Saskatoon sexual assault centre finds alternate way to provide education

After policies surrounding sexual education were made by the province last August, the Saskatoon Sexual Assault and Information Centre is now presenting its sexual abuse and prevention program at the Saskatoon Public Library.

But the centre’s executive director, Reagan Conway, says she wants the programming back in schools.

The province’s policy bans third-party organizations being brought in for sexual health education presentations, except for those authorized by the Ministry of Education or the Saskatchewan Health Authority.

Additionally, school divisions must also pause work with these organizations on sexual education programming.

Dustin Duncan, the province’s education minister at the time, said the changes were made to include parents more in their children’s education. The decision was also partially due to an incident in a Lumsden classroom in June, when a deck of sexually explicit alphabet cards was left behind by a Regina Planned Parenthood presenter.

Conway said she was upset to hear about the policy changes, and noted the programming offered by the SSAIC is “lifesaving information for young people and for parents.”

The Saskatoon Sexual Assault and Information Centre’s sexual abuse prevention program moved to the public library after the province changed its policy on sexual education in classrooms. (Mia Holowaychuk/650 CKOM)

The SSAIC had a partnership with Saskatoon Public Schools and Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools for its programs “I’m the Boss of Me” and “No is a Full Sentence.”

“I’m the Boss of Me,” a puppet show for Grade 4 students, has been running for 18 years. It covers topics such as sexual, physical, emotional and cyber abuse, knowing the signs and how to get help when needed.

According to the SSAIC, the program reaches more than 4,000 students in Saskatoon.

“No is a Full Sentence” piggybacks off the first program and is geared for Grade 8 students, covering topics such as relationships and consent.

Conway said research for both have been based off the province’s health curriculum, and were developed with help from teachers and educators.

“We have reached more students being in schools as opposed to being in the community, where parents are having to find the time to bring (their) kids,” she said, adding the SSAIC has also tried to introduce the same presentations through Zoom.

“These are important pieces for young people to be learning, so that we’re doing prevention work as opposed to fixing something after it happens.”

Conway said the SSAIC has reached out to the Ministry of Education to review the program, and is hopeful that the organization can be back presenting in schools for the next school year.

The Saskatoon Sexual Assault & Information Centre provides its sexual abuse prevention program “I’m the Boss of Me” at the Saskatoon Public Library. (Saskatoon Sexual Assault & Information Centre/Submitted)