About 80 people gathered in Saskatoon’s Pleasant Hill Park on Wednesday night in memory of those who have died in the city’s sex trade.
Over the past 14 years, it is estimated close to 100 people have died due to murder, suicide, disease, drug abuse and exploitation while working in the local sex trade.
Saskatoon Police Chief Clive Weighill was one of the officials who spoke at the Day of Mourning and he says the city’s sex trade isn’t getting worse but it is a problem.
“No, I wouldn’t say it is growing, I think it’s kind of plateaued but certainly there’s a market for it and if there’s a market there’s people out there who will provide the service,” he says. “Unfortunately, the women that are involved in the trade certainly aren’t there by choice. They’re a product of societal ills.”
Weighill says local police continue to try and combat the sex trade through sting operations targeting johns, john schools and working with those who are involved in the sex trade to try to get them off the street and out of the industry.
Wanda Gall, who works at a local treatment centre, says the sex trade is present in all parts of Saskatoon but most prevalent in the inner city.
“Well, on the west side I would say but it does go all over the place,” she says. “But mostly I would say on the west side.”
Denika Bryce, whose sister was involved in the Calgary sex trade, says people usually find themselves working in the industry as a result of substance abuse.
“A lot of girls do get into the sex trade because of drinking and drugs and then it escalates to other drugs,” she says.
The Day of Mourning was put on by EGADZ Saskatoon Downtown Youth Centre.