This was an in person meeting and no recording is available.
Visiting Rotarians
Louise Gardiner, RC of Kitchener Conestoga
Guests
Insp. Aaron Mathias, Waterloo Region Police Service, guest speaker
Cherri Greeno, Waterloo Region Police Service, guest speaker
Michael Cambell, guest of Hubert Singh
Deonne Cerullo, guest of President Vince Cerullo
Paula Conrad, guest of Tamara Vukovic
Cheryl Ewing, past member and soon to be new member
Trina Keswsetter, visiting member of the public
Lindsay Manary, visiting member of the public
Lorena Marc, guest of Lumi Mironescu
Melissa Page, guest of Jenna Hammond
Judy Proctor, guest of Bill Proctor
President's Comments
President Vince extended a warm welcome to all the members and the many guests this evening.
Happy Jar
Visiting Rotarian and former club member Louise Gardiner had mixed emotions, certainly sad at the recent passing of husband, Graham, but very pleased that $15,000 was raised at his celebration of life. This will be matched with another $15,000 from the family and the total will be donated to the KW and Perth Humane Society.
President Vince was very happy that he and wife Deonne had a recent trip to Italy to see relatives and take in many sites.
Cheryl Ewing is pleased that she will be attending a meeting of the Guelph South Rotary club soon to talk about the very successful Nogales project she initiated.
Club Announcements
Online Auction
Efforts to solicit donations and sponsorships should now be well underway. If you have any questions or need any support, please contact Vince or Bill. If you have items for donation, please contact Bill to arrange to have them dropped off or picked up. Don’t forget to have the Donation Form filled out.
Program Highlights
Our presenters today were Inspector Aaron Mathias and Cherri Greeno from the Waterloo Region Police Service addressing the issue of Human Trafficking and the Not In My City campaign to counter it.
Both guests were introduced by member Jenna Hammond.
Cherri Greeno began her career as a journalist after graduating from the Master of Arts (Journalism) degree program at the University of Western Ontario in 1999. During her career she travelled throughout the world covering a variety of stories and was the recipient of two National Newspaper Awards for excellence in journalism. In 2016, she joined the Waterloo Regional Police Service (WRPS) and is currently the Service’s Director of Corporate Affairs. She also serves as Past-Chair for the Ontario Corporate Communications Network (CCN), Vice-Chair of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police (CACP) Strategic Communications Network and is a Canadian representative for the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Public Information Officers committee. In 2021, Cherri was awarded the Catherine Martin Award of Excellence in Media Relations from the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police (OACP) and, in 2023, was awarded a provincial Heroes Beyond the Badge award on behalf of WRPS. She was also recently awarded a Mentor of the Year Award for her work with students at Conestoga College. Most recently, Cherri had her first Children’s Book – Mismatched Martha - published by New-York Based Austin Macaulay Publishers. She currently resides in Kitchener with her husband, four daughters, and the cutest puppy ever.
Inspector Aaron Mathias began his career with the Waterloo Regional Police Service in 2006 and currently oversees the portfolio of Community Safety Partnerships. He brings experience from assignments in frontline Patrol, School Resource, Detectives, Major Crime and the Waterloo Regional Police Service Wellness Unit. He is currently completing a master's degree in human Rights & Global Ethics at the University of Leicester, holds a bachelor's degree in law and justice from Laurentian University and has earned a certificate in Psychological Health & Safety from the University of Fredericton.
Insp. Aaron and Cherri provide detailed background information the troubling statistics about human trafficking. Here are highlights from their slide presentation:
What is Human Trafficking?
It is one of the fastest-growing crimes nationally and globally, generating billions of dollars annually, second to illegal arms trafficking and the drug trade.
Child Sexual Exploitation is the act of coercing, luring, or engaging a child under the age of 18 into a sexual act and involvement in the sex trade with or without the child’s consent, in exchange for money, drugs, shelter, protection, or affection.
Trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation occurs when there is clear abuse of power by a third party: recruited, controlled, and coerced to provide sex services against their will.
Understanding The Issue of Child Sexual Exploitation and Sex Trafficking
72% of reported human trafficking victims in Canada are under 25 years of age
$280,000 is the annual profit per female trafficked in Canada
13 is the most common age girls are being trafficked in Canada
616% increase in online sexual exploitation since 2014
Trafficked women and girls are typically poor, often with histories of physical and sexual abuse
30% of victims were recruited by men they considered to be their boyfriends
The majority of trafficking victims know their trafficker
The average age children are trafficked begins as young as 12
On any day in 2021, there were approximately 27 million victims of trafficking globally
Being a girl is the greatest risk in being trafficked
Understanding The Issue in Waterloo Region
Rates of Victimization
1.4 victims per 100k nationally
Victims aged 14 - 47
Human Trafficking Unit
160 human trafficking investigations in 2024
36 charges have been laid to date
#NotInMyCity was created by Paul Brandt to raise awareness and take collective action to prevent and end human trafficking and sexual exploitation.
The Yellow Rose was created to represent #NotInMyCity as a symbol of support and a statement that you stand in solidarity with trafficking survivors as an Ally of #NotInMyCity.
An interactive e-learning course was created to allow everyone an opportunity to disrupt sexual exploitation and sex trafficking in Canada. It is a free, short, interactive e-learning course that provides you with an allyship certificate upon completion.
Join The Conversation
Opportunity
Leverage networks and industry partners to create a powerful movement in Waterloo Region and across Canada to end sexual exploitation and human trafficking.
Vision
Through training and information campaigns educate our community and industries on the signs of human trafficking, how to help and to ultimately disrupt this crime for lasting change.
Current Partners
RoW International Airport
RoW Community Safety & Wellbeing Plan
Grand River Transit
Pattison Outdoor Advertising
Victim Services of Waterloo Region
Family Violence Project
WRDSB, WRCSB
Report Suspicious Behaviour
If the victim is under 18, it is mandatory under provincial and federal law to report any case of suspected or known sexual exploitation:
Provide the date and location
Provide a physical description of those involved
Note the make, model, and license plate of any vehicles involved in the incident
Offer a summary of the situation that led to the report
Closing Remarks & Reminders
Sept. 30 – National Day for Truth & Reconciliation Walk – Meet at Tim Horton’s, Frederick St. Mall at 9:30 a.m.
Oct. 3 – District Conference, Canadian Conference Centre, Brampton
Oct. 19 – Fall Dom Cardillo Trail Clean Up, Stanley Park Mall, 4:30 p.m.
Oct. 26 The Baskateers, Evening at the DoubleTree
Nov. 2 – Tour of Schlegal-UW Research Institute for Aging, Evening
Nov. 7 to Nov. 21 – Online Auction in Action!
Nov. 9 – Remembrance Day Observance with Jane Klugman of the Royal Highland Fusiliers of Canada
Nov. 30 – Holiday Social – St. George Restaurant, Waterloo
Dec. 7 – KidsAbility 70th Anniversary Tour / Club AGM, Noon or Evening T.B.D.
Kitchener Rotary e-Newsletter
