Covenant House Vancouver News and Events

Instructions on how to vote for Pepsi Refresh - ensure your vote is counted

michelle — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 09:24:42 -0700

Help Covenant House Vancouver win $100,000

michelle — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 14:15:05 -0700

Pepsi Canada has just launched a new contest to help fund projects across Canada that will improve our communities. Covenant House has been selected as one of these projects and now we need your vote.

How can you help?

1. Go to http://www.refresheverything.ca/login

2. Then go to http://www.refresheverything.ca/covenanthousevancouver

3. Click on the "Vote for this idea" button.

You will hear the sound of a Pepsi can opening and your vote will be counted.

4. Do this once per day, as the winner will be the idea with the most votes by August 31st.

What else can you do to help?

• Put a reminder in your Outlook / I-Calendar
• Set as your homepage
• Share with friends and family
• Please remember that, the more votes that we receive, the better a chance we have at winning and continuing to make a difference in the lives of our youth.

THANKS!!

Cirque du Soleil benefit performance

michelle — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 11:27:17 -0700

Cirque du Soleil returns to Vancouver this summer and we invite you to experience the wonder of Kooza! We're pleased to announce that Cirque du Soleil has once again chosen to partner with Covenant House, donating tickets for fundraising purposes.

Kooza marks a return to the origins of Cirque du Soleil: it combines two circus traditions - acrobatic performance and the art of clowning. We hope you'll join us for an enchanting summer evening of entertainment that only Cirque du Soleil can create!

Cirque du Soleil's benefit night for Covenant House is on Friday, August 6th, 2010.
Tickets: $150 (a portion of the ticket price is eligible for a tax receipt)

For tickets and/or information please contact:
Mark Savard
Development Officer - Community Giving
savard@covenanthousebc.org
Tel. 604-639-8922

Ask Covenant House

michelle — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 15:02:08 -0800

Each month our crisis shelter manager appears on CKNW's The Christy Clark Show to discuss parenting teenagers. Many different topics are covered and we can't get to all the questions from callers, so we welcome your questions and will do our best to answer them quickly. To submit a question go to Ask Covenant House. We will pick the most popular questions/themes and the answers will be posted on the blog.

Change for Change

michelle — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 13:58:30 -0800

A few weeks ago, Aaron Hutchinson came down to Covenant House with an idea. He told me about how he felt when he saw a young person on the street asking for money. The thought of young Vancouverites in such troubled situations moved Aaron into action and he started thinking about what he could do to help them on a larger scale.

He toured our Drake & Seymour Street location and asked a lot of questions about our programs and services for young people up to 25 years of age. Aaron wanted to try to help them make positive changes in their lives and saw Covenant House as an organization that could help make that happen. And so, Aaron embarked on his ‘Change for Change' initiative.

He has involved 18 restaurants in the downtown core, dozens of friends, and Juno nominated band Marianas Trench. The goal: collect as much spare change as they possibly can (the group is aiming for 6000 pounds of the stuff!), and put it all together to make a larger impact. Click here to see the Marianas Trench video promoting this fundraiser.

The ‘Change for Change' buckets around the city are filling up quickly and on February 7 the fundraiser will conclude with a weigh in party at Ginger 62 where all proceeds will go to Covenant House Vancouver.

Thanks Aaron for all of your hard work!

Below is a list of participating restaurants:

Society Dining Lounge (1257 Hamilton Street)
Milestones Robson St. (1145 Robson Street)
Milestones Yaletown (1109 Hamilton Street)
Milestones Denman (1209 Denman Street)
Milestones Kitsilano (2966 West 4th Avenue)
Milestones Park Royal (1096 South Park Royal, West Vancouver)
Fraiche Restaurant (2-2240 Chippendale Road, West Vancouver)
The Edge Social Grille and Lounge (1100 Granville Street)
Sandbar Seafood Restaurant (1535 Johnston St, Granville Island)
The Teahouse "Sequoia Grill"(Ferguson Point, Stanley Park Drive)
Rosie's On Robson (298 Robson Street)
Joe Fortes Restaurant (777 Thurlow Street)
Sanafir (1026 Granville Street)
Italian Kitchen (1037 Alberni Street)
Coast Restaurant (1054 Alberni St)
Trattoria Italian Kitchen (1850 West 4th Avenue)
Glowbal Grill & Satay Bar (1079 Mainland Street)
Moxie's Classic Grill (808 Bute Street)

