Canada's national consent education week
Consent Awareness Week: growing respect, care, and collaboration.
A national initiative that invites us all to thoughtful, affirming, and age-appropriate conversations about consent as a cornerstone of all our relationships. Created by High School Too and Possibility Seeds. Consent Awareness Week, September 21–25, 2026.
About the week
A whole week to grow consent culture
We talk about consent more than ever, and yet, for so many of us, what it actually means in practice still feels blurry. Consent Awareness Week is a chance to close that gap together: to slow down, ask better questions, and practise the kind of respect that makes everyone safer. In 2022, in response to calls from high school student leaders in the High School Too movement, Possibility Seeds launched Canada's first Consent Awareness Week in collaboration with communities across the country.[4]
of people in Canada don't fully understand what it means to give consent.[3]
recognize that consent must be both positive and ongoing, up from 33% in 2015.[3]
the year Possibility Seeds launched Canada's first national Consent Awareness Week.[4]
Consent on the land, consent on our bodies
Consent lives everywhere: in how we treat each other, and in how we treat the land, water, and life we share. True consent requires respect, ongoing communication, and the recognition of another's autonomy and sovereignty. Each September, the week invites classrooms, campuses, workplaces, and whole communities into that practice together, in ways that fit every age and every relationship.
Consent Awareness Week guides
Guides for every audience, in one place
Wherever you spend your days, a classroom, a campus, a union hall, a city council, there's a way to bring this week to life. Each guide is free, made with care, and ready to make your own. Pick the one that fits your community, and adapt it to your local support services before you share it.
Schools · K–12
Guide for schools
Age-appropriate activities for every grade from Kindergarten to Grade 12, hosted on our High School Too microsite: a five-day plan, reading lists, We Believe You Day, letters for families, and classroom-ready activities.
Open the K–12 guidePost-secondary
Guide for colleges & universities
Ideas for making consent visible on campus during the Red Zone: prevention that names accountability, centres survivors, and helps build lasting culture. Suggestions for students, faculty, student affairs, and administration.
See what's inside the guide for colleges and universitiesCommunities
Guide for communities
Towns, cities, libraries, and local organizations can make consent part of everyday life, from proclamations to programming. Includes a step-by-step proclamation request and sample wording.
Request a proclamation, jump to the communities guideUnions
Guide for unions
Ending harassment and gender-based violence at work is union work. Educate members, build solidarity, and, if it fits, move a resolution to recognize the week, with sample language you can adapt.
See the union guide, jump to the guide for unionsWorkplaces
Guide for workplaces
Employers and teams can make consent part of a respectful workplace culture: review policies, support survivors, and give staff simple, practical ways to take part during the week.
See the workplace guide, jump to the guide for workplacesConsent over the land and over our bodies cannot be separated
Consent is relational
Colonialism is rooted in entitlement and control: over land, over bodies, and over communities. This is the opposite of consent. Consent is not only interpersonal; it is structural and political. It requires respect for Indigenous sovereignty, leadership, and self-determination.
Learning from Indigenous knowledge
The understanding of consent as connected to land and body comes from Indigenous elders, knowledge keepers, youth, and organizations who have long carried this knowledge. As the Native Youth Sexual Health Network and Women's Earth Alliance put it, everything that impacts the land in turn impacts our bodies.[10] Taking the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action seriously means learning from what Indigenous communities have already made public and crediting it, and following their lead where they choose to collaborate.[11] Begin with the Native Youth Sexual Health Network, the Yellowhead Institute, and the work of Leanne Betasamosake Simpson.[12]
Consent as a spectrum
In Land Back: A Yellowhead Institute Red Paper (2019), Hayden King and Shiri Pasternak describe consent over land as a spectrum, from denial (consent ignored), to recognition (consulted, but not able to refuse), to reclamation (deciding on one's own terms). It makes plain a truth that holds for land and body alike: being asked is not the same as being able to say no.[13]
Consent and Indigenous ways of knowing and being
To learn more, from Indigenous-led sources.
Violence on the Land, Violence on Our Bodiessee "Consent over Land and Body," Chapter 1 (Women's Earth Alliance & Native Youth Sexual Health Network) Land Back: Spectrum of ConsentPart One of the Yellowhead Institute Red Paper Three Frameworks of Consentframeworks for Indigenous consultation and consent, from the Yellowhead InstituteA shared language
Two frameworks to start from
Big conversations get easier when we share a few words for what we mean. Consent isn't only something between people, it's also about land, sovereignty, and self-determination. So we start with two touchstones: Free, Prior, and Informed Consent, and then FRIES.
