Alberta awards $5.5M in grants to organizations fighting human trafficking

Ahead of National Human Trafficking Awareness Day on Saturday, Alberta is awarding $5.5 million in grants to 19 organizations that work to stop human trafficking and empower survivors.

The groups that have been selected for the grant are: Alberta Native Friendship Centres, ALERT, Buckspring Foundation, Catholic Social Services, CEASE, Central Alberta Child Advocacy Centre, Chiniki First Nation, Goodstoney First Nation, HER Victory, Hull Services, Kainai Transition Centre Society, Métis Nation of Alberta, Narrow Road Society, REACH, RESET Society, Salvation Army, The Alberta Centre for Human Trafficking, Tsuut’ina Nation, and Waypoints.

The money is part of the Combatting Trafficking in Persons grant, which was introduced in December 2024.

“Human trafficking leaves lasting scars on victims, survivors and communities,” Mike Ellis, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Services, said Friday. “We are taking a strong stance against traffickers and bolstering support networks for survivors.

“This funding will empower community-based organizations to provide specialized services that protect vulnerable individuals and disrupt the cycle of exploitation.”

The province says collaboration and community partnerships are vital in combatting human trafficking.

It adds that the grants will strengthen the capacity of organizations to work with law enforcement, non-profits, and Indigenous communities to deliver support where it’s needed most.

Grants focus on prevention, protection, and empowerment, according to the province. Funded projects will work to prevent human trafficking by increasing public awareness of signs and risk factors, supporting community engagement, and fostering collaboration. Protection efforts will give emergency support and help victims navigate legal and healthcare systems, and empowerment initiatives will guide survivors through peer support networks, skill-building programs, and advocacy efforts.

For a group to qualify for the grant, it must be located in Alberta and be either a registered not-for-profit/charitable organization in Alberta, a community-based coalition or network (with a designated fiscal agent), or an Indigenous community, including Tribal Council, First Nations and Metis Settlements.