(From left: RCMP Insp. Stefan Thoms, Const. Colleen Noble and Angela Crocker, executive director of Thrive.) RCMP say the man at the center of human trafficking charges in this province has a history of similar behavior dating back 15 years. Dominic Delisle, 35, was singled out among four people charged in Project Badminton, a crackdown on a criminal network operating primarily on Newfoundland’s west coast. All four face drug and firearms charges, but Delisle is the only one charged with sex trafficking or pimping young girls and women for profit. Only one victim is involved so far, but RCMP Insp. Stefan Thoms says there’s good reason to believe there’s more out there. He notes that Delisle has allegedly been involved in such activity for at least 15 years, adding that other victims have been identified and the accused has shown no signs of a career change. Delisle appeared in provincial court earlier this week and remains in custody until his next court appearance on September 27. Meanwhile, five months after its funding was cut by the federal government, the RCMP couldn’t say enough about Thrive and its Blue Door program yesterday. Blue Door provides a full range of supports for survivors of sexual exploitation and trafficking, including housing, food security, employment, education and health. But its five-year federal funding ran out in February, forcing it to cut staff and the number of clients it can take on. And this despite the importance of the program, as confirmed yesterday by Const. Colleen Noble, RCMP provincial human trafficking chief. He praised Blue Door for the work it does to support victims, adding that the RCMP also appreciates the assistance and information provided to assist with Project Badminton. Thrive chief executive Angela Crockwell is confident that kind of outcry can only help restore her funding and re-hire all staff. She hopes it will raise awareness of the true definition and existence of human trafficking in the province, and the increasingly critical role Blue Door plays. Crockwell says Blue Door has secured other funding and donations that will keep the program going for at least another year.
