People who are trafficked in Ontario—and across Canada—are usually moved and exploited within the country, not taken abroad. Traffickers often move victims between cities or provinces to isolate them, avoid detection, and maintain control. Here’s where trafficked individuals are typically taken:
1. Hotels and Motels
These are commonly used for sex trafficking, as traffickers can rotate locations frequently to avoid attention. Victims may be kept in one room for days or moved every night.
2. Private Residences or “Trap Houses”
Some victims are hidden in homes or apartments rented by traffickers, often in suburban or residential areas. These locations may seem normal from the outside.
3. Along Major Highway Corridors
Ontario’s Highway 401 corridor (from Windsor to Montreal) is known as a trafficking route. Victims are transported between cities like London, Kitchener, Toronto, Ottawa, and Kingston.
4. Farms, Factories, and Construction Sites
For labour trafficking, victims (often migrant workers) are brought to farms, greenhouses, or industrial sites. They’re forced to work long hours for little or no pay, sometimes living in on-site housing under control of employers.
5. Massage Parlors, Strip Clubs, and Escort Services
In urban centres, some legitimate or semi-legitimate businesses are used as fronts for trafficking. Victims are coerced into sexual services under threat or manipulation.
6. Online Spaces and Remote Rooms
With the rise of digital trafficking, victims may be exploited through live-streaming, webcam services, or online ads—often while physically confined.
Why Are They Moved So Much?
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To confuse and isolate victims
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To avoid detection by law enforcement
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To meet client demand in various regions
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To break down the victim’s sense of safety and identity
What Happens After They’re Found?
If someone is rescued from trafficking, support services include:
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Emergency shelter and housing
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Medical and psychological care
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Legal aid and immigration support
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Reunification with family or new protective environments
Organizations like Covenant House, Victim Services Ontario, and the Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline (1-833-900-1010) are ready to help survivors reclaim their lives.
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