Mission of the Society

The Safe Online Outreach Society's purpose is to educate the public about exploitation on the internet by doing research, creating materials and delivering presentations and workshops that will train youth, professionals and parents on how to recognize and respond to online sexual exploitation and assist children and youth affected by this issue.

Our mandate is based on a specific body of knowledge.  The rapid introduction of new forms of media into the lives and culture of young people in British Columbia has not been accompanied by the equivalent development of materials, tools and resources on how to safeguard these young people. Young people are increasingly exposed to the online community and all the possibilities that the Internet has to offer. 

Many adult professionals are concerned about the exploitation—sexual and otherwise—associated with Internet use, however, they are neither technically competent enough nor trained in their workplaces to understand the evolving youth behaviours and culture associated with online activities. 

In British Columbia, all communities, even the remotest villages are online, via phone, cable and satellite. Predators online are actively recruiting young people for exploitation in the street sex trade as well as manipulating young children into producing digital images of themselves which are then used as stimulation for pedophilic fantasies. All British Columbian youth are at-risk due to the newness of the medium, the lack of parental knowledge about online risks and lack of training to professionals about this emerging form of exploitation. Our mandate is based on the recognition that changing technological environments require training and support to better protect vulnerable populations, such as youth.

SOLOS Clients: Over the past five years, SOLOS has developed a strong client base through public and private presentations and counts as clients numerous groups including; FVRD Libraries, high schools, BC Probation Officers’ Association, youth workers, mental health workers, Willingdon Youth Detention Centre, Community Action Teams, Foster Parent organizations, Victory Hill Residential School, elementary schools, and B.C. Crime Prevention. Over 11 000 youth, parents and professionals have participated in our presentations throughout the Lower Mainland of British Columbia primarily in Greater Vancouver and the Fraser Valley, and also in Northern British Columbia and on Vancouver Island since our incorporation in 2002. 

SOLOS History

The Safe OnLine Outreach Project came from street-work ashes and idealistic rain. It evolved as the next logical step to take when technology and youth work crossed paths and an aging youth worker needed a new job.

The original Safe OnLine Outreach “Project” was a one year National Crime Prevention Centre – Community Mobilization Program grant in 2002. The outcome of that Project was the Curriculum, Introduction on Online Sexual Exploitation.

The Safe OnLine Outreach Society was formed that same year on September 5, to create a stand alone non-profit society to begin the work identified in the first Project and by Merlyn Horton, in her undergraduate studies at Athabasca University.

Achievements since our incorporation in September of 2002;

• We have presented educational material at 127 presentations to over 6500 youth, professionals, parents and other adults throughout BC, Canada and abroad. SOLOS has renewed its focus on high schools in the Fraser Valley and Lower Mainland of British Columbia Canada and seeks to further develop its youth to youth programming;
• We have produced a 100-page curriculum, an Organizational Assessment Tool, three eight-page youth Internet safety booklets, an interactive CD for youth, a Youth-2-Youth peer mentoring program, and developed presentation materials for adults, professionals and youth.
• During 2006, SOLOS held over fifty presentations reaching 3500 participants. We have been a major distributor of education resources aimed at youth, adults and professionals including educational CDs, booklets and multimedia resources dealing with safe internet use. Within the past year, our materials have reached 136 agencies including school districts, community policing offices, research centers and community based crime prevention organizations.
• We have had steady media coverage since our inception, including newspapers, radio interviews, television news spots and studio interviews, including a twenty-minute interview with Vicky Gabereau (CTV). These can be viewed on request. Some of our past press releases are available here.
• We have designed and maintained a website (this one), for three years. (Thanks to the folks at Athabasca University for their continued support and encouragement.)

SOLOS Board Profile

SOLOS is supported by a Board of concerned volunteers. They include parents, youth advocates, community service veterans, child protection workers, business people, restorative justice visionaries, internet industry elders and national law enforcement agency representatives.

Merlyn Horton ~ Bio

Merlyn Horton (BPA Comm), the Executive Director of the Safe OnLine Outreach Society (SOLOS) is a youth advocate who has been working with high-risk, street entrenched and sexually exploited youth for over twenty years. Since the mainstream introduction of the Internet, Horton has been researching and investigating the incidences of sexual exploitation online.

Merlyn attained her Undergraduate Degree in Communications, much of which focused on the intersections of technology and child abuse, in 2003. Her areas of research include: communications theory, online sexual exploitation, and the United Nations' Convention on the Rights of the Child. Her work regarding online sexual exploitation has been recognized internationally as uniquely youth-focused and child-rights based. 

As an aspiring geek and tireless youth advocate, Merlyn’s presentations have been characterized as dynamic, enlightening and entertaining. She has spoken in Scotland and Ireland as a keynote speaker and has presented to over six thousand professionals, parents and youth throughout Western Canada in the last five years. Also, she is the 2003 recipient of the Myrtle Evertt Award for Professional Excellence.

Society Partners

SOLOS is a member of:

Child Rights International Network (CRIN)
http://www.crin.org/

The Society for the Policing of Cyberspace (POLCYB)
http://www.polcyb.org/

The British Columbia Crime Prevention Association (BCCPA)
http://www.bccpa.org/