The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Local groups fear Pan Am Games will fuel human trafficking by David Lea Oakville Beaver Staff 3 | Thursday, June 18, 2015 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com For most people, the Pan Am/Parapan Am Games represent unity as nations come together to face each other on the field of athletic competition. For others, however, the games simply present another opportunity to profit off the backs of the unwilling and enslaved. Shae Invidiata, Oakville native and founder of the anti-human trafficking organization FreeThem and others are concerned the games will prompt an increase in local human trafficking as pimps seek to profit from the crowds drawn to the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). The Pan Am/Parapan Am Games, which run July 10-26 and Aug. 7-15, respectively, are expected to bring 8,000 athletes to the GTA along with approximately 250,000 tourists. "This is an area of concern we as Free-Them have been bringing to the City of Toronto's attention for almost two years now," said Invidiata. Free-Them seeks funding "We did see an increase in human trafficking when Toronto hosted the Grey Cup (2012) and with the greater number of people that are going to be coming in domestically and internationally for Pan Am Games, you can definitely expect to see an increase in girls brought in to meet the demands of tourists for paid sex." Human trafficking is the second-largest the fun. "You have a group of people together, you have the money, you're out drinking, you're having a good time, you want to purchase sex and it becomes readily available to you," she said. "Unfortunately it is predominately men who are looking to purchase sex and at sporting events you have lots of men and so you have that increase in the demand for paid sex. Just like any other industry, when there is a demand, the supply is going to be met. So as long as the demand increases, you are going to see the supply increase." 4:ONE -- Buying Sex is Not a Sport Free-Them is not the only group with such concerns. In January, the Oakville-based anti-human trafficking group 4:ONE held an event titled Buying Sex is Not a Sport, in an effort to help the community examine how the expected increase in demand for paid sex during the Pan Am Games could be prevented. SAVIS Sexual Assault & Violence Intervention Services (SAVIS) of Halton also acknowledges there is the potential for a rise in this modern-day form of slavery during the coming sporting events. "We are concerned. Anytime you get a large gathering, you are at risk of an increase in human trafficking," said Kathryn Baker-Reed, SAVIS executive director. "We know there is human trafficking already in Halton. I feel pretty confident traffickers will simply bring more women into the hotels to be trafficked in the regions where there are more people. The hard part is reaching those women. They can often be very transient, they are very vulnerable and their needs are incredibly complex." Halton Regional Police While Halton police said there are approximately 40-60 women being trafficked in Halton at any given time, they are not convinced those numbers will grow with the arrival of the Pan Am Games. Detective Constable Jeff Brown of the Halton Police Human Trafficking and Vice Unit said Halton will only be hosting a couple of Pan Am/ Parapan Am events and as a result will not see the massive influx of tourists some other areas will experience. He also argued some of the factors that could lead to a human trafficking increase are not present. "The demographic of people that will be coming to the Pan Am Games is different from perhaps the people who would go to the Super Bowl or the World Cup... More a mix of families and younger and older people," said Brown. "The amount of alcohol that is involved is going to be minimal rather than something like see Police on p.5 Shae Invidiata criminal industry in the world and is described as the exploitation, manipulation or control of a person (usually a woman) by violence or threats of violence to provide sexual service. Invidiata said there are a few factors that cause a spike in human trafficking during large events. She said the first is the anonymity many people feel they have when they visit a new province or country. Being away from their family and anyone who knows them gives some people the feeling they can do things, like pay for sex, they would never do at home, said Invidiata. For other people, paying for sex is just part of Hand Breaded in House daily CHICKEN PARMESAN KAISER A chicken breast marinated in our Signature Chalet Dipping Sauce, hand breaded in house with Parmesan cheese and herb breadcrumbs, topped with marinara sauce & Mozzarella cheese. Served on a toasted Kaiser with pesto mayo and your choice of side. 12.49 0% Interest on All Water Treatment Equipment Until July 15th 2015 All Softeners, All Iron Removal Systems, All UV Units, All R/O Units! Limited Time Offer. While Supplies Last. Taxes Extra. Reg T.M. of Cara Operations Limited. ONT (Tier 2) - E 10/14 ning e p p Ha WATER DEpOT hAS A Now! 0% InTEREST EVEnT NEW CUSTOMER OFFER: CHICKEN PARMESAN Receive 50 FREE litres of U Fill Water and we'll also give you a FREE jug to transport your water! A chicken breast marinated in our Signature Chalet Dipping Sauce, hand breaded in house with Parmesan cheese and herb breadcrumbs, topped with marinara sauce and Mozzarella cheese. Served over tomato Linguine and warm garlic toast. 14.99 1-866-439-0439 www.swisschalet.ca 2251 WESTOAK TRAIL BLVD., UNIT#1 (905) 257.9257 · Email: oakvillewaterdepot@yahoo.ca Complimentary Consultation LASIK & EYE SURGERY 905 845 EYES (3937) Oakville, ON WWW.SEEBYIV.COM