Education
Workshops with staff and student options
SVPRO and Policy SC17 (30 min)
This presentation will provide participants with an overview of UBC’s Policy SC17: Sexual Misconduct and Sexualized Violence Policy. It will also outline the role of the Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Office UBC Okanagan and the various supports and services that this service provides to all members of the campus community.
Responding to Disclosures of Sexualized Violence (2.5-3 Hrs)
SVPRO’s most popular workshop is designed to give you the skills to support survivors of sexualized and gender-based violence. Survivors most often disclose to someone they already know and trust, however many survivors are met with disbelief and other unhelpful responses. Learn how to avoid re-traumatization and other harms. Drawing on relevant case scenarios, participants of this workshop will gain practical tools on how to best respond and support survivors who have made a disclosure.
Setting Boundaries with Friends and Family (1.5 – 2 Hrs)
Setting boundaries with the people we love can be challenging. Many of us were never taught how to set boundaries. Setting boundaries is a skill that any of us can begin practicing at any time. This interactive and arts-based workshop will take you through the basics of exploring, communicating, and reinforcing your personal boundaries.
Trans Allyship 101 (1.5-2 Hrs)
The rise of anti-trans discrimination and hate across the country has made it necessary for allies to step up and speak out in support of our trans friends and family members. While many of us want to do this, we feel nervous about using the wrong language or saying the wrong thing. This workshop will give you the opportunity to learn inclusive language practices as well as basic skills for bystander intervention and support.
Sexual Health Education Series (6 workshops, 2 hrs each)
We have 6 sexual health workshops available as part of a series or could be booked as one off depending on the needs of the students. These sessions are led by knowledgeable SVPRO staff and peer student facilitators, providing evidence-based, inclusive, and interactive education. Whether you’re looking to expand your understanding or explore new perspectives, these workshops are informative and best-practice sexual health education. Here is a list of the topics:
1. Sex and Culture
This workshop explores how cultural, patriarchal and colonial beliefs and values shape our understanding of sex and relationships. In this workshop, we will actively reflect on factors of identity, culture and systems that affect sexuality and sexual health. We will also explore pre-colonial notions of gender and sexuality, serving as a way to re-envision perspectives and approaches to sexual health.
*Created and facilitated by Keyara Brody and Karen Chabbra-Dhoot.
2. Anatomy & Pleasure
The Anatomy and Pleasure workshop introduces participants to the principles of pleasure, emphasizing its connection to our anatomy and framing it as a fundamental human right. Through this workshop, students will gain knowledge to explore areas of the body that can bring pleasure, while also learning to identify and challenge common myths and misconceptions about individual presentations of anatomy and experiences of pleasure.
*Created and facilitated by Stephanie Haney and Shilo St. Cyr.
3. Gender & Sexuality
The Gender and Sexuality module explores how social scripts around heterosexuality and traditional gender roles are continuously reinforced. The module promotes reflection on whether these expectations work for you and your relationships, and provides tools for acting outside of them in order to be the most authentic version of yourself.
*Created and facilitated by Theo Dhaliwal.
4. STIs & Safer Sex Practices
This workshop provides a comprehensive exploration of the history and evolution of STIs, contraception, and protection methods while addressing the impact of societal stigma on safer sex discussions. Participants will learn about STI types, prevention strategies, regular testing, and effective communication, with opportunities for hands-on demonstrations and reflections on personal and community attitudes toward safer sex practices.
*Created and facilitated by Shilo St. Cyr.
5. Porn Literacy
The Porn Literacy module asserts that porn, like any kind of media, is meant for entertainment. The module encourages folks to think critically about the representations of bodies, communication and consent, and other aspects of sexuality portrayed in sexual media.
*Created and facilitated by Emily Chisholm, Theo Dhaliwal, Stephanie Haney.
6. Sexual Activity Decision-Making
This workshop invites participants to practice meaningful reflection on decisions about sexual activities. Through activities and discussions, students engage with an inclusive framework of consent as a basis for informing decisions about sexual activities. Students will reflect on ways to take care of themselves and their emotions that follow the decisions they make.
*Created and facilitated by Emily Chisholm
CHECK OUT SOME HELPFUL RESOURCES ABOUT SEXUAL HEALTH
Workshops exclusive for students
Navigating Healthy and Consensual Relationships (1-2 Hrs)
In this presentation, students will explore and engage in a discussion about dating and relationships. Particularly, this presentation will cover topics such as roles in relationships; mutual respect and boundaries in relationships; consent and sex; and more.
Bystander Intervention (2.5 HRS)
This interactive workshop will provide participants with the practical skills and tools to identify and intervene to prevent sexualized and gender-based violence in our communities. Learn how to role model healthy behaviours, how to have difficult conversations with friends who cause harm, and how to tap into your own leadership potential to create safer communities on and off campus.
Safer Partying (3 HRS)
Partying is often seen as a central part of the post-secondary student experience. However, it is not difficult for our parties to go from fun to harmful. This interactive workshop takes a harm reduction approach to partying by helping students to identify some of the common risks associated with partying and sexualized or gender-based violence. We will take an in-depth look at consent to sexual or romantic activities when alcohol and drugs are involved. We will learn preventative measures that can help us to plan safer and more inclusive parties, events, and hang outs. We will also learn about the basics of bystander intervention so that we can intervene safely when we spot harmful behaviours.
Workshops exclusive for staff and faculty
Trauma-Informed Practice for Staff and Faculty (2-2.5 Hrs)
In this hands-on workshop, participants will gain an understanding of trauma and its impacts on the mind and body, and learn the central values of trauma-informed practice (TIP). By drawing on relevant case scenarios, participants will have an opportunity to apply the values of TIP to effectively respond to each scenario. Participants of this training will walk away with practical tools and skills to best support students, staff/faculty, and colleagues in need.
The classroom
Having Difficult Conversations in the Classroom (2-3 HRS)
is a place to learn and explore all kinds of ideas, world views, and concepts. Sometimes the subjects we cover can be controversial, emotionally charged, or even trauma related. It is important to develop the pedagogical skills and practices necessary to give these topics the scholarly attention that they deserve. Learn how to use content warnings, group agreements, and other tools in order to facilitate safer discussions and encourage critical reflection.
Suggest a workshop
Have an idea for a workshop or guest lecture that doesn’t quite fit into any of the descriptions listed above? Reach out to SVPRO’s Education Specialist to suggest a workshop! We have broad expertise in the areas of sexualized and gender based violence as well as 2SLGBTIQ+ identities and communities. We can also tailor our existing content to meet the needs of your classroom or group.