Leaving for Ottawa tomorrow - Red Deer in April - Toronto in May

Hi friends. I know I have sent several messages already this month, but I am sure you all understand. 
There are basically 2 reasons why. The first and foremost is that the 5 year mark of Jessie's disappearance is fast approaching and of course, as you can imagine – it is very much on my mind. It goes through my head like "FIVE YEARS, 5 years, 5 YEARS, five years, F I V E Y E A R S" – and if that is not enough, then I start thinking . . . "1/2 a decade, HALF A DECADE" – it just never stops. 
Anyways . . . Secondly, there has just been so much happening that I keep wanting to share with you all. Things like the events I have been invited to; the presentations I have given; the Missing TV show that finally aired Jessie's case (http://jessiefoster.blogspot.com/2011/03/missing-tv-show.html); the Jessie song that was written to help raise awareness about her disappearance and to help the campaign to fight human trafficking (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbT2K6q0caI); and a new book about to be released – Diana Trepkov's (www.forensicsbydiana.com): FACELESS, VOICELESS: From Search to Closure, that includes Jessie's case in it, and pictures of Jessie on the cover. 
So friends and Jessie supporters, please read below and keep your love and prayers coming. And continue to help spread the word about human trafficking so it is no longer the crime that no one knows about, therefore allowing it to continue. We will combat it and together we will, one day, make a huge dent in it, just as we have with other issues (drinking & driving and smoking, to name just two) that were brought down to size because we all stuck together and did not back down.

---

MARCH 2011: I am leaving for Ottawa tomorrow, Monday, March 28th, and will be back on Saturday, April 2nd. On Tuesday, March 29th (EXACTLY 5 YEARS SINCE JESSIE HAS BEEN MISSING), Wednesday, the 30th & Thursday, the 31st, I will be representing Canada Fights Human Trafficking (http://www.canadafightshumantrafficking.com/index.html) as its BC Chapter Director a the "National Human Trafficking Conference - Moving Forward Together: An Integrated Response to Human Trafficking". 
National Human Trafficking Conference - Moving Forward Together: An Integrated Response to Human Trafficking Agenda - English.pdf - 78.23 KB (http://www.octevaw-cocvff.ca/sites/all/files/Human_Trafficking_Agenda_-_English[1].pdf) 
I am really looking forward to this event. When is it over on Thursday, I will be going back to CFHT's head office to complete my training and orientation so when I get back to BC I will be ready for whatever they have for me and they will be there for me in everything I do.

---

APRIL 2011: Next month I will be speaking at the "Raise Their Voice: The Trafficked + Exploited" (http://raisetheirvoice.com/archives/818). A two-day conference in Red Deer, Alberta that will bring leading activists, social workers, lawmakers and members of the public to highlight the story of human trafficking in Canada and abroad. The April 15th and 16th event features a keynote by MP Joy Smith. The event will also feature keynote addresses by Glendene Grant, the mother of Jessie Foster who is a missing person and victim of human trafficking. Mark Wollenberg, the Western Canadian representative of International Justice Mission, a human rights organization that secures justice for victims of slavery, sexual exploitation and other forms of violent oppression, will also speak. 
The following is a list of contributor bios for the Raise Their Voice: The Trafficked + Exploited April 15 + 16 in Red Deer, Alberta - http://raisetheirvoice.com/raise-their-voice-the-trafficked-exploited/contributor-bios

---

MAY 2011: May I will be in Toronto for the International Conference on Motherhood, Activism, Advocacy, Agency. I was asked to write a short chapter for their new book on 21st Motherhood Movement. I was contacted by Dr. Andrea O'Reilly, Associate Professor, School of Women's Studies, Founder-Director: Motherhood Initiative for Research and Community Involvement, Journal of the Motherhood Initiative (http://www.motherhoodinitiative.org/), Demeter Press, Editor, Encyclopedia of Motherhood, Sage Press, 2010 - York University, after she heard about my speech at the Freedom Benefit Concert and how I did on the panel at the Inaugural Conference the next day. She wanted to know more about M.A.T.H. Mothers Against Trafficking Humans, an organization that I have been trying to make a reality - instead of just my Facebook Group and Facebook Cause with around 5,000 members each.

She really liked what I wrote. This is what she said: "Thank you for sending this so quickly. What a powerful and informative chapter!!!."
Then she asked: "Could you provide a couple more paragraphs on Jessie's story of her life and how things were for everyone before and then after she went missing?"
Then she asked: "Could you also provide a paragraph on the state of human trafficking in Canada and elsewhere?"
And finally, I ended up being invited to the book launch in May, and I am to be one of their keynote speakers. So, my short chapter is now a long chapter and somehow I ended up as one of their main speakers.

---

And in between these events, there are several high school presentations already booked. Unfortunately, we even had to reschedule 3 presentations in Ashcroft on March 31st, because I got booked to go to the National Human Trafficking Conference in Ottawa and I won't be in BC on that day. I felt bad, but on the other hand, I will have completed my CFHT training by the time we do go there, and that is a very good thing. 
So, again friends – thank you for always being here for us, especially Jessie. I have always shared my girl, and so Jessie is everyone's daughter everyone's sister and everyone's friend and that is why she is loved by so many. 
I hope and pray we do not have to go another 5 years without answers to what happened to Jessie, but I know this – if we have to, she will continue to be in everyone's prayers and on everyone's mind and she will also be not just Canada's most well-known human trafficking victim, but the most well-known human trafficking victim in the entire world. Of this I promise you! 
From the bottom of my heart – sincerely, Jessie's mom, Glendene.