The right of nations
Free, Prior, and Informed Consent
These rights are inherent: the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples affirms them rather than granting them.[6] Free, Prior, and Informed Consent is a right of Indigenous nations, flowing from their inherent right to self-determination and their sovereignty. It is not a single yes-or-no decision but an ongoing relationship and process, led by a nation through its own decision-making, over anything affecting its lands, territories, and communities.[5]
- F Free: self-directed by the nation, without coercion, intimidation, or manipulation.
- P Prior: sought early, before decisions are made, with enough time.
- I Informed: based on full, accessible, and honest information.
- C Consent: a collective decision reached through the nation's own laws and processes; it may be given, withheld, conditioned, or withdrawn.
FRIES · everyday consent
The five elements of consent
A simple, widely used way to understand consent between people, from Planned Parenthood.[7] A friendly tool for talking through what a real "yes" looks like.
- F Freely given: a real choice, without pressure or power over someone.
- R Reversible: anyone can change their mind at any time.
- I Informed: everyone knows what they're agreeing to.
- E Enthusiastic: a genuine yes, not a reluctant one.
- S Specific: yes to one thing isn't yes to everything.
A suggested plan
Ideas to spark your week
Here's one way you might shape the week, with a theme for each day from September 21 to 25. It's a starting point, not a checklist. Mix and match for your community, focus on what fits, or set your own path. Each audience guide offers ideas for its own context.
What is consent?
You might build a shared understanding across ages, contexts, and relationships, and introduce Free, Prior, and Informed Consent alongside the five elements of everyday consent (FRIES).
We Believe You Day · supporting survivors & each other
Many communities mark a day to centre survivors and think about how to respond with care when someone shares an experience of harm. One tool you might explore together is the BRAVE Model™,* a trauma-informed framework for responding to disclosures. These are ideas to consider, not requirements.
- Begin by listening. Listen before offering advice or asking questions.
- Respect confidentiality. What they share is theirs, and theirs to decide what happens next.
- Ask what support looks like for them. Ask what they need, rather than assuming.
- Validate. Believe them, and let them know you do.
- Empathize. Meet them with warmth and without judgment, and care for yourself too.
Some schools and workplaces wear teal as a visible sign of support, too.
* BRAVE Model™ and the framework are the original work of Farrah Khan, shared under a Creative Commons BY-NC-ND licence: it should be used unadapted, for non-commercial purposes, with full attribution, "The BRAVE Model is the original work of Farrah Khan."[1] The wording here follows the model as published by Possibility Seeds.[2]
Consent & reconciliation
You might explore consent as a cornerstone of reconciliation, including Free, Prior, and Informed Consent and Indigenous peoples' rights.
Consent & tech
A chance to talk about consent in our digital lives, from sharing photos and screenshots to data, AI, and the platforms we use every day.
Commit to action
You might turn learning into ongoing commitment, and consider how consent could become a cornerstone of how your community operates.
Consent Awareness Week guide · colleges & universities
Making consent visible on campus
The "Red Zone" is the name campus-safety researchers give to the early weeks of the fall term, roughly from move-in to Thanksgiving, when reports of sexual assault spike, especially among first-year students. We name the timing to prepare, and keep the focus on accountability: the danger is predatory behaviour that exploits those weeks, not students' choices to socialize.
of students at Canadian post-secondary schools witnessed or experienced unwanted sexualized behaviours in a post-secondary setting in 2019.[9]
women students were sexually assaulted in a post-secondary setting in a single year, compared with 1 in 25 men.[8]
the Red Zone spans roughly the first six weeks of term, when prevention matters most.[4]
These are ideas you're welcome to adapt, not a to-do list. Take what fits your campus.
- Students & student groupsYou might host a screening, run a consent table during orientation, complete bystander training, or bring it to a club, team, or residence floor.
- Faculty & instructorsYou might add a consent-and-support statement to your syllabus, name campus resources in the first week, and get familiar with how to receive a disclosure.
- Student affairs & residence lifeYou might weave consent into orientation and residence programming, support peer leaders, and make support services easy to find.
- AdministrationYou might review and promote your sexual violence policy, resource your prevention office, and back student-led work.
Ideas for the week
Some themes you might draw on: shared language for consent (Free, Prior, and Informed Consent, and the five elements of everyday consent); responding to disclosures (We Believe You, one approach being the BRAVE Model™); bystander intervention; safer socializing and substances; and digital consent and online safety.
