Our History
CEASE is an Edmonton-based non-profit creating pathways out of sexual exploitation for more than 35 years. We have been working in cooperation with the community, government, and law enforcement to help sexually exploited and trafficked persons heal and renew their lives.
1988
Communities for Controlling Prostitution (CFCP) began in central Edmonton with neighbourhood residents, agencies, police, parents, public health, and others coming together to create strategies to reduce the impact of “johns” harassing neighbourhood children and women and exploiting vulnerable children and women in the survival sex trade. CFCP’s name changed to Communities for Changing Prostitution after survivors joined.
1997
CFCP created a non-profit named Prostitution Awareness and Action Foundation of Edmonton (PAAFE) to utilize the “john school” funds for poverty relief, bursaries, counselling, and public awareness.
1999
PAAFE, together with community agencies, law enforcement, and MLA Heather Forsyth, advocated for the Alberta government to create the Protection of Children Involved in Prostitution Act (PChIP) with safe houses and community follow-up support services.
2002
Two survivors working with PAAFE created a unique matched savings program. A collaboration now known as EMPOWER U evolved with sister agencies, the United Way Alberta Capital Region, the City of Edmonton, and other partners.
2004
A city councillor and PAAFE created the Prostitution Working Group (now called Sexual Exploitation Working Group) to provide educational events and an annual City Proclamation of a Week of Awareness.
2006
Men of Honour event. "Honouring men who are positive role models in our society including honouring EPS and RCMP teams who are working to end sexual exploitation and solve murders.
2011
PAAFE changes its name to Centre to End All Sexual Exploitation (CEASE).
2012
CEASE advocated to the City of Edmonton to include an information course on human rights and resources for those applying for a Body Rub Practitioners license.
2022
CRED Program was created, and micro-loans empower women to decrease debt and improve credit.
1996
Prostitution Offender Program begins. One strategy was the creation of the ‘john school.’ Edmonton was inspired by the San Francisco program, which was started by a survivor and police officer in 1995. Toronto started their “john school” in April 1996, and Edmonton started in May that year.
1997
The first bursary was awarded to a survivor to attend the Ophthalmic Dispensing Program at NAIT. In 1999, PAAFE established a bursary at MacEwan University, and in 2006, the “Rachel’s Hope” bursary at NorQuest College with the family of Rachel Quinney, who was murdered in 2004. In 2010, the Edmonton Community Foundation Eldon and Anne Foote Fund began annual contributions to the bursary program. In 2015, the Edmonton Community Foundation and author Nancy Huston established the AWINITA Bursary for Indigenous women.
2000
The first Annual Memorial was held on August 14 to remember lives lost due to sexual exploitation.
2002
PAAFE created a Court Diversion Program where women were offered a chance to create a pathway out of exploitation rather than being charged for prostitution.
2005
PAAFE was a community partner in creating Project SNUG through the City of Edmonton SafeEdmonton committee. SNUG offered immediate support at a time when many in the survival sex trade were murdered or missing.
2007
PAAFE participated with Changing Together in an "environmental scan" on human trafficking that led to the creation of ACT Alberta and served as a founding board member.
2011
The CEASE Community Victim Services Unit was initiated to provide specialized support to survivors of sex trafficking and exploitation.
2021
CEASE, ALERT Human Trafficking Counter Exploitation Unit, and REACH Edmonton created the Safety Network position to assist women in sex trafficking situations.
2023
CEASE participates in co-design sessions for the Alberta Office to Combat Trafficking in Persons, which is one of the Alberta Human Trafficking Task Force's recommendations.
1988
Communities for Controlling Prostitution (CFCP) began in central Edmonton with neighbourhood residents, agencies, police, parents, public health, and others coming together to create strategies to reduce the impact of “johns” harassing neighbourhood children and women and exploiting vulnerable children and women in the survival sex trade. CFCP’s name changed to Communities for Changing Prostitution after survivors joined.
1996
Prostitution Offender Program begins. One strategy was the creation of the ‘john school.’ Edmonton was inspired by the San Francisco program, which was started by a survivor and police officer in 1995. Toronto started their “john school” in April 1996, and Edmonton started in May that year.
1997
CFCP created a non-profit named Prostitution Awareness and Action Foundation of Edmonton (PAAFE) to utilize the “john school” funds for poverty relief, bursaries, counselling, and public awareness.
1997
The first bursary was awarded to a survivor to attend the Ophthalmic Dispensing Program at NAIT. In 1999, PAAFE established a bursary at MacEwan University, and in 2006, the “Rachel’s Hope” bursary at NorQuest College with the family of Rachel Quinney, who was murdered in 2004. In 2010, the Edmonton Community Foundation Eldon and Anne Foote Fund began annual contributions to the bursary program. In 2015, the Edmonton Community Foundation and author Nancy Huston established the AWINITA Bursary for Indigenous women.
1999
PAAFE, together with community agencies, law enforcement, and MLA Heather Forsyth advocated for the Alberta government to create the Protection of Children Involved in Prostitution Act (PChIP) with safe houses and community follow-up support services.
2000
The first Annual Memorial was held on August 14 to remember lives lost due to sexual exploitation.
2002
Two survivors working with PAAFE created a unique matched savings program. A collaboration now known as EMPOWER U evolved with sister agencies, the United Way Alberta Capital Region, the City of Edmonton, and other partners.
2002
PAAFE created a Court Diversion Program where women were offered a chance to create a pathway out of exploitation rather than being charged for prostitution.
2004
A city councillor and PAAFE created the Prostitution Working Group (now called Sexual Exploitation Working Group) to provide educational events and an annual City Proclamation of a Week of Awareness.
2005
PAAFE was a community partner in creating Project SNUG through the City of Edmonton SafeEdmonton committee. SNUG offered immediate support at a time when many in the survival sex trade were murdered or missing.
2007
PAAFE participated with Changing Together in an “environmental scan” on human trafficking that led to the creation of ACT Alberta and served as a founding board member.
2011
PAAFE changed its name to Centre to End All Sexual Exploitation (CEASE).
2011
The CEASE Community Victim Services Unit was initiated to provide specialized support to survivors of sex trafficking and exploitation.
2012
CEASE advocated to the City of Edmonton to include an information course on human rights and resources for those applying for a Body Rub Practitioner license.
2021
CEASE, ALERT Human Trafficking Counter Exploitation Unit, and REACH Edmonton created the Safety Network position to assist women in sex trafficking situations.
2022
CRED Program was created, and micro-loans empower women to decrease debt and improve credit.
2023
The Alberta Office to Combat Trafficking in Persons was established. CEASE presented to the Taskforce (2020 – 2021) and participated in the co-design sessions.
2023
The Alberta Office to Combat Trafficking in Persons was established. CEASE presented to the Taskforce (2020 – 2021) and participated in the co-design sessions.
