Cherished: More Precious than Gold

Three Canadian companies heard this call-to-action, finding alignment between their personal and corporate core values and the work of International Justice Mission Canada. For Valiant Solutions, Castellan Information Security Services, and The Humphries Group, this led to the formation of a strong partnership and financing IJM’s work through event sponsorship crucial to the success of Cherished. They continue to be strong supporters in the work to end OSEC.

To look further into what made these partnerships so meaningful, David Pollendine conducted interviews with the executives of each of the three companies.

Dunstin Finley: President, Valiant Solutions, Window Cleaning and Rope Access

Dunstin manages a team of Professional Rope Access Techs, Certified Swing Stage and Aerial Man Lift Operators, and Professional Climbers and Mountaineers in Calgary, Alberta. Dunstin heard about the work of IJM through fellow Calgarian, Philip Calvert, National Director of Development for IJM Canada. He noted that through this friendship, “I [learned about the] amazing things that IJM is doing and contending for those who can’t contend for themselves.” As a father of four children under the age of seven, Dunstin was deeply impacted by the stories of children affected by OSEC. He stated, “I believe that nothing else matters more than the safety and prevention of Sex Trafficking of Children, protecting our future generations.”

Azhar Laldin: CEO, Castellan Information Security Services

Based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Azhar ensures that his team continues to provide clients with secure and holistic information security services. Azhar was impacted by a speech made by Gary Haugen, CEO and Founder of IJM, at a leadership summit over a decade ago. “IJM came to me as an organization that wasn’t just appealing to the emotions of the individuals, but they had a plan, they had a methodology, they had a structure on how to go about rescuing the victims - and that really spoke to me.”

For Castellan, the partnership with IJM Canada is two-fold: financial and providing complementary services through secure data management and analytics.

"Castellan has recognized that we have certain strengths and certain skills, but we don’t have the strengths or skills that IJM does. So for us to believe that we can send a team to another country is not realistic. What is realistic for an organization like us is to come alongside IJM who knows how to go about their business, who knows how to rescue individuals, who knows how to go after perpetrators – and support them."

Azhar states the decision to come alongside and support IJM was “a very easy decision to make.” Regarding event sponsorship, “What caught the attention of our leadership team was the work that IJM is doing to rescue victims of cybersex trafficking. As an information security firm, our goal and reason for existence is to help clients protect their personal and private information. These victims of cybersex trafficking do not have anyone protecting them. These technologies that have been created to enhance the life of mankind are actually being used to manipulate individuals, which is so against the reason of our firm. So when we look at IJM’s vision, spirit, actions, they are in perfect alignment with Castellan’s vision, spirit, and actions.”