B.C. campaign reminds post-secondary students about culture of consent

With the start of a new winter term, the province’s sexualized violence prevention campaign is reopening conversations about consensual sexual behaviour.

The relaunch of the “…Is Not Yes” campaign raises awareness about preventing sexualized violence, consent and available supports for post-secondary students, faculty and staff.

In section 273 of Canada’s Criminal Code, consent is defined as the voluntary agreement to engage in sexual activity. Silence or passivity is not consent.

“Students deserve safe campuses, and it is our collective responsibility to educate everyone about consent,” said Anne Kang, Minister of Advanced Education and Skills Training. “This campaign encourages the necessary conversations about consent – what consent is, what it looks like and the vital role it has in preventing and responding to acts of sexualized violence.”

The “…Is Not Yes” campaign also promotes free educational resources available to the post-secondary community and highlights various student support services offered by B.C. colleges and universities.

The campaign relaunched today, and continues through the month to coincide with on-campus student orientation at the beginning of each semester.

To reach new and returning students, campaign materials have been shared with student and faculty organizations at all 25 public post-secondary institutions across B.C. and to private post-secondary colleges and universities.

In partnership with the post-secondary sector and BCcampus, the provincial government has also launched a new, free training resource called Safer Campuses for Everyone. This resource is accessible to all post-secondary institutions and can be adapted to each institution’s learning management system to meet the needs of students, faculty and staff.

“Every student has the right to a post-secondary experience that is safe from sexualized violence,” said Maia Lomelino, president of the Capilano Students’ Union. “We appreciate that this campaign is bringing new training to post-secondary institutions to make sure that staff, faculty, administrators and students have the resources they need to respond to and support survivors of sexualized violence on our campuses. The ongoing effort to end sexualized violence on post-secondary campuses is of the utmost priority. This is not an easy battle, but we are glad we have more resources and ways to keep fighting.”

If you or someone you know is a victim of sexual assault, contact VictimLinkBC, a toll-free, confidential, multilingual service available across B.C. and the Yukon 24 hours a day, seven days a week, by calling or texting 1 800 563-0808 or sending an email to VictimLinkBC@bc211.ca (mailto:VictimLinkBC@bc211.ca). You can also call your local police or 911.