A Trent Durham GTA student is taking action to shine a light on the scope and human impact of human trafficking in communities across Canada  

Robyn Dombroski, a student in the Policing & Community Well-Being program, is helping to coordinate StuckInTraffick, a fundraising and educational walk against human trafficking in Durham Region – and is encouraging staff, faculty and community members to join. Robyn is organizing the Saturday, May 27 walk as a part of a hands-on placement in the program.  

“After learning that human trafficking happens in every community and learning about the work that Victim Services and other organizations do to help survivors, I wanted to do more to help, and to teach people that this is not a faraway issue,” said Robyn. “Putting together this walk and inviting people to learn while being physically out in the community to me is an important way to show people: We’re here. We care about this. We’re standing up against human trafficking wherever it appears.”  

Taking action

The guided walk, which starts at the Trent Durham GTA campus in Oshawa, has two route options: a longer, 6.5 km loop that takes participants through the downtown core of Oshawa and provides information about what aspects of human trafficking are relevant to different local landmarks, and a shorter 2 km loop around the perimeter of the campus. Both options will educate participants about what is important to be aware of and watch out for to protect against human trafficking and include stories from survivors. Participants also have the option to remain at campus or arrive later and participate in the community resources fair and speaker sessions. In addition to the guided walk, the event features opening remarks, speaker sessions and a community resources fair. 

“Our students are working to make our communities safer and work better for all of us by looking seriously at issues like human trafficking, and applying critical thought and the latest research to find new ways to tackle them,” says Dr.Amy Spendik, program coordinator for the Policing & Community Well-Being program and Robyn’s placement supervisor  “Robyn is an excellent example of the kind of work students in this program do and her passion for taking a stand against human trafficking in Durham is admirable. She is doing an excellent job making this event community focused by engaging with various stakeholders across the region and we invite others to learn more and join in the fight.” 

The Policing & Community Well-Being program has close ties to local community organizations, including the Durham Regional Police Services’ Human Trafficking Unit, Victim Services of Durham Region, the Region of Durham, and Ontario Works – all organizations will be participating in the event by providing speakers and information tables on campus following the guided walk. Participants will have the opportunity to learn about services available to victims of trafficking, as well as the ways in which they can help to prevent trafficking in their community. 

Education key to equipping communities

“Part of the challenge we face is increasing awareness of the issue. Many people in our immediate community have no idea that this is happening in our backyard,” said Prof. Spendik. “This walk is part of the Policing and Community Well-Being program’s commitment to bringing awareness to serious social justice issues, while also working to give back to the community. I cannot think of a more worthy cause to devote our attention to than human trafficking.” 

The walk, which is open to everyone, is free. An optional ticket is also available for $40, which includes an event t-shirt and donation to Victim Services of Durham Region. Donations can also be made directly to Victim Services of Durham Region to help support their anti-human trafficking efforts. 

Robyn hopes that the walk will not only raise funds to support survivors of human trafficking in Durham, but also teach participants about what to look out for and when to speak up. "I want people to leave the walk feeling empowered and motivated to make a difference," she said. 

Learn more about the StuckInTraffick walk and the Policing & Community Well-Being program.