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

PREVENTION & EDUCATION

Prepare community service providers, industry experts, educators and peers as survivor allies amplifying proven solution strategies.

Educate in prevention with a focused approach in community responsibility and civic duty models.

RESOLUTIONS, POLICY & LEGISLATION

Engage public in campaigns to increase awareness, grow activism movements and enhance anti-trafficking services that directly support survivors.

Train advocate ambassadors to speak to leaders and encourage governmental will in policies, programs, funding decisions and responsibilities.

MENTOR & SYSTEM NAVIGATION

Mentor and provide system navigation support for survivors to rebuild their lives, virtually, in person or with horses.

Program provide person centric-strength based relationships to assist survivors to find safe, sustainable housing, employment and supports.

TRAINING & COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS

Partner with public and private sector organizations offering expert training in prevention, intervention and post-vention trauma care.

Program provide person centric-strength based relationships to assist survivors to find safe, sustainable housing, employment and supports.

History

2007 - Present

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.

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:

Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal of Honour

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Ontario Provincial Volunteer Medal(s) of Excellence

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Canada 150 Certificate of Merit and Recognition

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Chamber of Commerce Women of Impact Award

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State of Michigan House of Representatives Governors Honor Congresswomen’s Justice Award

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Entered into USA Congregational Record as Justice Champion

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American Human Rights Council Social Justice Award

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Business and Professional Women Canada Leadership Award

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Chair of the Business and Professional Women Canada Adhoc Committee in Anti Human Trafficking

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CSW66 UNWomen Delegate

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CSW65 UNWomen Presenter

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CSW64 UNWomen Presenter

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CSW63 NGO New York BPW Presenter

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United Nations ECOSOC Presenter and Contributor

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Service Medal of Honor for Training Initiatives Serving Children and Youth

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RBC Canadian Women of Excellence Acknowledgement

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Community Asset Acknowledgement by former Olympian Silken Laumann

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Canada Award of Merit for Trafficking and Trauma Training

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Government of Ontario Volunteer Service Award

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Canadian Women of Excellence Acknowledgement

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Province of Ontario Award of Distinction

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Governor-General Award of Distinction

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Elgin Ambassador Member Award

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Government of Ontario Exemplary Service Award

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Women Entrepreneur Distinction Award

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Elgin-Middlesex-London Community Service Award

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Top 50 Visionaries Magazine Distinction

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Lyn Factor Stand Up for Kids National Award Top Finalist 2021

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June Callwood Outstanding Achievement Award for Voluntarism

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Ontario Volunteer Service Award

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Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal of Distinction

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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.