Fort St. John airport joins fight against human trafficking

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — Fort St. John’s local airport is partnering with a new initiative to prevent human trafficking via aviation. 

The North Peace Regional Airport announced on July 15th it was partnering with #NotInMyCity in order to prevent trafficking by air travel by providing staff with resources and training to recognize potential trafficking scenarios.

Stacy Smith, the airport’s managing director, said the idea of joining the initiative came from its administration and facilities officer, Dixie Modde. 

“It immediately resonated with our team as a meaningful way to support the community and bring awareness to a critical issue,” said Smith. 

“Our team is proud to stand behind this effort through education, training and collaboration.” 

The airport will also display a new mural to raise awareness among passengers. 

“The mural now displayed at our departures entrance is a powerful reminder that we all have a role to play in preventing human trafficking,” said Smith.

‘#NotInMyCity’ is a national facilitative organization dedicated to ending human trafficking in Canada by collaborating with key stakeholders across sectors in raising awareness and taking collective action to prevent sexual exploitation with a focus on protecting children. 

“Airports play a critical role in identifying and preventing human trafficking within our

communities,” said Paul Brandt, founder of #NotInMyCity.

“North Peace Regional Airport’s dedication to safety, education and awareness represents a meaningful step towards our shared goal of ending trafficking and exploitation in Canada.” 

More information on how to raise awareness in preventing human trafficking can be found here.