2007
- Courage for Freedom was founded on a farm near London originally called Farmtown Canada. Its programming initially offered help for kids who were struggling to find a place to stay.
TEAMS
Teams
Vision
To end human trafficking, gender-based violence and sexual exploitation by raising awareness, decreasing stigma, replacing myths with facts in education and training, advancing survivor initiated and led solution measures in care and leadership.
Values
Inspire survivors in resilience, self care and skill development exploration for life navigation to reach their goals and potential. Mentor survivors to help them explore and develop strengths to rebuild their lives. Provide direct care opportunities and standards to foster self direction pathways for deserving girls, young women and survivors. Challenge industries and communities to invest resources to liberate vulnerable young women to see their potential and aspire to a hope filled future.
Vectors
Educate in prevention with a focused approach in community responsibility and civic duty models.
Train advocate ambassadors to speak to leaders and encourage governmental will in policies, programs, funding decisions and responsibilities.
Program provide person centric-strength based relationships to assist survivors to find safe, sustainable housing, employment and supports.
Program provide person centric-strength based relationships to assist survivors to find safe, sustainable housing, employment and supports.
History
2007 - Present
2010
- Elgin-Middlesex-London Community Service Award
2011
- 1 year Provincial Volunteer Medal of Excellence
- Women Entrepreneur Distinction Award
2012
- Government of Ontario Exemplary Service Award
- Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal of Honour
- 5 years Ontario Provincial Volunteer Medal of Excellence
2013
- Farmtown Canada transitioned into Courage for Freedom, shifting focus solely on human trafficking after seeing an escalation of cases of self-harm, mental health issues, suicidal ideation and kids running away from home.
2014
- Courage for Freedom transitioned to work with girls, gaps in care, support for Human Trafficking victim/survivors.
- Government of Ontario Volunteer Service Award
2015
- Province of Ontario Award of Distinction
2016
- Governor-General Award of Distinction
- Community Asset Acknowledgement by former Olympian Silken Laumann
2017
- Canada 150 Certificate of Merit and Recognition
- Canadian Women of Excellence Acknowledgement
- 10 years Ontario Provincial Volunteer Medal of Excellence
2017-2019
- Courage for Freedom accepted the challenge of a sixteen-year-old survivor of human trafficking to create a non-government funded provincial task force in Ontario which has now become a national task force.
2018
- Kelly was appointed the Business and Professional Women of Canada's Anti-Human Trafficking Ad Hoc Committee Chair, the International Federation of Business and Professional Women's Human Trafficking Task Force Chair, and recently has become the Business and Professional Women of Ontario Human Trafficking Task Force Chair.
- Business and Professional Women Canada Leadership Award
2019
- On July 30, 2019, 180 alliances were formed and over 1600 Ontarians came together to celebrate the fulfilment of the sixteen-year-old survivor's dream and achieved #ProjectONroute's goal of increasing the Ontario's citizens understanding of the intersection of vulnerabilities including children and youth in care. #ProjectONroute resulted in more than 2 million media impressions that reached 550 000 persons per day in the province of Ontario.
- Courage For Freedom expanded its services and outreach to Windsor, Sarnia, and Chatham.
- Chamber of Commerce Women of Impact Award
- Radical Business Magazine – Top 50 Visionaries
- CSW63 NGO New York BPW Presenter
2020
- The project expanded across the nation and re-branded as #ProjectMapleLeaf, creating a Canadian Task Force of volunteers from every demographic, ethnicity, and industry to keep the focus on survivors in an effort to amplify their voices while engaging and educating to spread awareness.
- State of Michigan House of Representatives Governors Honor Congresswomen’s Justice Award
- Entered into USA Congregational Record as Justice Champion
- CSW64 UNWomen Presenter
2021
- On July 30, 2021, National task force ambassadors were organized across Canada to stand at their provincial parliament buildings on the United Nations Day to end trafficking of persons to spread awareness and share the message that "Canadians want to end the buying and selling of girls and boys, children in Canada."
- Kelly organized and facilitated the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women panel presentation on anti-human trafficking.
- American Human Rights Council Social Justice Award
- CSW65 UNWomen Presenter
- June Callwood Outstanding Achievement Award for Voluntarism
- Lynn Factor – Stand up for Kids National Award
2022
- In June, Courage for Freedom saw the launch of #ProjectInterclusion as programs became live and available in multiple languages virtually and in-person for our community partners. Special thanks to the Canadian Women's Foundation, WAGE-FEMA, and the Canadian Council of Muslim Women for their focus on protection of women and girls.
- As of 2022, Courage for Freedom has worked with roughly 75 young victims and survivors of human trafficking, as well as their families.
