Let's Talk About Sex (& Consent), Baby!

Join your Students' Union for an informative evening of fun featuring a consent based workshop, panellist discussion, complimentary dinner, and a few rounds of sex bingo!

The evening will begin with the sexual consent workshop and panellist discussion which will provide students with information about sexual consent through a variety of lens'. 

The consent workshop will offer an opportunity for students to define consent, experience giving and receiving consent through hands-on exercises (optional participation), and a Q&A for further exploration. Expert panellists will then answer a series of questions by our host, VIUSU's Director of Events, Paula Zerpa, with room for questions for the panellists from the audience. 

Following the panellist discussion, VIUSU will provide a complimentary pasta buffet dinner, non-alcoholic drinks, and dessert. The bar will also be open for students to purchase alcoholic drinks (19+ with 2 pieces of ID for alcohol service). 

To wrap up the night, our sex bingo host and drag queen, KASH, will host a fun and interactive game of sex bingo with prizes to be won. Prizes include your choice of sex toy from SEXPOSITIVE. For those who don't win at bingo, SEXPOSITIVE will be hosting a pop-up shop for students to purchase a sex toy to bring home with them!

Don't forget to join us in the Campus Pub after this event for our Drag Show, "Categery is: Consent!" starting at 9pm. Must be 19+ with 2 pieces of ID to enter pub. First-come, first to be entertained.

Panelist Bios

Mehdi Naimi has been a psychotherapist for over 25 years. He specializes in trauma and sexuality. Mehdi has graduate degrees in counselling psychology and art therapy, and training in sandplay therapy, sexological bodywork and somatic sex education. He lives on Vancouver Island and work with clients across Canada and the rest of the world. Mehdi’s approach is based on connecting people with their authentic Self and pleasure, and finding creative solutions towards consensual and pleasurable relationships. His clientele includes adults with histories of trauma and couples with sex and relationship challenges.

Jovonne Johnson is the Founder and Executive Director of the RISEBRIDGE project. Along with this she is currently working as a Social Justice Director for Shoelace Learning inc., is a Mental health and addictions educator for a provincial program, and has facilitated MGI Women Empowerment programs for the past decade. Identifying as a female BIPOC and strong community advocate with a pure passion for personal autonomy and empowerment, Jovonne brings a wealth of knowledge and personal experience to the table to share with us for sexual health and consent week at Vancouver Island University.

Jeremy Mailloux has been an HIV and LGBTQ2S+ activist for over 30 years.  He is the clinic manager at AVI Health and Wellness Community Health Centre where they strive towards equity in health care for marginalized and under serviced populations.  He works with with the community to address the social determinants of health while increasing the local capacity for self-advocacy through education and peer driven navigation.

   
What is Sexual Consent?

There are many different definitions and models of consent that take into account the particular wants, needs, and communication styles of those who practice it.

At VIUSU, we define consent similarly to our Let's Get Consensual campaign partner as a mutual emotional, physical and psychological understanding between people(s) without force of any kind. When engaging intimately with other individuals, consent is necessary to ensure that everybody involved is aware and interested in what is happening. Consent is based on communication, not assumptions.

Who should attend this event?
All students are welcome to attend this event. We encourage those with no knowledge of consent, some knowledge of consent, and consent experts to attend and contribute to the discussion. It is a valuable conversation for everyone no matter how much or little you already know on the topic.

Dinner Menu
Pasta buffet with salad (more info coming soon!).