The Co-operators raises over $140,000 in annual charity golf tournament

An annual charity golf event held by The Co-operators has managed to raise an impressive $142,500 to support a non-profit helping victims of sexual exploitation and human trafficking.

On September 06, the insurer held its Co-operators 26th Annual Charity Golf Tournament at Glencairn Golf Club. With the funds raised from the sporting event, The Co-operators presented a $142,500 cheque to Elora House, which offers safe housing and 24/7 support for exploited individuals, as well as support for individuals who identify as women.

“We’re in awe of the work that Elora House does to support victims of human trafficking in our community. Our volunteer committee works tirelessly year after year to support local grass roots,” said Co-operators Charity Golf Tournament volunteer committee Kristina Gilley. “We’re so thankful to the many sponsors and golfers who came alongside us this year to make this contribution possible.”

“We are so grateful to have been chosen as the beneficiary of The Co-operators Golf Tournament committee,” added Elora House executive director Luisa Krause. “The generous support received from Co-operators will help girls and women that have exited sex trafficking learn to rest, rebuild their lives, and restart their healing journey to a healthier version of themselves.”

Citing data from law enforcement, The Co-operators said that human trafficking is one of the fastest growing crimes in Canada. The average age of recruitment into sex trafficking is 13 years old. Ontario also appears to be the hotbed for most the human trafficking cases, as 70% of such cases were reported in the province between 2009 and 2018.

Read more: Coalition calls for clearer targets, more short-term solution for climate strategy

The Co-operators is part of Climate Proof Canada – a coalition of insurers, industry stakeholders, municipal, and environmental organizations pushing for the improvement of Canada’s resiliency against climate change. The group recently issued a joint statement calling for the federal government to consider setting more concrete climate change resiliency goals in its National Adaptation Strategy.