You are invited to join a virtual capacity building event on Thursday, May 21 from 9:00 AM to 2:30 PM Pacific Time to hear from community-based and peer-led sex work organizations as well as the HIV legal network to gain a landscape view of sex work in BC in 2026. Registration is at the bottom of this page!
Who you’ll hear from:
SWAN Vancouver grew out of a pilot community healthcare initiative that extended HIV outreach to local massage businesses. During the project, they learned that women working in massage businesses dealt with a host of issues much broader than sexual health. These women were most concerned about issues related to the law, immigration, employment, and safety among others. At the end of the project, they recognized the importance of outreach work and decided to continue working together.
In December 2002, the outreach workers officially formed SWAN Vancouver which now stands for Supporting Women’s Alternatives Network. In 2008, they dropped the previous name “Sex Workers Action Network” to ensure the inclusion of im/migrant women who do sex work but do not self-identify as sex workers.
The HIV Legal Network began in 1992 when a group of activists came together to create the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network. They were united in their recognition that any effective response to the pandemic must ensure that the human rights of people living with HIV and communities particularly affected by HIV are respected, protected and fulfilled. Today, they’re one of the world’s leading organizations tackling the legal and human rights issues related to HIV, and advocating at both the policy and community levels.
They work tirelessly to defend the rights of people affected by HIV, from women, newcomers, and gay men, to prisoners, people who use drugs, sex workers, and men who have sex with men.
Health Initiative for Men (HIM) is a nonprofit society that aims to strengthen the health and well-being in communities of self-identified gay, bi and queer (GBQ) men and gender diverse people in BC. They offer a full spectrum of health-based programming and services to meet the sexual, mental, physical and social health needs of communities of self-identified GBQ men and gender diverse people in BC.
From access to health services to safety, HIM supports the maintainence of social, sexual, mental, and physical health for GBQ men and gender diverse people in the sex industry.
The Loops Sex Workers Association in partnership with Kamloops Sexual Assault Counselling Centre (KSACC). KSACC envisions communities free from violence where all people experience dignity and respect on their healing journey. They are an inclusive feminist organization that supports individuals by providing free counselling, support services and advocacy. They aim to reduce stigma and engage community through education and prevention.
The Loops Sex Workers Association was founded in 2023 and is a support organization providing peer led programming for current and former adult industry workers. Both KSACC and The Loops SWA work in collaboration, funded through grants specifically supporting sex workers.
Why a landscape?
Frames help us understand how our worlds works. In a news story or social media framed as a portrait story, audiences may learn a great deal about an individual or an event, but it can be hard to see the surrounding context and environment. A landscape story, on the other hand, widens the lens to take a broader view. It may still include people and events, but it connects them to the larger social, cultural, political, and economic forces.
Sex Work and Health: Strategies and Tools for Inclusive Practices
In complement to this virtual event, we would like those living in BC only to please strongly consider completing a free online, 2 hour course prior to the virtual event through PHSA’s Learning Hub titled Sex Work and Health: Strategies and Tools for Inclusive Practices. This course covers: sex work 101, barriers for sex workers accessing health care, how stigma shapes health care, and developing and implementing besting practices and polices.
To access this training:
- Follow this link: https://accounts.learninghub.phsa.ca/Account/Register
- Create a profile for yourself, go under Vancouver Coastal Health and register as a volunteer.
- Search for the course Sex Work and Health: Strategies and Tools for Inclusive Practices
Please read before your register:
In registering for this free learning event:
– You agree to honour PAN’s Group Guidelines and Responsibilities.
– You agree to complete an evaluation
Media Release: In registering to take part in this event, you acknowledge that PAN may record this event and that your name, image and voice may be recorded. We will provide instructions on how to change your name onscreen, but can’t guarantee your privacy. In registering, you give PAN the right and authority to use your name, voice, and image if applicable.
After registration you should receive a confirmation email that will come from Zoom. Save the confirmation email to access webinar. Please email [email protected] if this does not arrive.
For additional learning options, visit our library of on-demand webinars.
We greatly appreciate the vision of our government funders and their ongoing commitment to supporting the work of PAN. In particular we gratefully acknowledge the Public Health Agency of Canada – HIV and Hepatitis C Community Action Fund. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the views of the Public Health Agency of Canada.