Happy Holidays!

Dear friends and followers,

Once again the year has gone by quickly and I am unprepared to deal with the technical challenges of a new post after so much time away. Here goes my humble attempt.

2025 was a very busy year for our book. I am still moved by happy memories of our amazing book launch party in November 2024, which can be viewed at www.whenmenbuysex.ca.

Our publishers originally advised that we should be prepared to spend as much time promoting as we did writing – so 2025 marked year two of three.

Here we are again last year with our host Ryan Jespersen, Elder Karen MacKenzie, Her Honor Salma Lakhani, and long-time mentor Kate Quinn.

Last Christmas seems so long ago already. Last year I posted a memorial in the Journal and online for what would have been Cara’s 50th birthday on December 28 and was heartened by many responses.

Christmas festivities are always shadowed by memories of losses, another reminder to keep our loved ones close and to support the less fortunate.

Fifty years ago,

A tiny angel came to earth with broken wings,

Undaunted, she tried to fly as best she could,

Fun-loving, impulsive, not fully aware,

A challenge to all who knew her

To love and protect her and keep her safe.

Many tried. We all failed  And she disappeared from our midst.

Her battered body found abandoned,  Alone in a field, spirit silenced, murder still unsolved.

And so my work continues with advocacy and education wherever I can. January included a two-day conference on “Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives – Strength in Our Stories“ with powerful speakers. In April, Andrea received the Soroptimist Joy Award for her work against sexual exploitation. This was an honor I shared earlier in 2021. Another event was a May 5th gathering at First Peoples House at U of A where Andrea’s film “The Missing, Murdered, and Forgotten“ was shown.

A major highlight of spring was the “Transforming Practices” conference in Red Deer May 28-29. Four survivor educators from Edmonton – Angela, Jenn, Tanya, and Juanita – presented two panels on “Survivors of Sex Trafficking: Resilience and Recovery.“ Andrea and I presented “Commercial Sex: Empowerment or Exploitation? “  My brother and sister-in-law graciously offered to watch our book table and sold 71 books for us!

In September I participated in a Human Trafficking workshop in Saskatoon. In October, Andrea presented at Resource Connect in Edmonton and we both shared our perspectives with Little Warriors.

November took us to Ottawa for an amazing three days on Parliament Hill. Two men groups, Men Ending Trafficking from Ontario and EmpowerMen from Manitoba, sponsored us to gift copies of our book to all (448) sitting MPs and Senators of Canada. Too bad our picture is blurry. UNITED stands for Unifying Nationally to Interrupt Trafficking and Exploitation Demand.

We were mentioned in the House, introduced to the Senate, and hosted for a meet-and-greet by MP Arnold Viersen from Alberta and Senator Julie Miville-Dechene from Quebec, both long-term advocates.

As well as our sponsors, we were joined by authors Jeanne Sarson and Linda MacDonald from Nova Scotia, Michelle Able from the National Council of Canadian Women, and Liz John-West from CEASE Edmonton. Together we provided a concise and informative press release.

Mention must also be made of Winnipeg’s “Journey to Justice” conference late November. International speakers included Reem Alsalem, United Nations Special Rapporteur on violence against women, MMIR workers from Minnesota, and Marcel van der Watt, President of the National Center on Sexual Exploitation in Washington, DC.  Andrea presented “Behind Closed Doors” with Casandra Diamond, challenging municipalities across Canada whose bylaws circumvent PCEPA legislation and protect consumers of sexual exploitation.

It was inspiring to be in the company of so many brilliant and dedicated people from around the world who share a common vision. Whether learning or educating, my involvement will continue. My hope for 2026 is to recognize more memorial themes and to share in more detail some of the work that is being done to address commercial sexual exploitation and human trafficking – in Canada and internationally! Stay tuned.

Very best wishes to all for freedom, equality, respect, and peace in 2026!