Shelter Expansion Celebration

michelle — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 09:54:37 -0800

Rich Colemen, Minister of Housing and Social Development represented the Province of British Columbia at our shelter expansion celebration yesterday. Also in attendance were Mayor Gregor Robertson, Mary McNeil, MLA for Vancouver-False Creek, and Donna Wilson, Executive Vice President of People and Sustainability for the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

Krista Thompson, Executive Director here at Covenant House explained that the expansion of our shelter and the associated renovation of our Drop-In space was made possible thanks to the support of the Governments of Canada and British Columbia, Covenant House Corporate, VANOC and an anonymous donor. The ongoing support support of over 55,000 of our donors enables us to provide food, clothing, counselling and shelter to over 1,900 young people each year and this we are most grateful.

Krista also expressed a sentiment shared by all of us at Covenant House which is that it is an honour to come to "work"; the young people who come to us for help inspire us with their courage and determination each and every day.

Click here for the press release.

Check out the Province story and the coverage on CKWX.

New Covenant House video

michelle — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 14:17:09 -0800

We have produced a short information video now available for distribution. The video provides general information about Covenant House and includes interviews with youth and staff as well as commentary on the upcoming 2010 Winter Olympic Games.

Click here to see the video.

If you want more information or a professional quality copy of the video for television broadcasting, please contact:

Michelle Clausius
clausius@covenanthousebc.org or
604-639-8936, 8:00 - 4:00, PST

New TV PSA

michelle — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 13:30:27 -0800

Two years ago, Covenant House was fortunate to win the British Columbia Association of Broadcasters (BCAB) Humanity Award which gave us $3,000,000 worth of radio and televison advertising for a year. It was a very successful campaign and we are forever grateful to all of the radio and television stations that participated.

The television spot was a direct call to action asking the public to support our shelter expansion. At the time, we were turning away more youth than we were serving due to overwhelming need. The campaign was successful! In two years, we have more than doubled the capacity of our shelter from 22 to 54 beds thanks to the support of the Provincial Government and our donors.

In order to thank our donors and the public and to remind everyone that we need ongoing support to sustain this expansion, we have revised the televison spot and hope to receive PSA (public service announcement) support from televisions across British Columbia.

Extra special and sincere thanks to Grant Fraggalosch who wrote both television scripts.

Click here to see the new spot.

Christmas Cards Are Ready

hayter — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 09:31:52 -0700

Covenant House Vancouver Christmas Cards are available by donation. If you are interested in ordering extra cards, please feel free to contact us at 604-638-4438 or by email at hayter@covenanthousebc.org . Please note this is on a first come first serve basis as we have a limited amount.

Please Note the first 5 card images are provided by KGR Images Inc-artist Gayle Walz. The last 4 card designs are by Crystal Deshaies www.cyrstalpainter.com .

Covenant House Vancouver to Benefit from Home For The Games

hayter — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 10:57:14 -0700

Share your home with Olympic visitors-for a good cause

Do you have a spare room or suite to share with visitors during the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games? Home For The Games is a web-based system that matches Games visitors to Vancouver hosts for home stays, with part of the fee supporting organizations fighting homelessness.

The new non-profit is using the energy of the Games to foster friendship and generosity through a cultural exchange and shared experience, while raising funds to support a good cause.

There's no cost to book or register a room with Home For The Games. You set your own rates, keep 50% of the rental revenue and receive a tax receipt for the other half going to the charities - Steetohome Foundation and Covenant House Vancouver.

It's a great way to share the spirit of the Games with new friends from around the world, while also helping our city's most vulnerable people.

To register your spare bedroom or suite, or to learn more, visit www.homeforthegames.com.

Jeans needed for our youth

michelle — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 12:35:51 -0700

We are in desperate need of jeans for males (all sizes) and females (larger sizes). If you live in the Vancouver area, we are open 24/7 for drop-offs at our 575 Drake Street location.