For senior administrators: three actions on policy
Leaders shape the conditions that keep students safe. If your institution is developing or reviewing policy this year, three priorities to keep in mind:
- Make sure all learning contexts, including placements, co-ops, and other off-campus settings, are clearly within the scope of your sexual violence and related policies.
- Spell out clearly how the institution will address sexual harassment and violence when it happens.
- Develop a specific protocol for responding to sexual harassment and violence, so staff and students know what to expect.
If your review cycle doesn't touch these areas this year, you might still keep the conversation going, by joining a panel or sponsoring an event where this is the focus.
Safer campus communities: further reading
A few resources for building consent culture on campus.
Courage Catalysts: Creating Consent Culture on Campusa guide created by students, for students, on advocacy and gender-based violence prevention Campus Toolkit for Creating Consent Culturefrom the Canadian Federation of Students Impact of the Undressing Consent Programan evaluation of consent education at Western University Racism and Sexual Violencea primer from the Sexual Assault Centre of Edmonton on the intersections between racism and sexual violence No. You Cannot Touch My Hair!a TED Talk by Mena Fombo on non-consensual touch, misogynoir, and bodily autonomyConsent Awareness Week guide · communities
Ask your community to recognize the week
Advocates across Canada are asking their governments to formally recognize Consent Awareness Week, a public commitment that consent and safety matter here. There are two key routes: Private Members' Bills, which create lasting legal recognition, and proclamations, which build visibility and momentum year to year.
For lasting change
Private Members' Bills
Unlike proclamations, bills can create permanent legal recognition. In 2023, the first Private Members' Bill in Ontario proposed formalizing Consent Awareness Week in legislation. To pursue this route, connect with your local MPP, MLA, or MP about introducing legislation in your region.
Thanks to Possibility Seeds' advocacy, Alberta and Manitoba have already declared Consent Awareness Week in perpetuity.
Build visibility & momentum
Proclamations · how to request one
- 1 · Research whether your municipal, provincial, or territorial government accepts proclamation requests (some use online forms, others a written letter).
- 2 · Submit your name, your connection to the cause, the dates (Sept 21–25, 2026), and why consent education matters.
- 3 · Plan ahead: requests should be submitted 6 to 10 weeks in advance.
- 4 · Spread the word once approved, and encourage local schools and organizations to host events.
Where Consent Awareness Week has been proclaimed
Communities across Canada have already recognized the week, use these as a starting point for your own request. If your area isn't listed, contact your local municipality; they can point you to the right process.
Quebec
Contact your local municipality.
New Brunswick
Nova Scotia
Contact your local municipality.
Prince Edward Island
Contact your local municipality.
Newfoundland & Labrador
Yukon
Northwest Territories
Contact your local municipality.
Nunavut
Contact your local municipality.
If your request isn't approved, don't give up. You can still make a meaningful impact by hosting events, running social media campaigns, and sparking conversations in your community.
Sample proclamation wording
WHEREAS consent, bodily autonomy, and healthy relationships are fundamental to the safety and well-being of all people; and WHEREAS gender-based violence remains a serious issue affecting communities across Canada; and WHEREAS education, awareness, and dialogue are essential to preventing sexual violence and supporting survivors; and WHEREAS Consent Awareness Week, observed annually during the third week of September, is a national initiative created by High School Too and Possibility Seeds… NOW THEREFORE, I, [Mayor's name], do hereby proclaim the third week of September as Consent Awareness Week in [Municipality], and encourage all residents to participate in learning, dialogue, and action toward building a culture of consent.
Consent Awareness Week guide · unions
An injury to one is an injury to all
Ending sexual harassment and gender-based violence at work is union work. When we look out for each other, we build the kind of solidarity that keeps every member safer. Consent Awareness Week is a chance to educate members, back survivors, and put the union's collective weight behind a culture of respect.
Ways your local might take part
None of these are required, take what fits your members and your structure.
- Educate membersShare consent resources through your steward network, a lunch-and-learn, or your newsletter, and point members to the frameworks on this page.
- Lean on your equity or women's committeeThey are natural champions for this work and often know how to move it through the local.
- Strengthen the contractHarassment and violence protections belong in the collective agreement. The week is a good moment to review your language and flag improvements for the next round of bargaining, without needing to reopen anything now.
- Move a resolutionIf it fits, recognize Consent Awareness Week through your usual resolution process. Sample wording is below.
