The Grande Prairie Police Service has announced a new partnership with #NotInMyCity, a national organization dedicated to preventing human trafficking and supporting survivors, as part of its ongoing efforts to combat sexual exploitation in the city.
Partnership Details and Purpose
Police Chief Dwayne Lakusta said the collaboration is a critical step as the service prepares to become Grande Prairie’s police of jurisdiction on October 21. He emphasized that human trafficking remains a persistent problem in the community, often targeting vulnerable individuals.
“Whether it’s behind closed doors, hotels, online, or illicit massage parlours, it’s alive and well here,” Lakusta said. “It’s important for us to address it so we can support the vulnerable population, because often they’re being sexually exploited.”
The partnership will provide specialized training for officers, public education campaigns, and access to additional resources through #NotInMyCity, which was founded by Canadian country musician Paul Brandt and his wife Elizabeth.
Background of #NotInMyCity
The organization began in 2010 as the Build It Forward Foundation, initially supporting communities recovering from disasters such as the Slave Lake and Fort McMurray wildfires. It later became the Buckskin Foundation before launching the #NotInMyCity movement in 2017. Since then, it has secured more than $6.8 million in grants and donations to support anti-human trafficking initiatives, including training for police services through the International Association of Human Trafficking Investigators.
Lakusta noted that training officers, supporting partner agencies, and educating the public require significant resources, making the partnership especially valuable. He first became involved with Brandt before joining the Grande Prairie Police Service in 2023. Brandt also attended Lakusta’s public swearing-in ceremony as police chief in June 2024.
Statements and National Context
“#NotInMyCity is proud to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the Grande Prairie Police Service in this critical fight,” Brandt said. “We are sending a clear and uncompromising message: child sexual exploitation and human trafficking are wrong, they will not be tolerated, and they have no place in our communities — not in my city, not in yours, not anywhere.”
Lakusta stressed that disrupting human trafficking requires reducing its profitability through strong partnerships between police, community organizations, and the public. National statistics underscore the scale of the issue: according to Statistics Canada, police services across the country reported 5,070 human trafficking incidents between 2014 and 2025, including 608 incidents in 2024 alone.
Impact and Next Steps
The Grande Prairie Police Service aims to leverage the partnership to enhance its response to human trafficking through improved training and public awareness. The collaboration is expected to strengthen the service's ability to identify and support victims, while also deterring perpetrators through increased community vigilance.
