Human trafficking and prostitution is a concern many in the Parkland don’t think about.

For Joy Smith, former Member of Parliament the reality is all too real.

Smith responds to people who say it is not happening in small rural communities.

“I would say you’re wrong. It is happening in every district, and people aren’t recognizing it. You see, the public often looked at girls who got into trouble or got into the wrong crowd or got into prostitution as prostitutes, but they don’t know their backstory. The backstory was where someone groomed them. Someone targeted them.”

Smith presented on the issue this past Saturday, during a special presentation on Human Trafficking held at the Watson Art Centre.