Miles for Smiles

06/04/2026

Disturbing!
~CBC News Alberta

A southern Alberta man faces criminal charges after police say they found more than half a million child sexual exploitation photos and videos in his possession. (May 26, 2026)

This Alberta story is a devastating reminder of the lifelong harm caused by child sexual exploitation.

Behind every image, every video, and every online offence is a child whose safety, dignity, and trust have been violated. The damage is not abstract — it is real, lasting, and carried by victims long after the crime is uncovered.

For more than seven years, Miles for Smiles Foundation has advocated for age-appropriate body safety education in every K–9 classroom in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Education will not protect every child in every situation. But it will help many children recognize unsafe behaviour, understand that abuse is never their fault, find the words to speak up, and know where to turn for help.

PLEASE take the time to check with school admin to ensure your child/children are being taught the ' Kids in the Know' Body Safety Program. EVERY child deserves to have this education.

05/28/2026

We are pleased to see the provincial government commit to tracking cases dismissed due to Jordan timelines.

For too long, the full scope and impact of these dismissals have not been adequately captured. This is an important step toward greater transparency, accountability, and public understanding of how delays affect the justice system, victims, families, and communities.

We welcome Minister Conway Ottenheimer’s commitment and see this as a positive and necessary step forward for Newfoundland and Labrador.
~VOCM May 28/26

05/26/2026

Sweden is scaling back classroom screen use and investing more in books, handwriting, and traditional reading materials, especially for younger students.
Thoughts?

Sweden is reportedly adjusting its approach to education by reducing the emphasis on screens and digital tools in classrooms and reintroducing more traditional learning methods such as books, handwriting, and printed materials. This shift reflects growing discussion among educators and researchers about the role of technology in early education. While digital tools can offer access to information and interactive learning, concerns have been raised about attention span, reading depth, and over reliance on screens among younger students.
Handwriting and reading physical books are believed to support memory retention and cognitive development in different ways compared to typing or screen based learning. Some educators argue that writing by hand helps students process information more deeply and improves focus.
The move does not mean removing technology entirely, but rather finding a balance between digital learning and traditional methods. Schools are exploring how to integrate both approaches in a way that supports different learning needs and developmental stages.
Experts note that education systems around the world are still adapting to rapid technological change. There is ongoing research into how screen exposure affects learning outcomes, especially in early childhood education. The key idea is simple. Education is evolving, and countries are testing different methods to find what best supports learning, attention, and cognitive development. A balanced approach between digital tools and traditional practices may help create a more effective learning environment for students in the long term across modern classrooms globally today.

05/24/2026

Tears of joy! Justice will be served.

05/22/2026

As Police Appreciation Week comes to a close, the Miles for Smiles Foundation would like to recognize officers who take on some of the most difficult and
important work in protecting children.

05/21/2026

Coming Soon! Stay tuned for more information.

05/21/2026

The M4S Foundation is encouraged to see Opposition Leader John Hogan raise the issue of youth access to social media platforms and AI chatbots in the House of Assembly.
A month ago, M4S wrote to Mr. Hogan asking for leadership on this important child safety issue. We are pleased to see him take a public stand in support of stronger protections for children and youth in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Children deserve safe spaces to learn, grow, and connect — both online and offline.
Keeping children safe is a shared responsibility, and we all have a role to play.

Today, Leader of the Liberal Party of NL and Official Opposition, John Hogan, received unanimous support from the House of Assembly for his Private Members Resolution.

This resolution urged Government to review regulatory changes that would protect children and youth in Newfoundland and Labrador from online harms.

Read more about this Liberal resolution here: https://nlliberals.ca/article/official-oppositions-private-members-resolution-urging-review-of-regulatory-changes-to-restrict-social-media-access-for-children-and-youth-passes-unanimously/

05/15/2026

A 374% increase in police-reported online child exploitation cases over the last decade is not just a statistic — it is a warning. Children are being targeted through social media, gaming platforms, and advanced AI tools.

Protecting children online must be treated with urgency, accountability, and coordinated action from governments, schools, parents, and technology platforms.
We all have a role to play in keeping children safe online — and that means acting with a greater sense of urgency, stronger accountability, and better coordination across governments, schools, families, and tech platforms.

A 374% increase in police-reported online child exploitation cases over the last decade should alarm every Canadian parent, educator, and policymaker.

According to CBC’s reporting, police across northern Ontario say predators are increasingly using social media, gaming platforms, and now AI-generated imagery to target children online. Some victims are being “love bombed,” manipulated, threatened with sextortion, and terrorized into silence.

And investigators are warning that literally any child online can become a target.

The AI element is especially disturbing. Police say they are now encountering realistic AI-generated child abuse material so convincing they must investigate every case as if a real child is in immediate danger. Cybertip.ca reports sexually explicit deepfake material involving children has risen 125% in just three years.

Meanwhile, many cases remain unsolved because investigators cannot identify suspects or gather enough evidence before the damage spreads further online.

So here are the uncomfortable questions:

Are governments, schools, tech companies, and parents actually keeping pace with the technology now being weaponized against children?

Should social media and gaming companies face stronger legal obligations around child safety?

How do we balance digital privacy rights with the urgent need to stop predators exploiting encrypted platforms and AI tools?

And without investigative reporting from CBC connecting these patterns nationally, would Canadians fully understand how rapidly this crisis is escalating?

Photo credit: CBC

05/12/2026

We are deeply disturbed by the recent allegations involving sexual violence against a minor in St. John’s. Our hearts are with the survivor and all those impacted by this horrific situation.

Cases involving the abuse and exploitation of children remind us of the urgent need for stronger prevention, education, survivor support, community accountability... and, stiffer penalties.

Every child deserves to grow up safe, protected, and surrounded by people they can trust.

For those that believe these crimes are not happening in NL, think again. 😡

05/10/2026

Today, we celebrate all the incredible women who love, guide, support, and show up in so many meaningful ways.

To mothers, stepmothers, grandmothers, foster mothers, aunties, sisters, friends, and all the like-a-mothers who hold a special place in someone’s heart — we honour you today.

We also recognize that Mother’s Day can feel different for many people. Some are missing their mothers, some have complicated relationships, and some are remembering women who are no longer here. Please know that you are seen today, too.

Wishing everyone a Mother’s Day filled with love, comfort, gratitude, and kindness.