A pair of Chatham filmmakers has created a documentary to shine a light on the ongoing human trafficking crisis.
Karissa and Kat Strain, professionally known as The Sisters Strain, have spent the past few months speaking with family members of victims to show people this issue happens close to home.
The documentary is called "The Coalition," and was developed with help from the Chatham-Kent Anti-Human Trafficking Coalition and the Chatham-Kent Coordinating Committee to End Violence Against Women.
The pair told CK News Today the documentary won't be a pleasant experience.
"It might be a little overwhelming, and we want it to. I don't want anyone to leave saying, 'Oh, okay,' turning their cheek, and just going on with their life," explained Kat.
The film includes the stories of three victims from Windsor, London, and Sault. Ste Marie. Each was introduced to the world of human trafficking through different paths, with the sisters doing a deep dive into each.
"[We want people to] have a better understanding of how people find themselves in partnerships that become violent, why [victims] stay, how individuals find themselves in situations where they're being trafficked, and the signs and symptoms they can look for," added Kat.
According to Statistics Canada, the most common way women were trafficked was by their partners. From 2014 to 2024, the latest data shared by Statistics Canada, this accounted for 36 per cent of all cases involving women.
Due to how connected human trafficking and domestic violence can be, the sisters decided it would be wrong not to have it be a focus in the documentary.
The film will be shown at the Chatham Capitol Theatre on May 16 at 7 p.m. Anyone can attend for free, with a reception being held afterward where people can learn more about the resources available across CK.
"We really just want people to come out and learn," said Karissa.
The sisters are also hoping to see many men show up.
"More men need to be angry, and they need to be involved," added Karissa.
While the screening is free, the sisters encourage anyone attending to bring personal hygiene period products and non-perishable foods, which will be given to the organizations that helped make the documentary possible.
A trailer for the film can be seen by clicking here.
