School boards, police launch new partnership to combat human trafficking in Waterloo Region

Local education leaders and Waterloo Regional Police representatives gathered to announce a new partnership aimed at raising awareness of human trafficking and better protecting youth across Waterloo Region. From left, Chief Mark Crowell, Deputy Chief John Goodman, Scott Miller, Director of the Waterloo District School Board, Annalisa Varano, Director of the Waterloo Catholic School Board, Deputy Chief Jen Davis and Deputy Chief Eugene Fenton. NIMCALLY Instagram Photo

By Galen Simmons

A new partnership between Waterloo Region’s two school boards, local police and a national advocacy organization intends to tackle what officials say is one of the fastest-growing – and often hidden – crimes affecting local youth.

The Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB) and Waterloo Catholic District School Board (WCDSB) have joined forces with Waterloo Regional Police Service (WRPS) and #NotInMyCity to raise awareness of human trafficking and equip students, staff and families with the tools to recognize and respond to it.

The initiative comes as Waterloo Region continues to report some of the highest rates of human-trafficking victimization in Ontario. In 2024, the local rate was approximately 3.4 victims per 100,000 people – about 70 per cent higher than the provincial average and 178 per cent higher than the national rate.

For police, the decision to partner with schools is rooted in the demographics of those most at risk.

“Between the two school boards, there are thousands of young people who are at the same age as many victims and survivors of human trafficking,” said Cherri Greeno, director of corporate affairs with WRPS. “To have them educated on how to recognize signs of human trafficking can be very helpful in terms of helping someone they may know or suspect is in trouble.”

Greeno said the region’s location along the Highway 401 corridor between the Greater Toronto Area and southwestern Ontario may also contribute to higher rates of trafficking, making awareness efforts even more critical.

The campaign builds on existing work already underway in local schools. Both boards have implemented professional development for staff and awareness initiatives for students in grades seven to 12 as part of the Ministry of Education’s Keeping Students Safe policy.

WRDSB director of education Scott Miller said the partnership strengthens those efforts and reinforces the importance of early intervention.

“This partnership further enhances our ability to recognize the signs of human trafficking early and empowers school communities to take meaningful action to better protect young people,” he said.

Staff training focuses on identifying indicators of exploitation, understanding how grooming can occur and knowing how to connect students with appropriate supports. In classrooms, age-appropriate resources – including the R.E.S.E.T. curriculum for grades seven to nine – help students understand the risks and where to turn for help.

Awareness materials such as “Know the Signs” posters are also displayed in schools, while information is shared with parents and caregivers to extend that awareness beyond the classroom.

For #NotInMyCity founder Paul Brandt, education is the cornerstone of prevention.

“Human trafficking is one of the fastest-growing crimes in Canada but remains largely invisible,” Brandt said. “By spreading awareness in schools, we help students and staff recognize the signs of grooming and exploitation early, creating safer environments where everyone knows what to watch for and where to turn for help.”

Brandt said the campaign grew from grassroots efforts to bring together schools, police, governments and community organizations with a shared goal of protecting youth and disrupting exploitation.

“Our messaging centres on igniting awareness, empowering everyone and knowing where to get help,” he said. “When we ignite that awareness, we make it harder for traffickers to prosper in secrecy.”

The campaign will deliver that message through school-based education, practical resources and information tailored to students, staff and families, all aimed at breaking down the secrecy that allows trafficking to thrive.

While education plays a key role, police emphasize it is just one piece of a broader, coordinated response.

“Addressing human trafficking requires more than just policing – it requires partnership,” Greeno said. “Through this campaign, we are coming together and committing to strengthening education, collaboration and proactive enforcement efforts to ensure those affected are supported and those responsible are brought to justice.”

Organizers hope the initiative will not only raise awareness among youth, but also inspire wider community involvement.

“We hope more organizations join us in support of #NotInMyCity so we can truly say we will not tolerate this in our community,” Greeno said.

For Brandt, that collective approach is essential.

“When communities come together – schools, families, police and local groups – we create places where exploitation can’t hide and survivors get the support they need,” he said. “We are stronger together.”

To learn more about spotting the signs of human trafficking, visit www.ontario.ca/page/recognizing-human-trafficking#section-5. For more information about talking with children about human trafficking, visit www.ontario.ca/page/talking-children-about-human-trafficking. For more on #NotInMyCity and to take the organization’s interactive e-learning course, visit notinmycity.ca/learn/.