Covenant House on Christy Clark Show

michelle — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 10:27:54 -0800

Covenant House's crisis shelter manager, Paul McClelland, appears monthly on CKNW's The Christy Clark Show to discuss parenting issues.

The next few months schedule is as follows;

May 13@ 2:00
June 10 @2:00
July 8 @2:00
August 12 @2:00

Check out our facebook page for updates to the schedule.

Covenant House Vancouver on Facebook

michelle — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 13:54:56 -0800

You can join our Covenant House Vancouver group on Facebook by clicking here.

June Matching Donor Mailing includes students in Project Snackrifice

michelle — Fri, 28 May 2010 11:52:37 -0700

Confirmation students at Canadian Martyrs Catholic Church in Richmond decided to put their "money where their mouth was" in a unique fundraising project for Covenant House. Over one weekend, the students aged 12 - 14, raised $1200 to be used towards our matching June mailing, along with funds donated by an anonymous supporter who has pledged to match all donations to a maximum of $25,000.

According to the Church's pastor, Rev Paul Chu, the students called this fundraiser Project Snackrifice in keeping with the Lenten observance of abstinence and sacrifice. At each weekend service, the students made an appeal to the parish community to abstain from snacks during lent and donate the money they would have spent to Covenant House. After each service, students sold pictures of four snack items - chips, candy, ice cream and pop - for a donation of $1 each.

The response from the community was overwhelming according to Rev Chu mainly because "the appeal to help youth came from our youth. The benefit to our children was priceless. They didn't know the power of their appeal!"

Covenant House Wins award for mental health program

michelle — Fri, 07 May 2010 08:45:38 -0700

Covenant House Vancouver and the Inner City Youth Mental Health Project (ICYMHP) were recently recognized nationally by the National Eva's Innovation Award, generously sponsored by CIBC. Covenant House Vancouver was chosen as one of three award winners out of 31 applications received from across Canada.

ICYMHP provides youth with access to immediate on-site treatment for mental illness and is coordinated by two in-house mental health clinicians from Covenant House and delivered by a team of six psychiatrists from St. Paul's Hospital. The psychiatric team provides service in both Covenant House locations, with a case load that includes approximately half of all youth in the shelter at any given time. Young people in the mental health project are also supported by other Covenant House programs, including case management, the transitional housing program, drug and alcohol counselling, and life-skills training.

ICYMHP is innovative in that psychiatric services are being made available to homeless youth where and when they need them. The project offers the opportunity to proactively address mental illness among homeless youth and avoid hospitalization. In diagnosing mental illness and helping youth follow through with a treatment plan, ICYMHP is key to improving youth's readiness to access and manage housing for themselves.

Thank you to Eva's Initiative's and CIBC for recognizing us in this way!

Pictured here are (left to right) Covenant House's mental health clinician Tracy Brown, Eva's Initiatives Rachel Gray, Tristan Klassen, Covenant House Development Officer and Mark Simoes from CIBC.

Bocci raises $22,500

michelle — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 13:45:32 -0700

Vancouver design house Bocci held their first-ever warehouse sale, causing quite a stir for those who love their cutting-edge lighting and furniture designs. While the sale was notable on its own, the staff at Bocci chose to donate 50% of the sale proceeds to Covenant House Vancouver!

Bocci is committed to fostering a healthy and cooperative environment among their staff members and beyond, to the community in which they work. Covenant House is grateful for Bocci Vancouver's hard work on our behalf - they raised $22,500 in less than two days! Thank you Bocci.

Mark Savard, Development Officer, Community Giving receives cheque from Bocci's Erin Challoner

Spring Newsletter

michelle — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 14:14:00 -0700

Click here to read our spring Good Samritan Newsletter

Cirque du Soleil benefit performance

michelle — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 11:21:46 -0700

New Covenant House information video

michelle — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 13:58:45 -0800

For use for media and others wanting more information on Covenant House. If you require more information, please contact:

Michelle Clausius or call 604-639-8936, 8:00 - 4:00 PST.

Click here.

