NRT Partners with Women’s Trucking Federation of Canada to combat human trafficking

In the media, human trafficking is often portrayed as something that happens abroad—something to be wary of when travelling in Europe, Asia, or South America. We hear about it in dramatic Hollywood thrillers and urban legends about waking up in a bathtub with a missing kidney.

However, the reality of human trafficking is far worse than these sensationalized stories suggest. Unlike fiction, human trafficking is brutally, horrifyingly real—and it happens much closer to home than many of us realize.

Joeline Magill, co-founder of Hope Restored Canada, a Saskatoon-based organization supporting survivors of human trafficking, highlighted the multifaceted nature of the crime in a 2023 interview with The StarPhoenix.

“Human trafficking is a large umbrella term that covers four different forms of the crime,” Magill explained. While sexual exploitation (or sex trafficking) is the most commonly recognized form, she noted that labour trafficking, domestic trafficking, and even organ removal are also prevalent.

Yes, even in Canada. Even in Saskatchewan. In fact, Saskatchewan has one of the highest incidences of human trafficking in the country.

The Role of Trucking in Combatting Human Trafficking

Shelley Walker, CEO of WTFC in Ontario, has been passionate about educating the public on human trafficking for years. Her commitment to the cause began after attending a presentation that revealed horrifying details, including cases where victims were as young as two months old.

“Mainstream media in Canada is terrible,” Walker said. “They only want to talk about human trafficking one day a year, on February 22—National Human Trafficking Awareness Day in Canada. But if we want to make a difference, we have to do better than that.”

Truck drivers are in a unique position to help—both in raising awareness and in identifying signs of human trafficking. They frequent highways and truck stops where victims of sex trafficking are often picked up or forced to work. Additionally, some unscrupulous trucking companies exploit the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, making labour trafficking a serious issue within the industry.

More importantly, semi-trucks are large, visible, and have the potential to serve as rolling billboards to raise awareness about human trafficking.

The Birth of the ‘Rolling Billboard’ Initiative

Walker first pitched the idea of a semi-trailer wrapped with a human trafficking awareness message at a government roundtable discussion in 2017. Unfortunately, officials dismissed the concept. Determined to take action, she personally funded the first wrapped trailer, organizing an event that brought together the public, local news, and law enforcement.

Out of this initiative, Know Human Trafficking was born—a non-profit organization dedicated to wrapping more trailers, hosting events, and spreading awareness. Today, Know Human Trafficking has wrapped 31 semi-trailers that help bring attention to the hidden crimes unfolding in our own communities.

NRT’s Commitment to Awareness in Saskatchewan

Sherry Mossman, Chief Operating Officer at NRT and a board member of WTFC, was aware of Walker’s initiative and reached out about participating in the program to increase awareness in northern Saskatchewan, where many at-risk individuals reside.

Because Indigenous people are disproportionately victimized by human trafficking, NRT ensured that the awareness messaging on their trailers was translated into both English and Cree.

“Given that Saskatchewan is a hotbed for human trafficking and that Indigenous women are significant targets,” Mossman said, “NRT wishes to act to protect our owners’ families and communities.”

Working in partnership with Jenn Thoma at Kitsaki Management Corporation, Mossman designed a customized trailer wrap tailored for local Indigenous groups, incorporating Cree translations. A second trailer, intended for use in Manitoba and featuring n-dialect translations, is planned for later this year.

Education and Future Plans

“If more truck drivers knew what to look for, more [human trafficking crimes] would be reported,” Walker explained. “There is an online training course for drivers on the Know Human Trafficking website that all drivers should take. In Ontario, five or six training schools already include it as part of their mandatory curriculum, and we are pushing to make it a requirement for all drivers.”

Once Know Human Trafficking gains charity status in June 2025, Walker plans to introduce a mobile trailer unit that will travel to different communities to provide education and awareness. This trailer will feature a mini-classroom where educators, in collaboration with Crime Stoppers and local law enforcement, will share specific, localized data on human trafficking.

The survivor-led training course designed specifically for truck drivers is available for free on www.knowhumantrafficking.com. While the course is designed for truck drivers, it benefits anyone who wishes to learn how to identify trafficking crimes and report suspected activity to authorities.

With increased awareness and vigilance on our roads and communities, we can make a difference.

NT5