Sandy Biback

200 passengers saw nothing. One flight attendant noticed everything. A pen and paper saved a life. In 2011, Alaska Airlines flight attendant Sheila Fredrick noticed something wrong on a routine flight from Seattle to San Francisco. A young girl, estimated to be around 14 or 15, sat next to a much older man. The girl was poorly dressed, visibly frightened, and the man would not let her speak when Fredrick tried to engage them in conversation. Fredrick went to the bathroom and left a note and a pen on the mirror. She made eye contact with the girl and subtly directed her toward the restroom. The girl went in and wrote back two words: I need help. Fredrick immediately informed the pilot, who contacted authorities on the ground. Police were waiting when the plane landed and the girl was rescued. Fredrick later said she trusted her instincts because something felt deeply wrong. She went on to become a trainer helping airline crews recognize the signs of human trafficking in the air. Her story has been used in awareness campaigns worldwide.

Bodies of Air Canada pilots return home after deadly New York runway crash montrealgazette.com/news/bodies-of…

More than a century ago, the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire exposed profit over safety. The disaster killed 146 garment workers, mostly young immigrant women, some as young as 14. Frances Perkins, head of NCL at the time, witnessed the fire firsthand. She dedicated her life to fighting for workplace safety and child labor protections. She helped pass fire safety reforms, such as fire escapes, sprinklers, and occupancy limits that saved countless lives, and laid the groundwork for the New Deal.

On March 26, 1885, the Battle of Duck Lake was fought near present-day Rosthern, Saskatchewan. Fought between the Metis and the North-West Mounted Police forces, it left 18 dead and resulted in a Metis victory. This is the story. 🧵 1/11

Our Warming Centres remain open today. Walk-ins welcome. 📍 136 Spadina Rd. 📍 81 Elizabeth St. 📍 12 Holmes Ave. 📍 885 Scarborough Golf Club Rd. 📍 349 George St.    Find locations and daytime drop-in programs across Toronto: toronto.ca/homelesshelp

Human smuggling is a voluntary process in which individuals are charged large sums of money to be transported across borders. This is a lucrative practice that facilitates illegal immigration. Learn more today: publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/cntrng-crm…

At Auschwitz, thousands of shoes remain behind glass. Each pair belonged to someone with a name, a family, a life. They were taken upon arrival. Most of their owners were murdered. The shoes endure as quiet witnesses, proof that the victims were not numbers, but people.

To commemorate my father’s 95th birthday, I want to remind Spock fans that dad’s parents were Ukrainian immigrants which shaped my father in many ways. Four years of Putin’s war has brought death and destruction to our people, our homeland. LLAP. #standwithukraine #ukraine

That’s kids being targeted, groomed and abused online every single day. Help protect our kids by signing at —> notinmycity.ca

A new 2026 @OSCE survey report confirms a hard truth: #modernslavery is not standing still and neither can our #response. #Exploitation is shifting deeper into labour markets, moving further online and becoming more sophisticated. While there has been #progress, the systems designed to #prevent harm, #identify victims and #pursue offenders are struggling to keep pace. The next step is #action. We need stronger, practical measures on forced labour and online exploitation, alongside a sharper focus on disrupting traffickers’ profits. #ModernSlavery #HumanTrafficking #ForcedLabour #LabourRights #OnlineExploitation #SupplyChains #TechAccountability #EndExploitation storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/077b00…

Human trafficking affects all ages and backgrounds.  Learn about human trafficking, including the warning signs, who is at risk and how it can happen: ontario.ca/page/recognizi…  #EndTrafficking

On this day in 1992, Barbara Frum died. Born in 1937, she hosted CBC's As It Happens until 1981. From 1982 until her death, she hosted CBC's The Journal. Today, a library in Toronto is named for her. She also has a star on Canada's Walk of Fame.

On this day in 1872, the Toronto Printers' Strike began. Workers were hoping to get a nine-hour workday. Three weeks after the strike began, a rally was attended by 10,000 supporters. While the strike failed, it did lead to a bill to legalize trade unions in Canada.

Filip Konowal earned the Victoria Cross for his bravery in the First World War but dealt with PTSD and homelessness after. After seven years in a mental asylum, he rebuilt his life and a prime minister gave him a lifetime job on Parliament Hill. This is his story. 🧵 1/12

Happy birthday to Ethel Blondin-Andrew, born on this day in 1951! She was the first Indigenous woman elected to Parliament, and the first Indigenous woman to serve as a federal cabinet minister (Minister of State). She served in Parliament from 1988 to 2006.

Our Warming Centres remain open today. Walk-ins welcome. 📍 136 Spadina Rd. 📍 81 Elizabeth St. 📍 12 Holmes Ave. 📍 885 Scarborough Golf Club Rd. 📍 349 George St.    Find locations and daytime drop-in programs across Toronto: toronto.ca/homelesshelp

George Brown was a Father of Confederation. A founder of the Liberal Party, he established the Toronto Globe and played an important role in our history. Then, a disgruntled former employee shot him. It took Brown five agonizing weeks to die This is his story 🧵 1/10

On this day, we pause to remember one of history’s greatest tragedies. By honouring the victims of the transatlantic slave trade, we ensure their stories are never forgotten and their dignity is restored in our collective memory. Understanding the past is the only way to dismantle the racism and prejudice that still exist today. Let’s use this day for reflection, education and a shared commitment to a future rooted in justice and equality for all. #RemembranceDay #SlaveTradeAbolition #HumanRights #EndRacism #HistoryMatters #NeverForget #SocialJustice #GlobalHistory #UnitedInMemory

On March 25, 1986, the Government of Canada announced that a new dollar coin would be introduced to replace the dollar banknote. The new dollar coin entered circulation one year later and became part of our Canadian identity, known as...The Loonie. This is the story. 🧵 1/11

RIP