It's estimated that there are about 400 youths being sexually exploited each year in Winnipeg and the majority of those are aboriginal youth in care. The average beginning age of involvement ranges from 11 to 16. Thirty-five percent started at the age of 14 years. Seventy percent to eighty percent of the adults started at the age of 18 or more. Forty-four percent of the youth remain involved for two years or more.
The average length of time in the trade was about 12 years. The range is from two years old to 22 years old exploited in the sex trade, and the youths are comprised of approximately 30% non-aboriginal and 75% aboriginal.