Kyesha Boudreau endured a transient childhood, moving through approximately 12 foster homes, feeling rejected and overlooked by families. This sense of being unwanted during her formative years, she believes, made her susceptible to sexual exploitation as a teenager in group homes.
Recent court rulings from December 2025 highlighted instances of men engaging in sex trafficking with girls as young as 14 who resided in Nova Scotia group homes. Predators targeted vulnerable youths near these homes or through social media, leading to profound and enduring consequences for survivors.
Boudreau, now 28, expressed dismay that a decade later, the issue persists within the child welfare system. She emphasized that children in group homes are prime targets for traffickers due to their unmet emotional needs, making them susceptible to manipulation by individuals offering attention and affection.
Human trafficking, which often involves coercion, exploits individuals’ vulnerabilities by fulfilling their needs, such as food, shelter, or emotional support, before manipulating and exploiting them. Nova Scotia reported the highest rate of human trafficking incidents in 2024, emphasizing the prevalence of this crime in the province.
Traffickers employ tactics such as befriending youths on social media, tracking their locations, and offering gifts to establish trust and control. The subtle nature of coercion in trafficking involves gradual manipulation, often by individuals familiar to the victim, leading to prolonged exploitation.
Survivors like Boudreau recount encounters where traffickers monitored and befriended them before exploiting them. Despite warnings from staff, some youths fell prey to traffickers’ schemes. Efforts are being made to combat sexual exploitation and trafficking within the child welfare system, with a focus on public awareness campaigns and training for social workers.
Recovery programs at organizations such as the YWCA Halifax provide survivors with the autonomy to navigate their healing journey. Boudreau’s personal experience underscores the importance of raising awareness and supporting individuals who have experienced similar challenges in the child welfare system.
