'YOU CAN'T JUST CALL THE COPS'

Community Members Must Act To Stop Prostitution, Say
Activists

Average people can make a difference in the collective fight against
prostitution and real change can happen.

That was the message delivered Monday from two Edmonton activists to a
small group of Grande Prairie residents who came out to learn more
about the city's prostitution problem.

Jo Ann McCartney and Kate Quinn, from the Edmonton-based Prostitution
Awareness and Action Foundation, held three sessions in Grande Prairie
Monday to education people about the sex trade. They were brought to
Grande Prairie by the city's Action on Crime Prevention department and
the RCMP.

The two women covered areas such as how women and, to a lesser extent,
men, become caught in prostitution, the community impacts and the
warning signs if someone is becoming involved in prostitution.

"There's a lot of prostitution in Grande Prairie, lots of drugs
fuelling it," McCartney told the Herald-Tribune after the
presentation.

McCartney today works as a counsellor, helping women off the streets,
but for a decade before, she worked as a vice cop in Edmonton, often
doing undercover work. She spoke about the legal options open to people.

Grande Prairie RCMP said last week they have heard of local teenage
girls trading sex for items such as clothes and drugs, something that
is seen as the first step to full prostitution. McCartney said teenage
prostitution exists in Grande Prairie, just as it does in Edmonton or
Calgary.

"There are children in this community being apprehended," she said in
reference to the provincial law that allows police to apprehend child
prostitutes and hold them in government care for up to 47 days.

Prostitution is sometimes called a victimless crime, but both women
shot down that idea. Not only does the sex-trade harm the people
involved, but there is widespread community fallout, such as increased
drug activity and community health issues. Edmonton is currently
experiencing a syphilis outbreak linked to the sex trade.

The average entry age for a prostitute in Alberta is 15, said
McCartney. The teenagers, mostly young girls, are drawn in by promises
of money and freedom. A common entry point is for girls to be offered
drugs over an extended period and then they are suddenly expected to
pay for those drugs through prostitution.

Some of the people attending the forum say they've seen a change in
the community and are alarmed by what's happening.

Katrina Favell moved away from Grande Prairie to attend university and
when she returned from Vancouver, four years later, was shocked at
what she saw, especially when she volunteered to help with youth
programs and agencies.

"Coming back to Grande Prairie I've seen a huge change ... there's a
huge amount of drugs. You see a lot of things you wouldn't expect."

McCartney said it's easy to be apathetic or cynical about the
situation, but average citizens can fight back and take action. She
said the experience can be very empowering for people.

"You have to start working together ... you can't just call the cops.
One agency can't solve this.

"I know women who have gotten out ... everyone who gets out gives you
strength to go back in there."