In Canada, both women and children are the primary victims of human trafficking and are trafficked largely for sexual exploitation. It has been estimated that approximately 800 people are trafficked into Canada annually and another 1,200 to 1,500 are trafficked through Canada. Some social service organizations have estimated that as many as 16,000 Canadians are trafficked annually. While we do not know how many of these are children, it has been estimated, “about 1,300 Canadian children reported ‘missing’ by the RCMP are trafficked annually for sexual activity”. 

Toronto has been identified as one of the ‘principle destinations’ or ‘transit points’ for individuals, both foreign nationals and domestic residents, who have been trafficked. Carly Kalish from the All Saints Church Community Centre has seen first-hand human trafficking in Toronto. According to Kalish, human trafficking is happening, “on Church St., in Regent Park and in Dundas Square”. Timea Nagy, founder of Walk With Me Victim Services Organization supports this by saying that human trafficking is occurring in Toronto every day, “Look around at the hotels, motels, restaurants, massage places. Human trafficking is all around you, it’s just not seen”.