(Contributed)

By Sydney Chisholm

dark highway

Free documentary screening raising awareness around human trafficking

Oct 3, 2024 | 4:48 PM

KAMLOOPS – In partnership with the City of Kamloops Guns and Gangs Intervention and Prevention Program, the Paramount Theatre is holding a free screening of the documentary Dark Highway, depicting the invisible realities of human trafficking in Canada.

According to the City, gangs and human trafficking are often intertwined– gangs often exploit human trafficking as a means of generating revenue, recruiting vulnerable individuals, and asserting control.

Crime prevention officials believe the screening will help in combatting the issue.

“We’ve noticed a trend with youth being trafficked and recruited for gangs,” said Amy Hilliard from the City of Kamloops Building Safer Communities Fund.

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“I feel that it’s really important for service providers to understand through a survivor leader perspective of how to tackle this situation.”

The documentary was filmed in southern Ontario and highlights the use of the 401 Highway Corridor for human trafficking.

Kamloops was chosen for a screening event because of it’s location as a B.C. transportation hub– connecting highways that run both north and south– and coast to coast.

Kelly Tallon Franklin, a survivor of human trafficking– turned advocate, says if showing this film in Kamloops helps save one person– she will have done her job.

“If one person learns how to be an Upstander, puts the Canadian Centre to end human trafficking phone number in [their phone] and learns how to use it and understands what they’re seeing,” said Tallon Franklin.

“They’re going to understand the effects of the wind in this community and take back your safety.”

The screening starts at 6 p.m. Thursday (Oct. 3) at the Paramount Theatre. Admission is free but cash donations will be collected at the door for Courage for Freedom, an organization dedicated to fighting human trafficking.