Jazz Vespers for Covenant House

michelle — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 10:08:05 -0800

On Christmas Eve three of the finest women vocalists in the lower Mainland will join together to present a special Jazz Vespers at St. Andrew's-Wesley. Karin Plato, Jennifer Scott, and Kate Hammett-Vaughan will delight the audience with an hour of holiday treats ranging from traditional carols to popular tunes, each song especially arranged to blend perfectly the voices of this dynamic trio. Each woman is a star in her own right, and this is the only time of the year when you'll be able to hear them together.

This year's concert will benefit Covenant House!

WHEN: Thursday, December 24 - 4 pm
WHERE: St. Andrews-Wesley Church, Burrard/Nelson Streets

Free admission, free parking. What's not to love about that?

Homeless Copywriter

michelle — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 11:59:36 -0800

Geoff Vreeken, a local writer has launched an on-line campaign for Covenant House called http://www.homelesscopywriter.com/. The idea is to give voice to homeless youth as if he was their one-man ad agency. This is aimed primarily at those in the communications industry, but applies to anyone with a beating heart.

Check it out, and COME TO THE LAUNCH PARTY.

There is a launch party for Geoff's project:

WHEN: Thursday, November 19, 6:00 - 10:00 pm
WHERE: The Fortune Club,147 East Pender Street, Vancouver

Hope to see you there!

New Radio Ad Campaign

michelle — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 12:48:10 -0700

As Covenant House is privately funded, we rely on a small, but effective radio advertising campaign each year to gain public support. We raise about 50% of our entire annual revenue in November and December so we focus our radio campaign during these months.

Tune into ROCK 101, CKNW, Virgin and QMFM in Vancouver to catch our new ad or click here to listen.

Covenant House Wins Local Hero Award

michelle — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:37:48 -0700

For our partnership with St. Pauls Hospital, Covenant House has won the Local Hero Award. For details click here.

The Domino Effect If One Falls, We All Fall Fundraiser for Covenant House

michelle — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 12:04:03 -0700

Where: Smileys Public House at 911 Pender Street Vancouver

When: October 20, 2009 6pm-2am

How Much: $16.00

Whats Happening: Black & White Theme, Accoustic Performances, DJs, Prize Giveaways

Who to Conact for Information & Tickets:
through Facebook The Domino Effect or povertyactionteam@yci.org or Smileys Public House

Homelessness Action Week October 11 - 17

michelle — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 15:09:32 -0700

The Greater Vancouver Regional Steering Committee on Homelessness was established in March 2000. It brings together a range of agencies and organizations involved in services, programs and facilities directed toward helping individuals and families who are homeless or at-risk of homelessness in the GVRD.

The RSCH developed and oversees the implementation of the Regional Homelessness Plan for Greater Vancouver. The Plan is titled Three Ways to Home to reflect the three components of the strategy to address homelessness in the region: affordable housing, support services and adequate income. The Regional Homelessness Plan has guided the provision of services and shelter to people who are homeless or at-risk or homelessness in Greater Vancouver since 2000.

About Homelessness Action Week

October 11 - 17, 2009 is the fourth annual Homelessness Action Week in Metro Vancouver. During the week organizers focus attention on homelessness in the Greater Vancouver Region and organize events for people who are homeless.

During the week there are events and activities that:

highlight programs and approaches to solving homelessness that are proving effective; link homeless people to services through events and outreach; educate about ways that individuals, organizations and businesses can get involved in solving homelessness
The week is supported by a coordinated public awareness campaign.

Typically, Homelessness Action Week generates the following:

•14 Lower Mainland municipalities declare the week Homelessness Action Week.
•More than 50 events are held, the majority for people who are homeless.
•Over 100 hundred businesses contribute goods and services.
•Over 30 community organizations and hundreds of volunteers participate.
•The Georgia Straight, CityTV and local radio stations provide invaluable media sponsorship.
•Posters and bus shelter ads appear throughout the region.
•Schools, business and community groups hold special events and fundraising drives.

For a list of events in your community, click here

Good Samaritan Newsletter

michelle — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 13:45:55 -0700

Click here to see our fall Good Samaritan Newsletter

"Night of New Beginnings" Gala

hayter — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 08:08:54 -0700

TD Waterhouse Private Investment Advice to host Gala for second year

This gala event will kick-off or “30 days for 30 nights” campaign which aims to raise enough money to cover the cost of running our shelter for the entire month of December; this year’s goal is $279,000.

