Simcoe County males rounded up in child sexual abuse sting operation

 

Posted November 9, 2026​

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Males from Barrie and Orillia are among 17 people arrested and charged with a combined 55 criminal offences during a child sexual exploitation initiative dubbed Project Brace. 

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Fifteen police services participating in the Provincial Strategy to Protect Children from Sexual Abuse and Exploitation on the Internet (Provincial Strategy), in partnership with the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Child Sexual Exploitation Unit (CSEU), conducted online child exploitation investigations to identify and apprehend those who prey on children.

 

Investigators targeted individuals making, possessing and distributing child sexual abuse material.

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Project Brace results include:  

·        17 individuals arrested

·        55 charges were laid 

·        424 electronic devices seized

 

While this investigation did not directly identify any victims, investigators initiated 23 cases that remain active.

 

Provincial Strategy police partners have noted a significant rise in reports of online child sexual exploitation and child sexual abuse material in recent years. 

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Anyone with any information related to child sexual exploitation should contact their local police or report it to cybertip. ca.

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"Online offenders are increasingly leveraging digital technologies to access and exploit children and youth," said OPP Detective Staff Sergeant Tara Clark, Provincial Strategy Coordinator. "Through social media, gaming platforms, messaging applications, and peer-to-peer networks, they use deceptive tactics to groom victims, distribute child sexual abuse material, and evade detection. Combating these crimes requires vigilance, education, and collective action from families, communities, industry partners, and law enforcement."