark, Detective Staff Sergeant, Human Trafficking Unit, Guelph Police Service. The segment will air on Monday, Feb. 23, 2026 at 8pm/11pm EST on TVO.
From our work, we know that young people who experience instability, trauma, poverty, disrupted family environments and/or histories of abuse and neglect can face heightened vulnerability. Increasing understanding can help support prevention, strengthen early identification, and ensure children and youth receive the care and protection they need.
National data highlights the scope of the issue. According to Statistics Canada’s Trafficking in Persons in Canada, 2024 report, released in December 2025, police reported 5,070 incidents of human trafficking between 2014 and 2024, most occurring in urban centres. Toronto alone accounted for 1,038 incidents, representing 20 per cent of all reported cases nationwide, and Ontario recorded rates above the national average. Of the incidents that identified victims, 4,075 people were detected. The vast majority were women and girls, nearly two-thirds were under 25, and approximately 22 per cent were younger than 18.
Within our own work, we are seeing trends in the impact of human trafficking on younger adolescents. Recruitment is increasingly affecting youth around the age of 13, and online platforms such as social media and gaming sites are commonly used to connect with young people. This shift can make warning signs more difficult to recognize and underscores the importance of early awareness and prevention.
In response to increasing risk, a focus on collaboration across child welfare, community organizations, law enforcement, and government continues to strengthen prevention and intervention efforts. Legislative changes have also reinforced this work. In 2021, the Child, Youth and Family Services Act was amended to explicitly include risk of involvement or involvement in sex trafficking as grounds for protection.
At the Children’s Aid Society of Toronto, our role is both preventative and responsive. We work with partners to identify early warning signs, intervene when concerns are present, support families and caregivers, and provide safety planning and trauma-informed support for youth.
Human Trafficking Awareness Day reminds us that protecting children and youth is a shared responsibility. Through continued education, collaboration and community engagement, we remain committed to helping ensure that young people in our city are safe and supported.
