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(Edmonton) One of the city’s most visible spokespersons and advocates for addressing the root causes of sexual exploitation and sex trafficking is this year’s recipient of the Edmonton Social Planning Council’s (ESPC) Award of Merit for Advocacy of Social Justice.
Kate Quinn, the executive director of the Centre to End All Sexual Exploitation (CEASE), was recognized during the ESPC’s AGM on May 6 for more than two decades of community activism. Some of her accomplishments include:
- Co-chair of the Communities For Changing Prostitution volunteer group in the early 1990s that focused on increasing community safety, decreasing the demand generated by “johns” and pimps plus advocating for resources to assist vulnerable children, youth and adults who were exploited.
- This community advocacy led to the creation of the Prostitution Offender Program (“john” school) in 1996. Over 2,300 offenders have attended. CEASE, then called PAAFE, was incorporated to disburse the funds. Kate was hired to facilitate the “john school” and lead the organization.
- One of the creators of the CEASE Men of Honour awards program celebrating positive male role models in the community
- Community partner in a University of Alberta initiative promoting the use of text messaging as a new outreach tool to offer help and support to sex trade workers posting online ads.
“Kate has been an advocate for over 20 years for women, men and children who have experienced sexual exploitation and sex trafficking,” said Janice Melnychuk, a former city councillor and school trustee who nominated Quinn. “I met her in the early 1990s when she began this work as a concerned member of the McCauley neighbourhood.”
The award is presented annually to individuals or groups who have not turned away from controversy when seeking social justice impacting the city or one of its communities over a considerable period of time.
ESPC is an independent, non-profit, non-partisan social research organization, with registered charitable status with a focus on social research, particularly in the areas of low income and poverty.
For more information:
Susan Morrissey
ESPC Executive Director
(780) 423-2031 x353 or (780) 218-7395 cell
susanm@edmontonsocialplanning.ca
A photo of Ms. Quinn is available upon request.
