The Equity, Diversity and Human Rights Office (EDHRO) is pleased to present Consent Week 2023, taking place from January 23 to January 27.
Consent Week is an opportunity for Laurentian community members to engage in conversations focused on consent, healthy relationships and sexual violence response and prevention.
Community members can support and participate in our event in the following ways:
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Use the Consent is Simple #iask Zoom background for the week.
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Use the backgrounds on your social media accounts for the week.
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See the schedule of events below to register and attend sessions that are being offered.
Please do not hesitate to email the EDHRO with any questions you may have.
Consent Week Event Schedule
Monday, January 23rd
Upstander Workshop
Bystander training for efficient responses and interventions for the prevention of sexual violence on campus.
Hybrid event.
Time: 10 am
Location: Executive Learning Centre, FA-386, Fraser Building
Tuesday, January 24th
Draw-the-Line Panel Discussion
A panel discussion on various topics related to sexual violence prevention and how YOU can Draw-the-Line. Pizza lunch!
Bilingual and hybrid event.
Time: 12 pm
Location: Indigenous Sharing and Learning Centre (ISLC) Round Room, P-107
Reclaim Your Voice: Storytelling by Jungle Flower
Jungle Flower boldly shares the major lessons she has learned on her journey and healing from psychological abuse, physical abuse and sexual violence through a spellbinding combination of storytelling, spoken word and poetry.
Free and open to the public. Registration required.
English event.
Time: 7 pm
Location: Fraser Auditorium, FA-F054, Fraser Building
Wednesday, January 25th
Survivor-Centered Art Workshop
Hosted by Reclaim Your Voice founder Jungle Flower, this workshop will empower participants to work through their trauma with creative exercises.
Bilingual facilitation available.
Time: 11 am
Location: Room P-301, R.D. Parker Building
Wellness Workshop
Not all students feel comfortable identifying publicly as "survivors", but they can still benefit greatly from wellness practices. This workshop facilitated by Jungle Flower the founder of Reclaim Your Voice, will include mindfulness practices, grounding techniques, as well as self-expression exercises for mental and emotional wellbeing.
Bilingual facilitation available.
Time: 1 pm
Location: Room P-301, R.D. Parker Building
Thursday, January 26th
Let's Talk about Gay Sex, Sexuality and Gender! - with your new queer friend Aspen
Join Aspen Groom from Réseau ACCESS Network for an open and frank discussion about queer sex, sexuality and gender. This conversation will include some information sharing as well as time for folks to ask any of those sexy questions that might be bouncing around in their heads.
Hybrid event. Bilingual facilitation available.
Time: 12 pm
Location: Room C-101, Classroom Building
Consent Beyond Sex
Facilitated by peers from the Peer Wellness Center, this bilingual workshop will provide information about building confidence in setting boundaries and the importance of consent when interacting with others.
Bilingual and hybrid event.
Time: 1 pm
Location: Peer Program Office, Room A-113, Arts Building (in the Bowling Alley)
Friday, January 27th
Wear Your "Consent is Simple" T-shirt Day!
More Information
Consent refers to an active, direct, voluntary, and conscious choice and agreement to engage in any sexual activity by a person capable of consenting. Consent can be revoked at any time and cannot be assumed nor implied. These elements of consent must be emphasized. It is not acceptable for a person who is said to have engaged in sexual violence to use their own consumption of alcohol or drugs as an excuse for their mistaken belief that there was consent.
For further clarity, consent:
- Cannot be given by silence or the absence of a “no”;
- Cannot be given by an individual who is incapable of consenting due to intoxication by alcohol or drugs;
- Cannot be obtained through threats or coercion;
- Cannot be given if the person who is said to have engaged in sexual violence has abused a position of trust, power or authority; and
- Might not be given properly if an individual has a disability that limits them or their verbal or physical means of interaction. In these instances, it has to be determined how consent will be established.
"Sexual violence" means any act of a sexual nature or directed at a person’s sexuality, gender identity, or gender expression, whether the act is physical or psychological in nature, that is committed, threatened, or attempted against a person without that person’s consent, and includes sexual assault, sexual harassment, stalking, indecent exposure, voyeurism and sexual exploitation.
Consent is Simple! Let’s work together at creating a safe campus for all!
Online training for Responding to Disclosures of Sexual Violence on University and College Campuses is available.
This training is designed to support all employees of universities and colleges in Ontario to respond supportively and effectively to disclosures of sexual violence.
Please note that this training is not yet available in French as it is currently in the process of
being translated. However, there are online materials available in French through L’Institut de formation en matière de violence faite aux femmes.
For in person sessions in French on the subject of disclosures, contact the EDHRO at: edhr@laurentian.ca