Not In My City program
A movement dedicated to ending human trafficking and sexual exploitation.
The Airport Authority is proud to partner with #NotInMyCity and is committed to operating a safe, secure, and compassionate airport. Signs are posted in each washroom stall in the terminal that provide victims of human trafficking who may only have minutes of solitude with information on how to seek help.
What is human trafficking?
- An action:
- Recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring, or receipt of people
- A means:
- Threat or use of force
- Coercion
- Abduction
- Fraud or deception
- Abuse of power or vulnerability
- Giving or receiving payments or benefits to gain control over another person
- A purpose:
- Sexual exploitation or sex trafficking
- Forced labour, slavery or similar practices
- Removal of organs
Trafficking and aviation
Victims are frequently moved by air, making airports and airlines critical points of intervention. Between 2011 and 2021, 31% of human trafficking offences in Canada involved crossing an international border.
Frontline staff may be the final opportunity to notice red flags and take action. Once a trafficked person leaves the airport environment, they often disappear from public view, making rescue efforts significantly more difficult.
Awareness, paired with action, is how we make a difference.
How to report:
If you observe something that concerns you, please report it. Do not intervene directly.
The safest action is to call the Airport Operations Coordination Centre at 613-248-2111.
- Provide the date and location of the suspected incident
- Give a physical description of the people involved (names, ages, hair colour, height, etc.)
- Note the make, model and license plate of any vehicles involved
- Offer a summary of the situation
For more information, reach Canada’s National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-833-900-1010.
Do no harm – human trafficking is a crime, and under no circumstances should the safety of the suspected victim or any other individual be compromised.
Warning signs to watch for:
Human trafficking doesn’t always look the way we expect, and victims are not always hidden from view.
Common indicators:
- Has excessive baggage or few to no personal possessions
- Is not suitably dressed for the journey
- Is not allowed to speak for themselves, or provides inconsistent information
- Has no ID, or someone else holds their ID
- Appears malnourished, sleep-deprived, or in need of medical care
- Is unable to explain details about their travel
- Seems fearful, anxious, depressed, submissive, nervous or paranoid
- Appears to be monitored or controlled by a companion
Employee training
YOW employees are strongly encouraged to take #NotInMyCity’s interactive Mobilizing Communities to Disrupt Sexual Exploitation and Sex Trafficking in Canada, e-learning course.
The course is free, available in both English and French, and upon completion of the 30-minute course, you will be awarded a certificate.
It will help you better understand how:
- Victims are targeted
- To recognize the signs of sexual exploitation and sex trafficking
- To help stop one of the fastest-growing crimes in Canada
