Grande Prairie Police Service expands fight against human trafficking through new partnership

Дата публикации: 06-07-2026 17:48:15

“If you exploit vulnerable people in our community, know that the GPPS will pursue you relentlessly." Dwayne Lakusta, GPPS police chief.

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The Grande Prairie Police Service is strengthening its efforts to combat human trafficking and sexual exploitation through a new partnership with #NotInMyCity, a national organization focused on prevention, education and survivor support.

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Police Chief Dwayne Lakusta said the partnership marks an important step as the service prepares to become Grande Prairie’s police of jurisdiction on Oct. 21.

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He said human trafficking is an ongoing issue in the city and one that often targets vulnerable people.

“Whether it’s behind closed doors, hotels, online, or illicit massage parlours, it’s alive and well here,” Lakusta said. “It’s important for us to address it so we can support the vulnerable population, because often they’re being sexually exploited.”

Lakusta said partnering with #NotInMyCity will help the service strengthen its response through specialized training, public education and access to additional resources.

#NotInMyCity was founded by Canadian country musician Paul Brandt and his wife Elizabeth.

The initiative began in 2010 as the Build It Forward Foundation, supporting communities recovering from disasters such as the Slave Lake and Fort McMurray wildfires. It later became the Buckspring Foundation before launching the #NotInMyCity movement in 2017.

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Since then, the organization has secured more than $6.8 million in grants and donations to support anti-human trafficking initiatives, including training for police services through the International Association of Human Trafficking Investigators.

Lakusta said training officers, supporting partner agencies and educating the public all require significant resources, making the partnership especially valuable.

He first became involved with Brandt before joining the Grande Prairie Police Service in 2023. Brandt also attended Lakusta’s public swearing-in ceremony as police chief in June 2024.

“#NotInMyCity is proud to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the Grande Prairie Police Service in his critical fight,” Brandt said.

“We are sending a clear and uncompromising message: child sexual exploitation and human trafficking are wrong, they will not be tolerated, and they have no place in our communities — not in my city, not in yours, not anywhere.”

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Lakusta said disrupting human trafficking requires reducing its profitability through strong partnerships between police, community organizations and the public.

National statistics underscore the scale of the issue.

According to Statistics Canada, police services across the country reported 5,070 human trafficking incidents between 2014 and 2025, including 608 incidents in 2024.

Sex trafficking accounted for roughly 70 per cent of reported cases, while reports of labour trafficking increased by more than 300 per cent in 2024. Migrant workers and international students were among those most frequently exploited.

Statistics Canada also reported that Canadian criminal courts processed 1,281 human trafficking cases between 2013 and 2024, with an average of 18 charges per case.

Meanwhile, the Canadian Centre to End Human Trafficking reported a 14 per cent increase in calls to its national hotline in 2025, receiving more than 5,900 calls from across Canada.

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As the Grande Prairie Police Service continues preparing to assume policing responsibilities later this year, Lakusta said addressing human trafficking will remain a priority.

He said many victims are coerced into exploitation rather than entering those situations willingly, making collaboration with community partners essential.

The message to traffickers, he said, is straightforward.

“If you exploit vulnerable people in our community, know that the GPPS will pursue you relentlessly.”

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TKennedy@postmedia.com

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