HISTORY TIMELINE

2007

Courage for Freedom was founded on a farm near London. Its programming initially offered help for kids who were struggling to find a place to stay.

 

2013

-After seeing an escalation of cases of self-harm, mental health issues, suicidal ideation, and kids running away from home, the organization shifted to focus solely on human trafficking. Kelly Tallon Franklin worked with St. Thomas mayor and former Elgin-Middlesex-London MP Joe Preston to pivot its initiatives towards supporting minor aged victims and survivors of human trafficking and providing survivor-informed training to front-line workers.
-Kelly founded the horses that heal program, using equine therapy for survivors.

 

2014

Kelly transitioned to work with girls, gaps in care, support for Human Trafficking victim/survivors.

 

2017-2019
Kelly accepted the challenge of a sixteen-year-old survivor of human trafficking to create a non-government funded provincial task force in Ontario which has now become a national task force.

 

2018
Kelly was appointed the Business and Professional Women of Canada's Human Trafficking Ad Hoc Committee Chair, the International Federation of Business and Professional Women's Human Trafficking Task Force Chair, and recently has become the Business and Professional Women of Ontario Human Trafficking Task Force Chair.

 

2019

- On July 30, 2019, 180 alliances were formed and over 1600 Ontarians came together to celebrate the fulfilment of the sixteen-year-old survivor's dream and achieved #ProjectONroute's goal of increasing the Ontario's citizens understanding of the intersection of vulnerabilities including children and youth in care. #ProjectONroute resulted in more than 2 million media impressions that reached 550 000 persons per day in the province of Ontario.

- Courage For Freedom expanded its services and outreach to Windsor, Sarnia, and Chatham.

2020

The project expanded across the nation and re-branded as #ProjectMapleLeaf, creating a Canadian Task Force of volunteers from every demographic, ethnicity, and industry to keep the focus on survivors in an effort to amplify their voices while engaging and educating to spread awareness.

 

2021

- On July 30, 2021, Kelly organized national task force Ambassadors across Canada to stand at their provincial parliament buildings on the United Nations Day to end trafficking of persons to spread awareness and share the message that "Canadians want to end the buying and selling of girls and boys, children in Canada."

- Kelly organized and facilitated the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women panel presentation on anti-human trafficking.

 

2022

In June, Courage for Freedom saw the launch of #ProjectInterclusion as programs became live and available in multiple languages virtually and in-person for our community partners. Special thanks to the Canadian Women's Foundation, WAGE-FEMA, and the Canadian Council of Muslim Women for their focus on protection of women and girls.

 

As of 2022, Courage for Freedom has worked with roughly 75 young victims and survivors of human trafficking, as well as their families.

 

2023 and onwards

Courage For Freedom has many campaigns and initiatives planned for the future. Stay tuned!

Awards and accolades Timeline

2010

  • Elgin-Middlesex-London Community Service Award

 

2011

  • 1 year Provincial Volunteer Medal of Excellence
  • Women Entrepreneur Distinction Award

 

2012

  • Government of Ontario Exemplary Service Award
  • Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal of Honour
  • 5 years Ontario Provincial Volunteer Medal of Excellence

 

2013

  • Elgin Ambassador Member Award

 

2014

  • Government of Ontario Volunteer Service Award

 

2015

  • Province of Ontario Award of Distinction

 

2016

  • Governor-General Award of Distinction
  • Community Asset Acknowledgement by former Olympian Silken Laumann

 

2017

  • Canada 150 Certificate of Merit and Recognition 
  • Canadian Women of Excellence Acknowledgement
  • 10 years Ontario Provincial Volunteer Medal of Excellence

 

2018

  • Business and Professional Women Canada Leadership Award

 

2019

  • Chamber of Commerce Women of Impact Award 
  • Radical Business Magazine – Top 50 Visionaries
  • CSW63 NGO New York BPW Presenter

2020

  • State of Michigan House of Representatives Governors Honor Congresswomen’s Justice Award
  • Entered into USA Congregational Record as Justice Champion
  • CSW64 UNWomen Presenter

 

2021

  • American Human Rights Council Social Justice Award
  • CSW65 UNWomen Presenter
  • June Callwood Outstanding Achievement Award for Voluntarism
  • Lynn Factor – Stand up for Kids National Award

 

2022

  • 15 years Ontario Provincial Volunteer Medal of Excellence
  • CSW66 UNWomen Delegate
  • Children’s Aid Society of Canada Award Finalist
  • Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal of Honour