You will enjoy cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, amazing silent and live auction items and fabulous raffle prizes. Last year this event raised over $80,000 to help cover the day-to-day operations of our 54 bed crisis shelter for our busiest month of the year.

Please join etalk Daily and laineygossip.com's Elaine Lui, Master of Ceremonies, on November 26, 2009 from 5:00-8:00pm at Birks Vancouver. You can truly make a difference in the lives of homeless youth.

Contact Shelley Holmes at 604-482-5131, or shelley.holmes@td.com for tickets.

Tickets are $75.00 each.

To explore sponsorship opportunities or to donate an auction item, please contact Adil H. Chagani at 604-482-2425, or Adil.Chagani@td.com.

The Campoverde Social Club is hosting a fundraiser - “Hello Summer!”

hayter — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 08:34:44 -0700

The Campoverde Social Club is hosting a fundraising event to benefit Covenant House Vancouver on Friday July 17, 2009, from 6:00 p.m. until midnight. We invite all Vancouverites to join us for a barbecue, silent auction, 50/50 draw, raffle and a variety of games. Several local businesses including the Arts Club Theatre, the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Restoration Hardware and Eliane Hair & Spa have generously donated services and products for the silent auction. There will even be a day cruise and picnic aboard the 35-foot yacht “Zeroiah” auctioned off. Donations are still being accepted and can be made directly to the Campoverde Social Club; donation pick-up and tax receipts are available.

So put on your sunglasses and best beach wear to celebrate “Hello Summer!” and be a part of an evening that is dedicated to supporting our city’s youth through Covenant House Vancouver.

Location: 1660 Cypress Street right in the heart of beautiful Kitsilano in Vancouver.
For more information feel free to ring us at 604-734-1660 or to e-mail us at lounging@campoverde.ca

Covenant House featured in Globe and Mail article

michelle — Tue, 19 May 2009 13:54:20 -0700

Click here to read the article:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20090519.BCMENTAL19ART2206/TPStory/TPNational/BritishColumbia/

Covenant House Pastoral Counsellor makes presentation on Human Trafficking

michelle — Tue, 05 May 2009 13:15:19 -0700

One Is Too Many: A Citizens' Summit on
Human Trafficking at the 2010 Olympics and Beyond

Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, BC
May 1, 2009

THE ISSUE AND IMPACT OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING ON YOUTH

Presented by Sister Nancy Brown, SC
Covenant House Vancouver

Covenant House is committed to the struggle to rescue and provide sanctuary for victims of human trafficking at our 20 sites across the United States, Canada, Mexico, Honduras and Nicaragua. Last year, Covenant House served over 70,000 homeless youth - the majority had been solicited on the street or muscled into the sex industry. Covenant House is committed to work with local task forces in collaborative efforts to combat human trafficking. (www.covenanthouse.org )

This past week, I had the opportunity to speak to one of our residents who has exited the sex industry in Toronto and came to Vancouver to start a new life. She stated that this slavery is never voluntary as the girls are never told the whole truth; there is tremendous deception, mind control and extreme manipulation. She related ---- if you look into their eyes, they are dead - no life or emotion, turned into zombies by the pimps and johns. Her plea to the government was to de-legalize the body rubs and strip clubs as they are destroying very young lives. Lastly she said --- go to the internet "review sites" called, she thought, PERB in Vancouver. It is a marketing tool for underage prostitutes by pimps.

Time and time again we witness sex traffickers targeting children because of their vulnerability and gullibility as well as the twisted market demand for young victims. Despite the denial of many Canadians, it is happening right here in our country, our province, our city, our neighbourhood and even perhaps in our homes as illustrated in the following examples:

a. Recently, Mr. Henwood from Victoria BC is charged of assaulting a prostituted woman when he allegedly lured a 14 year old girl from BC Interior using the Internet. He is charged with assault, unlawful confinement and uttering threats, procuring a minor, living off the avails of prostitution of a person under the age of 18, compelling a teenager to engage in prostitution and threatening violence, intimidation and coercion. (www.slaverymap.org) He also pleaded guilty to beating an 18 year old sex trade worker with a field hockey stick.

