SASKATOON — St. Anne Parish's Catholic Women's League Council will host a steak night fundraising event on May 7, Sunday, to benefit Hope Restored Canada, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping survivors of human trafficking.
The event will be at Sports on Tap on Lorne Avenue, with tickets priced at $30 each. Guests are expected to arrive at 5:30 p.m., dinner starts at 6:30 p.m., and the silent auction and 50-50 raffle will begin at 7:30 p.m.
Donna Aldous, who co-chaired the St. Anne's CWL Human Trafficking Awareness Project with Anne Ashcroft in February, is leading the fundraising efforts. She hopes St. Anne’s CWL Council would raise funds to assist HRC in its advocacy of helping victims rebuild their lives.
"The need is great. Together we can change the ending for those impacted by exploitation and trafficking,” said Aldous, who urges the public to consider supporting HRC”s life-changing programs in Saskatchewan.
HRC's mission is to increase public awareness about human trafficking in Saskatchewan and support women escaping exploitation and trafficking. Aldous said that all funds raised will go directly to support these efforts in the province.
HRC has an eight-bed safe house in the city, where victims and survivors of sexual exploitation and human trafficking can stay with Ashley Peter, a Cree Métis woman from Northern Saskatchewan, serving as the program coordinator. Aldous has contacted the business community to seek sponsorships and other donations for the silent auction.
Human trafficking is the third-largest illegal activity in the world, and Saskatchewan has one of the highest rates of human trafficking in the country, according to a 2020 report.
Canadians make up 93 per cent of the victims, and the age of those recruited into the sex trade is 13 to 14. Furthermore, 63 per cent of human trafficking victims are between the ages of 15 to 24, and human traffickers usually target runaways within 24 to 48 hours.
Indigenous women, girls and other vulnerable youth are at high risk of becoming human trafficking victims in the province. Indigenous women represent four per cent of Canada's population but are 10 times more likely to go missing and 20 times more likely to be murdered. They also comprise half of the victims of human trafficking.
HRC uses various strategies to help human trafficking victims recover from their harrowing ordeal through a holistic restoration process. They offer support groups, mentors, outreach, partnerships, education, access to transitional housing, and case planning.
HRC's outreach program includes workers, referrals, access to individual social support, and exit strategies. They also partner with organizations, service providers, investors, and members to help victims transition back to everyday life.
Their educational program involves public awareness campaigns, sessions, and training for service providers on the issues of sexual exploitation and human trafficking.
For more information on the event, email [email protected] or call 306.236.7113.
