Consent Action Week 2024
Consent Action Week is a university-wide educational initiative held during the third week of September and the last week of January.
Both weeks are an opportunity for students, staff and faculty to create a dialogue about consent, pleasure and relationships, as well as increase understanding of the issue of sexual violence. It's also an opportunity to increase awareness of services on and off campus. This week is a significant opportunity to reflect, champion, and celebrate consent as a cornerstone of all relationships, not just intimate ones.
This date was chosen because the first six weeks of school are designated (PDF file) the Red Zone (external link) , when there is an especially significant increase in sexual violence at schools. Canada would be the first country in the world to recognize and adopt this week to ensure that everyone feels respected and safe wherever they live, work and play.
Faculties, departments, and student groups are encouraged to participate in Consent Action Week by organizing programming, attending events and spreading the word. If you are interested in partnering or hosting your own events, Consent Comes First would love to work with you; please reach out at osvse@torontomu.ca.
Consent Action Week 2024 Events
Jan 25, 2024
6 p.m. - 8 p.m. ET
How are you building-up a culture of consent in your community? Take action this week by registering to join this free, virtual Consent Action Week event.
Author and educator Kai Cheng Thom will be joining us on Thursday, January 25, from 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. ET. This poetic reading and author chat will be a chance for students, staff, and faculty across all of the organizing institutions to discuss care, pleasure, joy, and consent on our campuses and beyond.
AND when you join the session and fill-out our evaluation form, you'll be entered into a draw to win one of multiple book prize packs!
About Kai Cheng Thom
Kai Cheng Thom, MSW, MSc, is a certified Somatic Sex Educator, Qualified Mediator, Clinical Hypnotherapist and Professional Coach based in tkaronto/Toronto. She is also the author of six award-winning books in various genres. Kai Cheng’s work focuses on the intersection of social justice, pleasure activism, and transformative approaches to healing conflict. A noted speaker and practitioner of wellness, healing, and group facilitation, Kai Cheng supports individuals and groups who are seeking to repair relationships and make transformative change. She also teaches as Adjunct Faculty at the Institute for the Study of Somatic Sex Education.
Consent Action Week is an educational initiative held during the last week of January at universities across Ontario. The week is an opportunity for campus communities to create a dialogue about consent, pleasure, relationships and increase understanding of sexual violence. It’s also an opportunity to raise awareness of both on and off-campus services. The Ontario University Sexual Violence Network created Consent Action Week.
We're excited to be hosting this event in partnership with Huron University (external link) , McMaster University (external link) , Toronto Metropolitan University, Trent University (external link) , University of Guelph (external link) , and (external link) Wilfred Laurier University (external link) .