Her Memory: Human Trafficking and Digital Awareness

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In December, residents of Regent Park and surrounding neighbourhoods gathered at 349 Ontario Street, the Central Neighbourhood House to mark the National Day of Remembrance and Action to Stop Violence Against Women. The event, Her Memory: Human Trafficking and Digital Awareness, focused on education, prevention, and community healing while honouring women and girls impacted by gender-based violence. Organized by The Neighbourhood Group (TNG) and METRAC Action on Violence, with support from local and citywide partners, the gathering brought together community members, frontline workers, youth, elders, and service providers. The event created a space to examine how gender-based violence and human trafficking affect neighbourhoods like Regent Park, where residents continue to navigate redevelopment, migration, economic pressures, and systemic inequities. Discussions throughout the evening emphasized that vulnerability is often shaped by structural conditions rather than individual choices. In this context, human trafficking was examined as an issue linked to unmet needs such as housing stability, social connection, safety, and access to support services. Attention was also given to how exploitation increasingly begins in digital spaces, including social media, online messaging, and gaming platforms. An Indigenous opening ceremony grounded the event in reflection and healing, acknowledging the role of historic and ongoing colonial trauma in shaping experiences of violence. Panel discussions highlighted the importance of early awareness, digital literacy, and community-based prevention, particularly for newcomer, racialized, and Indigenous communities. Organizers and volunteers served warm food throughout the evening, reinforcing a sense of care and togetherness as participants engaged in challenging conversations. The event concluded with a healing-focused closing and a community raffle supported by Zonta International, recognizing the importance of collective responsibility and global solidarity in addressing violence against women. For Regent Park, Her Memory: Human Trafficking and Digital Awareness served as both remembrance and action, reaffirming the community’s commitment to education, prevention, and mutual support.

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