b. In Brampton, Ontario - May 2008 - Mr. Nakpamki was convicted of human trafficking and living off the avails of prostitution of a 15 years old homeless girl who was bought and sold through Craigslist in Toronto. He admitted in court to have made over $360,000 selling two underage girls for sex. (www.slaverymap.org)

c. In Gatineau, Ontario - Aug. 2008 - Emerson was charged in connection with crimes involving several victims between 15 and 20 years of age; Emerson has charged with several charges including living off the avails of an underage prostitute; extortion and exercising control; attempting to procure someone under the age of 18 for prostitution; and procuring someone under 18 for prostitution. (www.slaverymap.org)

d. In Montreal, Quebec - November, 2008 Michael Mark pleaded guilty to trafficking a 17 year old and procuring 3 other; one under 18 to become prostitutes. (MP Wants Stiffer Penalties for Trafficking Kids T. Cherry, Toronto Sun, Jan. 29, 2009)

e. In Victoria, BC - Albert Quinones charged for abducting a person under 14 years of age, obstructing police, luring a 12 year old using internet, possession of child pornography and sexual interference with a person under 14. (Vancouver Sun, March, 2009)

f. There are several cases in courts in the Toronto/Peel area involving girls 14 years of age who have been moved from Halifax and Montreal.

These are only a few examples and there are many more that will never get to court. We are aware of trafficking rings where aboriginal girls and others are being trafficked throughout our province, to other provinces and into the USA. According to a Criminal Intelligence Service of Canada (CISC) strategic intelligence brief entitled Organized Crime and Domestic Trafficking in Persons in Canada (August, 2008) underage girls as young as 12 years old are being subjected to sexual exploitation by traffickers. Numerous studies indicate that as many as 80% of women in prostitution entered the trade well before they turned 18. In USA and Canada, the average age of entry is 14 and getting younger because the traffickers fear AIDS.

Gandhi stated "the best test of a civilized society is the way in which it treats its most vulnerable and weakest members." The humanity of our country is in direct relationship to the treatment and care of our most vulnerable members. Human traffickers are targeting our most vulnerable members = our young teenagers especially those who are struggling with poverty, homelessness, mental illness and addiction. What a complete imbalance of power! Unlike drug trafficking, the victims of sex trafficking are used over and over before being discarded as useless. Our Canadian youth are used as commodities - Objects for profit! Their human goodness and dignity is destroyed. How can, we, the Canadian people, stand by and watch their innocent lives being destroyed because of the sexual pleasure and profit of a few adults?

The victims of human trafficking are getting younger and younger. Unless there are pro-active interventions at an early age, we will never change violence against children in our society. Exploitation of children causes irreversible physical, psychological and social harm that can last a lifetime. This oppression is destroying our children, robbing them of their childhood. How can we stand by and let this happen to more and more children today? If it is happening to one child, it is one child too many!

We, at Covenant House, hear many stories of sexual exploitation that are not reported to police because many homeless adolescent and young people hesitate to report because of their lack of trust in law enforcement. With the high prevalence of Gang Wars in this area, they are threatened into silence. Adults, who have been entrusted with the protection of children, need to break the silence & stop the cycle of violence and oppression of children. We, their protectors, are letting our children down when even one child is trapped in this grave oppression and controlled by intimidation and threats.

Globally, it is estimated that 2 million children are trafficked annually. Locally, it is impossible to get an exact number of trafficked victims because it is an underground industry and the victims are paralysed into silence by fear and intimidation.

The sexual exploitation of children is a crime in every country and is forbidden by international law and agreements including the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, yet it continues to happen in brothels, message parlours, on the streets and in private homes! Why?? As Victor Malarek states in his recent book, The Johns: Sex For Sale And The Men Who Buy It "what we are witnessing today is nothing less than international sexual terrorism against women and children at the hands of men and little is being done to stop the carnage." (Page xiii) He calls us to target the johns, to abandon the fantasy of legalization, to change societal attitudes, to start young, to educate boys, to enforce the law and to provide women with the only avenue of escape = a real job.

To effect change, we must stop the demand.

First, I call on the parliament of Canada to follow the model of Sweden. Criminalize the traffickers, pimps and pornographers as well as corrupt officers who take bribes or turn a blind eye to the reality of exploitation. Do not criminalize the victims but provide resources for them as we have done in Canada for the victims of domestic abuse.

