Last month, Victim Services Toronto (VST) announced multi-sector expansions to its code-word initiative: “Ask for Angela” which allows survivors of gender-based violence to discreetly signal for support in public spaces
Now—exactly one month out from Toronto’s soccer tournament—the local safety network includes six hospitality-specific partners and is growing, creating more pathways to support at a critical time: internationally, research has linked certain high-profile, televised sporting events to a significant increase in police-reported intimate partner violence.
Hotels are a crucial sector for the program’s expansion: it’s estimated that 75% of human trafficking survivors come into contact with hotels at some point during their trafficking experience. Importantly, the GTA offers the most extensive range of accommodations in Canada at 36,500+ hotel rooms—65% of which are in Toronto.
“As an association dedicated to understanding the biggest challenges facing the hotel industry, it’s a privilege to support Victim Services Toronto as they expand Ask for Angela across Toronto,” shares Sara Anghel, President & CEO, Greater Toronto Hotel Association (GTHA). “By engaging this discreet safety tool, hoteliers are turning their commitment to guests into real, life-saving action that builds trust and shows true leadership, while setting the standard for how Canadian hospitality can give back.”
Courtyard by Marriott Toronto Downtown was inspired to join the Ask for Angela network after partaking in VST and the GTHA’s anti-human trafficking training. The hotel’s general manager, Murray Kelsey, recalled creating anti-human trafficking training resources over two decades ago in their Vancouver location—this existing company culture surrounding trafficking awareness and guest safety quickly blossomed into VST’s founding hospitality partnership for the localized Ask for Angela program.
"In hospitality, you're responsible for more than a guest's stay—you're responsible for their safety. This has been a priority for me for years, which is why Ask for Angela resonated immediately,” Kelsey shares. “As we prepare for a busy summer in Toronto, having a clear, discreet way for someone to signal they need help—and a trained team who can connect them to professional support through partners like Victim Services Toronto—matters more than ever for guests, team members, and everyone who walks through our doors."