- 15 years Ontario Provincial Volunteer Medal of Excellence
- CSW66 UNWomen Delegate
- Children’s Aid Society of Canada Award Finalist
- Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal of Honour
- Chair of the Business and Professional Women Canada Adhoc Committee in Anti Human Trafficking
- United Nations ECOSOC Presenter and Contributor
- Service Medal of Honor for Training Initiatives Serving Children and Youth
- RBC Canadian Women of Excellence Acknowledgement
- Canada Award of Merit for Trafficking and Trauma Training
- Meetings with MPP’s and MPs
2023 and onwards
- Courage For Freedom has many campaigns and initiatives planned for the future. Stay tuned!
Founder
“Freedom is the courage to outswim your doubts so far into the deep water that they can’t reach you anymore.”
-Kelly Tallon Franklin, Courage for Freedom Vol. 1 book
Kelly Tallon Franklin is the founder and Chief Executive Director of Courage for Freedom, a Canadian-leading organization who exists to educate, train, and certify front-line and community service providers on proven strategies and prevention tactics to serve vulnerable victims of human trafficking and sexual exploitation. Kelly is an international and national anti human trafficking task force chairperson with Business and Professional Women and has been acknowledged and awarded many accolades globally as a survivor advocate and activist champion of minor aged children and youth. Kelly, her teams, allies and their projects have created awareness movements and developed support for victim survivors of human trafficking and sexual exploitation that include equine therapy, trauma informed and person centric care approaches. These are revered and respected with Kelly’s lived experience as a survivor, best-selling author, award-winning speaker, respected advocate, and trainer on the issue of human trafficking, sexual exploitation, policy and protection and of course her equines.
Kelly is a survivor of human trafficking and child sexual exploitation and has a personal story of transformation, hope and resiliency having overcome violence, drug addiction, sexual abuse, exploitation, coercion, and incarceration. Kelly offers honest incites and creative understanding to listeners and those she trains. Those include front line workers, politicians, coalitions, triage/hospital staff, police officers and instructors, women’s organizations, chambers of commerce, hotel/motel and travel industry sectors, educators/teachers and religions organizations, unions, and services agencies. Her unconventional story telling with lived experiences motivates and ignites passion and purpose.
“I am not afraid – freedom is the courage to out swim” - Courage for Freedom volume 1
Awards and accolades Kelly has received for her work:
Director, Leaders, Ambassadors, Trainers
If you are working on a story or research related to human trafficking, looking for expert consultation, professional training, community education awareness or a group wanting action strategy consultation please contact Office@courageforfreedom.org A spokesperson who is experienced, professional and knowledgeable can provide facts, research data, and expert commentary about victim/survivors, family and community lived scenarios and solution responses.
Gareth Williams
Gareth Williams is a Senior Staff Development Officer for the Ministry of the Solicitor General, formerly a Probation and Parole Officer. Gareth has studied at Carleton University, Algonquin College, and Inter University Center in Croatia a Bachelors Degree (Honors) in Criminology and Criminal Justice with a concentration in Sociology, as well as a Graduate Certificate in Victimology and a Post Graduate in Victimology, Victim Assistance and Criminal Justice. Gareth is Vice President of the Probation Officers Association of Ontario and has been Co-chair of KFL&A Anti-Human Trafficking Working Group since 2018. Gareth is certified in Train the Trainer Level III Professional/Industry Sector Specialized Training on Advanced Practical Approaches for Victim/Survivors of Sexual Exploitation. Gareth co-lead #ProjectMapleLeaf Canadian Task Force campaign in 2021 and currently serves the Courage for Freedom Board as a Director Leader and Ambassador Advisor presenting training . Gareth is known as a dedicated and passionate Probation Officer and has a growing focus on the awareness and eradication of human trafficking and sexual exploitation in Canada.
Heather Ellis
Heather Ellis has been an Ontario Certified Teacher at Hastings & Prince Edward District School Board in Belleville since 2012, with a teaching career going back to 2001. Heather received a Bachelor of Education and a Master of Education from the University of Ontario Institute of Technology, along with many other teaching qualifications. Heather is Co-lead who developed Courage for Freedoms ProjectONroute now #ProjectMapleLeaf and is an Executive Lead of the Canadian Task Force. Heather is immediate Past President of Business and Professional Women Ontario and is the President of the Courage for Freedom Board as a Director Leader and Ambassador. She is an advocate, activist wife, Mom and grandmother whose passion for this issue ensured a womens organization learned how to change the future for vulnerable women and girls through education and self-directed supports.
#ProjectMapleLeaf Ambassadors
Volunteer Roles Below
For Your Consideration
Volunteer Opportunities
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- Community Support
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- Donor Support
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- Auditor Consultant
- Charitable Consultant
- Law Enforcement Consultant
- Legal Consultant
- Policy Analyst Consultant
- Political Consultant
- Research Consultant
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