Secondly, I call on the parliament of Canada not to legalize prostitution. Legalizing prostitution in Canada will directly increase the size and the demand for sex trafficking as well as cause an increase in trafficking into Canada. One example: Victoria, Australia ----- in 1994 prostitution was legalized which led to a massive increase in the sex industry and trafficking into the country.
Legalization has led to dramatic increase in all facets of the sex industry in other countries as well ------ Netherlands, New Zealand, Germany and the state of Nevada.

Thirdly, I call on the parliament of Canada to protect underage victims who are unable to care for themselves, by provide them with appropriate services to exit safely.

Collaborate with us in the implementation of the recommendations contained in this DECLARATION. Let's move these words into action.

Help us to return human dignity and respect to all our youth by eliminating this tragic slavery of children ---- this must become a leading national priority as one child sexually exploited is one too many in our country.
I speak on behalf of the silenced homeless street youth in Canada

Alone, angry, isolated, disconnected from family and friends through neglect and abuse, our youth desperately need alternatives to the streets. Our efforts need to be heightened to ensure safety and sanctuary for homeless youth, before they are solicited, lured or kidnapped by pimps, dealers and gangs, who steal them for profit, then throw them away.

One exploited youth is one youth too many in Canada.

References:

http://www.oneistoomanysummit.info Declaration: One is Too Many: A Citizens' Summit on Human Trafficking at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games and Beyond

http://www.ecpat.net Global Monitoring: Report on the status of action against commercial sexual exploitation of children. Canada

http://gvnet.com/humantrafficking/canada.htm Human Trafficking & Modern-day Slavery

http://faculty.law.ubc.ca/perrin Bill C-268: Minimum Sentences for Child Trafficking Needed - Prof. Benjamin Perrin, February 25, 2009

Human Trafficking a growing problem in Canada, BC Expert Says - CBC News: October 28, 2008

BC to Lead Canada in Training Experts to Deal with Human Trafficking Cases. by Camille Bains, The Canadian Press January 26, 2009

Flesh Trade Targets Natives: Young Aboriginal Women used as a Sex Commodity in Cities across Canada by Tamara Cherry

Does legalizing Prostitution Work? by Heleen Mees. January 13, 2009

Sex Slaves find Hope: Craigslist introduces Measure to crack down on Human Trafficking - but only in America by Tamara Cherry, Sun Media, November 9, 2008

Ten Reasons for Not Legalizing Prostitution and a Legal Response to the Demand for Prostitution by Janice G. Raymond, page 315 - Prostitution, Trafficking and Traumatic Stress: Melissa Farley, editor

Covenant House Vancouver News and Events

Instructions on how to vote for Pepsi Refresh - ensure your vote is counted

Help Covenant House Vancouver win $100,000

Cirque du Soleil benefit performance

Ask Covenant House

Change for Change

Shelter Expansion Celebration

New Covenant House video

New TV PSA

Christmas Cards Are Ready

Covenant House Vancouver to Benefit from Home For The Games

Jeans needed for our youth

Covenant House on Christy Clark Show

Covenant House Vancouver on Facebook

June Matching Donor Mailing includes students in Project Snackrifice

Covenant House Wins award for mental health program

Bocci raises $22,500

Spring Newsletter

Cirque du Soleil benefit performance

New Covenant House information video

Jazz Vespers for Covenant House

This year's concert will benefit Covenant House!

Homeless Copywriter

New Radio Ad Campaign

Covenant House Wins Local Hero Award

The Domino Effect If One Falls, We All Fall Fundraiser for Covenant House

Homelessness Action Week October 11 - 17

Good Samaritan Newsletter

"Night of New Beginnings" Gala

The Campoverde Social Club is hosting a fundraiser - “Hello Summer!”

Covenant House featured in Globe and Mail article

Covenant House Pastoral Counsellor makes presentation on Human Trafficking

One Is Too Many: A Citizens' Summit on Human Trafficking at the 2010 Olympics and Beyond

One Is Too Many: A Citizens' Summit on
Human Trafficking at the 2010 Olympics and Beyond