Grade 9 Tagwi Secondary School student Abigail St.Onge’s with her piece, A Harsh Reality. Courtesy Photo
BROCKVILLE – Students from the Upper Canada District School Board (UCDSB) are using their creativity to shed light on the realities of human trafficking through an exhibit entitled “Take A Stand,” an initiative developed by Maison Baldwin House, a women’s shelter in Cornwall.
Seven UCDSB schools: Char-Lan District High School, Cornwall Collegiate and Vocational School (CCVS), Glengarry District High School, North Dundas District High School, Tagwi Secondary School, Seaway District High School, and St. Lawrence Secondary School (SLSS), each participated in the project. Students were challenged to transform white jeans into powerful artistic statements addressing human trafficking.
Three UCDSB students earned top recognition from among 500 submissions. Abigail St.Onge, a Grade 9 student at Tagwi Secondary School, was awarded for her piece, “A Harsh Reality,” which was displayed on a mannequin at Cline House Gallery in Cornwall from March 7-8.
“I wanted to show the darker side of human trafficking, the part that can’t be ignored,” said St.Onge. “My piece uses cracks, rips, and safety pins to symbolize both vulnerability and resilience. This experience has been incredible. Not only did I learn about a serious issue, but I also had the chance to use my art to bring attention to it.
Hearing that my work is displayed in a gallery is something I never imagined.”
The other award winners were Layla Labelle, a Grade 12 student at SLSS, and Dayannah O’Shaugnessy, a Grade 12 student at CCVS. Each received a $50 gift certificate in recognition of their work.
The initiative was led by Danielle McCormick, public educator at Maison Baldwin House. As part of the project, Human Trafficking 101 presentations were delivered to Grade 7-12 students at 11 schools in the Cornwall area. Following these sessions, students were given white jeans, donated to the shelter, and tasked with creating visual pieces that reflect the impact of human trafficking.
“Take A Stand has not only provided students with an opportunity to explore their artistic abilities but also deepened their understanding of human trafficking and its local impact,” said Erynn Doherty, an art teacher at Tagwi Secondary School.
Following its successful debut in Cornwall, the exhibit was on display in Brockville at the Marianne van Silfhout Gallery at St. Lawrence College from March 27-29. Attendees also had the opportunity to participate in free Human Trafficking 101 information sessions led by Maison Baldwin House, offering context to the artwork and fostering a deeper understanding of the issue.
Terry Tinkess is a professional photographer, educator and journalist. He has been making a living with a camera and keyboard since 1999 and has been featured in such publications as The Ottawa Citizen, Cornwall Standard Freeholder, The Globe and Mail, The Miami Herald, Ottawa Construction News, The Ontario Construction Report, Ontario Home Builder Magazine, Reed Construction Data, Canadian Potato Business and most recently, The Record and Eastern Ontario AgriNews. Terry lives in Ingleside, Ontario with his wife Brenda, Mia the anxious Pittie and cats Wally and Chubbers.
