July 30th is World Day Against Human Trafficking. On Friday, July 29th 2022, in partnership with Hammond Power Solutions and the City of Guelph, Rotary had its first Flag Raising Ceremony at City Hall.
Every country in the world is affected by human trafficking – a crime that exploits women, children and men for numerous purposes including forced labour and sex. Canada and Guelph-Wellington are not immune from this, and local Rotarians are raising awareness.
In 2021, the Rotary Clubs of Guelph (led by the Guelph-South club) started a small but mighty committee to raise awareness about the serious issue of human trafficking in Canada, Ontario and yes, even in Guelph.
At the Flag Raising Ceremony, Guelph Mayor Cam Guthrie spoke on behalf of the city, Lise Burcher spoke on behalf of Rotary, and Hammond Power Solutions CEO Bill Hammond spoke on behalf of his international corporation as an employer. Below is the text of Bill's remarks:
“As a partner of this important Rotary Guelph South endeavor, and on behalf of Hammond Power Solutions, I would like to echo the comments made this morning that all of us need to do more to end this terrible crime.
Over the coming months, Hammond Power Solutions will be putting in place the policies and training to not only educate all of our employees in Ontario, Quebec, the United States, Mexico and India about these heinous crimes but to also enlist their help in trying to prevent this going forward.
We will also be reaching out to our suppliers, partners and industry associations to promote awareness and ask for a call-to-action to stop human and sex trafficking.
All of us need to do more and it can start today.”
- The next awareness-raising event will be a Film Night, featuring the documentary “Human Trafficking: Canada's Secret Shame” on Sept 22nd 2022 at The Bookshelf in Guelph.