Manitoba Criminal Justice Association (MCJA) April 2025 Speaker Series –
Joy Smith and Janet Campbell, The Joy Smith Foundation
On April 10, 2025, the Manitoba Criminal Justice Association (MCJA) had the pleasure of welcoming Joy Smith, Founder of The Joy Smith Foundation, and Janet Campbell, President and CEO to our renewed Speaker’s Series. Held at Robson Hall, Faculty of Law, University of Manitoba, the event was attended by representatives from the Winnipeg Police Service, Community Safety Patrol, the legal profession, community members, and the MCJA Board.
For those unfamiliar with The Joy Smith Foundation, it was founded in 2012 by Joy Smith, then a Member of Parliament (MP), to combat human trafficking. Joy’s interest and involvement in this area dated back to 1994, however, during her previous role as a schoolteacher. A student approached Joy following a presentation Joy gave on the topic of internet predators, with the student revealing that she had been trafficked. Joy knew action was necessary. She began an exploration of the legislation related to this issue. Learning that no legislation existed in Canada to protect the survivors of human trafficking, or hold the perpetrators responsible for their actions, Joy saw an avenue, politics. She left teaching and in 1999 won a seat in the Manitoba legislature. Joy later pursued federal politics and in 2004 was elected a Member of Parliament with her focus that of supporting vulnerable victims of human trafficking through changes to legislation. During her federal terms, Joy proposed not one but two Private Member’s Bills. Bill C-268 (an act addressing human trafficking that addresses minors) was passed in 2010, and Bill C-310 (related to Canadian citizens exploiting others abroad) was passed in 2012. With the passing of both, Joy Smith became the first sitting MP whose actions amended the Canadian Criminal Code to protect victims of human trafficking.
Statistics related to human trafficking are shocking. As reported on the Joy Smith Foundation website, the average age of a trafficking victim is 13 years of age, with someone being trafficked ‘less than a kilometer from you right now” (https://www.nhtec.ca/). As shocking is that the average annual income generated by one victim for the trafficker is approximately $280,000.00.
The Joy Smith Foundation has expanded since its original inception in 2012. To date the Joy Smith Foundation has supported over 7,000 survivors of human trafficking, connecting individuals with the resources they need to facilitate their recovery. While the focus continues to be on supporting survivors of what is referred to as ‘modern day slavery,’ the work is currently based on three pillars: education, collaboration, and healing. The Foundations’ expansion geographically has resulted in a broader reach as have both the “See the Signs” awareness campaign (https://www.traffickingsigns.ca), and the “Luma & Bloom” podcast. Joy Smith, her family, staff, and supporters are also excited about the current project, development of the National Human Trafficking Education Center (https://www.nhtec.ca) with the aim of a teaching campus to provide education and tools to those interested in working to prevent this crime. As Joy and those involved with Joy in this journey know, “Education is our greatest weapon to combat human trafficking” (NHTEC, 2023).
Submitted by,
Dr. Tracey Bone, RSW
MCJA Board Member (CCJA Representative)
Joy Smith and Janet Campbell, The Joy Smith Foundation
On April 10, 2025, the Manitoba Criminal Justice Association (MCJA) had the pleasure of welcoming Joy Smith, Founder of The Joy Smith Foundation, and Janet Campbell, President and CEO to our renewed Speaker’s Series. Held at Robson Hall, Faculty of Law, University of Manitoba, the event was attended by representatives from the Winnipeg Police Service, Community Safety Patrol, the legal profession, community members, and the MCJA Board.
For those unfamiliar with The Joy Smith Foundation, it was founded in 2012 by Joy Smith, then a Member of Parliament (MP), to combat human trafficking. Joy’s interest and involvement in this area dated back to 1994, however, during her previous role as a schoolteacher. A student approached Joy following a presentation Joy gave on the topic of internet predators, with the student revealing that she had been trafficked. Joy knew action was necessary. She began an exploration of the legislation related to this issue. Learning that no legislation existed in Canada to protect the survivors of human trafficking, or hold the perpetrators responsible for their actions, Joy saw an avenue, politics. She left teaching and in 1999 won a seat in the Manitoba legislature. Joy later pursued federal politics and in 2004 was elected a Member of Parliament with her focus that of supporting vulnerable victims of human trafficking through changes to legislation. During her federal terms, Joy proposed not one but two Private Member’s Bills. Bill C-268 (an act addressing human trafficking that addresses minors) was passed in 2010, and Bill C-310 (related to Canadian citizens exploiting others abroad) was passed in 2012. With the passing of both, Joy Smith became the first sitting MP whose actions amended the Canadian Criminal Code to protect victims of human trafficking.
Statistics related to human trafficking are shocking. As reported on the Joy Smith Foundation website, the average age of a trafficking victim is 13 years of age, with someone being trafficked ‘less than a kilometer from you right now” (https://www.nhtec.ca/). As shocking is that the average annual income generated by one victim for the trafficker is approximately $280,000.00.
The Joy Smith Foundation has expanded since its original inception in 2012. To date the Joy Smith Foundation has supported over 7,000 survivors of human trafficking, connecting individuals with the resources they need to facilitate their recovery. While the focus continues to be on supporting survivors of what is referred to as ‘modern day slavery,’ the work is currently based on three pillars: education, collaboration, and healing. The Foundations’ expansion geographically has resulted in a broader reach as have both the “See the Signs” awareness campaign (https://www.traffickingsigns.ca), and the “Luma & Bloom” podcast. Joy Smith, her family, staff, and supporters are also excited about the current project, development of the National Human Trafficking Education Center (https://www.nhtec.ca) with the aim of a teaching campus to provide education and tools to those interested in working to prevent this crime. As Joy and those involved with Joy in this journey know, “Education is our greatest weapon to combat human trafficking” (NHTEC, 2023).
Submitted by,
Dr. Tracey Bone, RSW
MCJA Board Member (CCJA Representative)
