A highly shareable, highly misleading post making the social media rounds in Halifax would have you believe that the downtown bar scene is under attack from a sophisticated tactical squad of people on a mission to grab women off the street. The post first appeared in early September. “Friends in the HRM!” it begins. “My […]
Human Trafficking
Posted inNews + Opinion
Sexual exploitation conference calls for more attention to the “root” of the problem
A conference being held by Saint Mary’s University’s criminology department on September 14 promises to bring fresh perspectives to the topic of sexual exploitation in Nova Scotia and beyond. Organized by human trafficking abolitionist and survivor of sexual exploitation Cheyenne Jones, the Buyer Beware panel aims to bring awareness to what Jones considers the origin […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Anti-abortion centre targets trafficking victims
Open Door Women’s Care Centre on Spring Garden Road is once again under scrutiny—this time from an advocate for victims of human trafficking. When The Coast first reported on Open Door back in 2014, it was because the self-identified “faith-based” organization had taken out a series of bus ads that veiled the centre’s anti-abortion policy […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Today I saw justice, if only for a moment
Today I watched a young woman show up, prepared to testify about the atrocities that have happened at the hands of trash bags, abusers, modern day slave traders. Today I watched as a brave young woman stepped forward to speak out about Halifax’s “dirty little secret.” Today I saw this same woman prepare to stand […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Jade Brooks turns her trauma into teaching
When Jade Brooks was 15, she thought she met the love of her life. He wooed her, bought her gifts, took her on dates and told her that he was in love. Looking back now, she recognizes him as her trafficker—the man who manipulated her into moving from her home near Uniacke Square and selling […]