Thank you for attending the 2014 End Slavery Day! We are looking forward to welcome you in 2015!

This year's event would not have been possible without the generous support of many PACT-Ottawa volunteers, members and collaborators. Thank you!

2014 End Slavery Day

Human trafficking is happening in Canada, is happening in Ottawa, is happening in your community!

PACT-Ottawa was formed in 2004 and since then has been working to prevent the trafficking of persons and to increase the protection of victims through education, advocacy, networking and support services. Each year, PACT-Ottawa is organizing an event on December 2nd, the UN International Day for the Abolition of Slavery. This Day commemorates the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade. Since 2008, PACT-Ottawa has been marking December 2nd as End Slavery Day, a day to raise awareness about modern-day slavery and the steps Canadians can take to stop it.

Join us for 2014 End Slavery Day!
Tuesday, December 2, 2014
7 pm – 9 pm, Doors Open 6:30 PM
Bronson Centre, Bronson Theatre, 211 Bronson Avenue


PACT @ 10 Years
A Panel of current and former collaborators of PACT, with long experience in human trafficking issues, will reflect upon the evolution of human trafficking awareness in Ottawa and PACT’s impact in the area (see panel members below).

Networking Break
Complimentary coffee offered by Bridgehead
Bake Sale and Silent Auction

Flamenco Show 
The evening will continue with a Flamenco show with Guy Massicotte and his guests: Catherine Fortin-Lauzier, Marie-Michèle Théorêt, Ilia Toprover, and Marna Zinatelli. There will be dance, there will be guitar, there will be cante! A real flamenco treat!

Admission
$15 At the door (PWYC students and underemployed)
$10 Advance tickets (contact: endslaveryday@pact-ottawa.org)
***NEW*** You can now buy tickets online.


Thank you to our sponsors!

Fun & Fancy Photography

Our Lady of Visitation Parish Catholic Women's League

Beaver Boxing Club
145 Spruce Avenue, Ottawa | (613) 798-8067

Panel Members

Christina Harrison Baird is the Director of PACT-Ottawa’s Policy and Legal Affairs Committee and of its community action plan under Project imPACT.  A lawyer specializing in international human rights and migration, she was called to the Bar of Ontario in 1998 and earned her LLM (Essex) with Distinction in 2002.  She has provided expertise on human trafficking to the UN Refugee Agency, the Canadian Council for Refugees, the Canadian Women’s Foundation and domestic and foreign governments.

Dr. Eileen Kerwin-Jones has a background in public health and midwifery. She has worked nationally and internationally in the fields of health and education, with a focus on the wellbeing of women and children. Her doctoral thesis explored the problem of maternal mortality as an issue of social and economic injustice. Her ongoing research interests are in the areas of ethics, feminist studies, globalization, international health, maternal health, economics and contemporary slavery. She is a founding member and former director of education of PACT-Ottawa. Eileen teaches in the Humanities Department of John Abbott College where she is the Coordinator of the Women’s Studies and Gender Relations Certificate.

Sheila Smith, RSCJ is a founding member of PACT-Ottawa and the Ottawa Coalition to End Human Trafficking. Presently, she is a PhD Candidate in Theology at Saint Paul University, Ottawa. Her research topic concerns present notions of protection of Aboriginal women and girls who are trafficked within the Canadian context. Sheila’s experience as an educator in First Nations’ communities in British Columbia awakened her to the wide spectrum of violence against Aboriginal women in Canada. This challenged her to contribute to the work of transformation of Indigenous-Settler relations as an aspect of addressing the struggle to end human trafficking.

For 29 years, Marsha Wilson has held the position of Director of St. Joe’s Women’s Centre. She has worked with her team to better the lives of women and their children, who are victims of Crime, mental illness, homelessness, and addictions. She truly believes in empowering women to enhance their Quality of Life. For the past fifteen years, Marsha has organized the Quality of Life Awards dinner in recognition of community members who have Enhanced the Quality of Life for Ottawa’s less fortunate. She’s sat on boards of organizations like: Ottawa Coalition to End Crime in Human Trafficking, Ottawa Victims Services, the Bronson Centre and Waupoos Foundation. Recently Marsha was awarded an Honorary Bachelor’s Degree in Applied Studies in recognition of a lifetime of achievement and service to the Ottawa community and as leader who embodies the values, traditions, and aspirations of Algonquin College.

Elise Wohlbold is the Manager of Project imPACT for PACT-Ottawa. Elise is a gender expert with experience working with non-profit, government and for-profit organizations as a researcher and project manager, with a focus on human rights, diversity, equality and inclusion. She has collaborated and provided gender expert advice on international projects, working with the Conference Board of Canada, Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and the 2009 UNESCO World Conference on Education. Elise is currently also PhD candidate in Law at Carleton University and holds a Masters in Gender and Human Rights from the London School of Economics and Political Science.

Panel Moderator

Nikki Lewandowski, Chairperson, PACT-Ottawa Board of Governors
Nikki grew up in south-western Ontario and has lived in Ottawa since 2001. She graduated from Carleton University in 2005 with a BA (Hons.) in Criminology with a concentration in Psychology. Most recently, she has also completed credits in Algonquin College Victimology program. Nikki has always been very interested in the topics of the sex trade and human trafficking. Her continued interest in the fight against modern slavery has contributed to her strong interest in contributing her time and skills in a meaningful and productive way. Prior to becoming the Chairperson of PACT-Ottawa, Nikki was the Director of Communications for two years, providing oversight to the Event Coordinators and Web Coordinator. In addition to joining the organization in 2010, she has been a member of the board of Ottawa Victims Services since 2009 and is the current Vice-Chair. She also volunteers her time as a big sister with Big Brothers Big Sisters Ottawa.