Past Events
SEXCESSFUL FUNDRAISER
The Sexcessful Fundraiser allowed Sex and Self to continue to provide comprehensive and inclusive sex education to individuals across Canada. All donations went towards the expansion of our organization by funding administration and event costs, as well as our Bodies A-Z program.
WHAT’S THE WORST THING SOMEONE HAS TOLD YOU ABOUT SEX?
You know - the thing that you believed growing up that shocked you when you found out it wasn't true? Maybe it was that kissing could lead to pregnancy or that vaginas get looser after multiple partners. How did that affect your understanding of sexuality?
Help us! Donating the equivalent of two Starbucks coffees will go directly towards programming, event planning and making tomorrow's youth more Sexcessful! You can be a part of helping people unlearn harmful misconceptions and preventing youth from learning them in the first place.
WHAT’S THE MOST HARMFUL THING SOMEONE HAS TOLD YOU ABOUT SEX?
For those of us that do receive sex education, it may not do as much good as we hope - one study showed that only 42.5% of Ontario high school students correctly identified Canada’s age of sexual consent as 16 years. The same study showed that when presented with four scenarios, each depicting an instance of sexual assault, only 29.6% of respondents identified all four incidents as assault and 29.1% only recognized two or fewer as assault. What do you wish you had learned in your sexual education?
Help us bridge the gap in knowledge! For the price of two coffees, you can aid us in our mission to ensure everyone has the knowledge to make informed and healthy decisions.
WHY IS RECLAIMING ONE’S SEXUALITY AFTER SEXUAL ASSAULT SO IMPORTANT?
Reclamation of sexuality is often an important step in healing for survivors of sexual assault. Reclamation is hard! Sex-positive events that prioritize everyone’s safety and enjoyment offer a safe environment to begin the journey of recovery.
Help us facilitate the journey. For the price of two coffees, you will contribute towards an organization that focuses on creating safe spaces for survivors!
Seminars & Workshops.
Facing The Facts: Part One & Two.
For Black History Month, Sex and Self hosted a two part anti-racism seminar. In acknowledgement of our core principle of intersectionality, we worked towards highlighting the interrelation of sexuality and race.
Part one focused on American history in relation to racism within health care. Special guests, Tanya Bass (PhD(c), MS, MEd, CHES, CSE) and The Black OB/GYN Project, led the discussion surrounding the past and present of racism and how it is systemically built into the healthcare system. The two hour seminar focused on historical racial discrepancies through case studies, social and economic factors that have affected Black folks throughout history and continue to do so within modern day medical practices.
Part Two focused on institutionalized and systemic barriers that have historically affected Black individuals and how that continues today. Special guests King Noire and Jet Setting Jasmine guided an exploration of the continuous white supremacy over Black individuals and elaborated on the topics of systemic racism, the history of hypersexualization of Black individuals, and the presence of these topics today.
Sex and Self Seminar
Our first ever event held in January 2020, focused on providing vulva-owners education about an array of topics surrounding sex, sexuality, and safe sex practices, in order to rectify the lack of sex education that is unfortunately not available to most.
The Sex & Self seminar, our most anticipated event of the 2019/2020 year, provided insight on topics including sex, masturbation, contraception, relationships from a gynaecologist and sex therapist. The floor was open for participant questions, enabling active participation, as well as raffles, and food. Education is the key to agency and this event allowed Sex & Self to perpetuate its core values for the first time.
Sex and Self Seminar Year 2: Variation, Anatomy and Pleasure.
In November 2020, our second Sex & Self seminar synthesized topics and subjects individuals had shown interested in. This seminar provided participants with a better understanding of their sexuality as well as safe sex practices, following our principals of intersectionality, autonomy and empowerment at the forefront of the event.
The focus of seminar was specifically on the human body, different forms of pleasure, and how sex can look different and feel different for everyone. This seminar broke down hetero-normative boundaries with its focus on sex for members of the LGBTQ+ community. The discussion component was carried over from the first seminar, encouraging participants to further their understanding. Destigmatizing sex as a topic of conversation allows for comprehensive education and meaningful discussions.
Mindful Masturbation with Luna Matatas!
In March of 2021, in a collaboration between Sex & Self and the sex and pleasure educator and expert Luna Matatas, participants were invited to learn about masturbation, pleasure, and ways to spice up both partnered and solo play. Through this fun filled hour, Luna explored topics related to communication, how to buy your first sex toy, shame and body image, pleasure, and masturbation! Luna provided important insights into how to make the most of your sex life, whether on your own or with someone.
Sex and Self would like to extend our gratitude to Luna Matatas for taking time to teach us about these important topics.
Community Outreach
Sex and Self x Blume
World Sexual Health Day was September 4th. We partnered with Blume to emphasize the importantance of sexual health through the Pleasure is Power campaign. We wanted to highlight the importance of autonomy, empowerment, and pleasure! The Pleasure is Power campaign mobilized individuals of all backgrounds to take back their power in their sexual health journey and prioritize their pleasure! Our goal was to inspire & continue the conversation around sexual health by utilizing Blume’s Sex ed and Self-care conversation cards to destigmatize and revitalize the narrative around sexual pleasure. From September 3-5th, we inspired people to take back their power through fun and informative content on our Instagram @sexandself_
Buy Black, Give Back.
In July 2020, Sex and Self used our social media platform to help advertise black owned businesses in the Montreal area with the purpose of raising awareness for the Black Lives Matter movement. Black influencers took over our Instagram page for a week, closing with a live stream discussing racial bias, and black sexuality. This provided our followers with the opportunity to engage, support and sustain Black owned businesses throughout the pandemic.
Drawing by Katherine Neal
Donations to front-line workers during the COVID-19 health crisis.
Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, frontline healthcare workers have taken on a disproportionate amount of stress in order to consistently provide treatment and care to patients. Sex and Self wanted to help in any way we could, in collaboration with an array of businesses, we were able to donate menstrual hygiene products, jewelry , food and other supplies to front line workers at Clinique Quorum and the Jewish General Hospital in Montreal, Quebec.
Fundraisers & Community Events
Sex Toy Trivia.
In March 2020, Sex and Self hosted our first Trivia Fundraiser. Teams competed against one another on a variety of questions, including topics such as sex, masturbation, the usage of sex toys, etc. The perfect time to test your knowledge about all things sex! Each member of the winning team won a brand new vibrator, as well as other sex toys. You can always learn something new at a trivia night!
Sexy September Fundraiser
In September 2020, for the first event of the academic year, Sex and Self hosted our Sexy September Fundraiser. The initial goal was to raise $1000.00 for upcoming events but surpassed our goal with flying colours. After a week of amazing giveaway and educational livestreams Sex and Self was able to raise $2000.00 with the help of generous donors, students, and the Montreal community.
Make a Mood Board Fundraiser.
In October 2019, Sex and Self hosted our first ever fundraiser where participants could design their own mood board by cutting up magazines, drawing with markers and using word art. The combination of calming music with tea, coffee and dessert supplied by our generous sponsors helped create a relaxing atmosphere right before the chaos of winter finals. This fundraiser directly supported our upcoming Sex and Self Seminar in January 2020.