- Stand in solidarityJoin or amplify actions by other locals, labour councils, and the wider movement against gender-based violence.
Sample resolution language
WHEREAS all workers have the right to safe, respectful, and harassment-free workplaces; and WHEREAS sexual harassment, sexual violence, and gender-based violence remain significant issues across workplaces and communities in Canada; and WHEREAS [Name of Union] is committed to advancing workplace equity, member safety, and gender justice; and WHEREAS Consent Awareness Week is a national initiative created by High School Too and Possibility Seeds… BE IT RESOLVED THAT [Name of Union] formally recognizes the third week of September as Consent Awareness Week; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT [Name of Union] support member education, workplace programming, and solidarity actions during the week.
Consent Awareness Week guide · workplaces
Respect at work is everyone's business
Employers, teams, and people leaders shape whether a workplace feels safe. Consent Awareness Week is a low-pressure moment to strengthen that culture: revisit the basics, make support easy to find, and give staff simple, practical ways to take part.
Ways your organization might take part
Pick what suits your size and sector, small gestures count.
- Revisit your policiesRefresh your respectful-workplace and harassment policies, and make sure everyone knows how to report and what happens next.
- Make support visibleShare your Employee Assistance Program and local support services somewhere people will actually see them.
- Offer a learning momentHost a short session or share the frameworks on this page at a team meeting. Keep it practical and non-punitive.
- Equip people leadersHelp managers respond well when someone discloses harm, the We Believe You approach is a good starting point.
- Model everyday consentRespect for time, boundaries, and communication is consent culture too. Leaders set the tone.
Unionized workplace?
If your workplace has a union, this work is stronger together. See the guide for unions and consider partnering with your local on shared education and events.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
What is Consent Awareness Week?
Canada's national campaign for dialogue, education, and action around consent. Created by High School Too and Possibility Seeds and held annually during the third week of September (September 21–25 in 2026), it invites campuses, communities, workplaces, and organizations to have thoughtful, affirming, intersectional, and age-appropriate conversations about consent as a cornerstone of all relationships, not just intimate ones.[4]
When is it held, and why September?
The third week of September. That timing coincides with the "Red Zone," the early weeks of the school year when reports of sexual violence rise on campuses, so prevention and awareness matter most right at the start of the year.[4]
Who is it for?
Everyone. There are dedicated guides for K–12 schools, colleges and universities, communities, unions, and workplaces, plus a general guide anyone can use. Each is free and adaptable to your context.
What are the two consent frameworks on this page?
The first is Free, Prior, and Informed Consent, a right of Indigenous nations that flows from their inherent right to self-determination and sovereignty. It concerns decisions affecting their lands, territories, and communities, and it is a nation-led process rather than a single yes-or-no. The UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples affirms this right rather than granting it.[5][6] The second is FRIES, a way to remember the five parts of everyday consent: Freely given, Reversible, Informed, Enthusiastic, and Specific (Planned Parenthood).[7]
How can my city or organization take part?
There are lots of ways, and none are required. You might request a municipal proclamation, pass a union resolution, host events, or run programming using the guides above. The community and union guides include step-by-step suggestions and sample wording.
Where's the guide for schools?
The full K–12 guide lives on our High School Too microsite, with age-appropriate activities for every grade: highschooltoo.ca/consentawarenessweek.
References
Sources for the frameworks, figures, and claims on this page. Numbers match the superscript citations above.
[1] The BRAVE Model™: A trauma-informed framework for responding to disclosure. The original work of Farrah Khan (1998). Licensed CC BY-NC-ND; use unadapted, non-commercially, with attribution. farrahkhan.ca/thebravemodel
[2] Possibility Seeds. (n.d.). BRAVE Model™. possibilityseeds.ca/brave
[3] Canadian Women's Foundation. (2022). New study: Less than half of people in Canada know what sexual consent means. canadianwomen.org
[4] Possibility Seeds. (n.d.). Consent Awareness Week. possibilityseeds.ca/consent-awareness-week
[5] Institute for Human Rights and Business. (n.d.). What is Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC)? ihrb.org
[6] United Nations. (2007). United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (Articles 3, 4, 19, 32). un.org
[7] Planned Parenthood. (n.d.). Sexual consent. plannedparenthood.org
[8] Statistics Canada. (2020). One in ten women students sexually assaulted in a postsecondary setting. The Daily.
[9] Burczycka, M. (2020). Students' experiences of unwanted sexualized behaviours and sexual assault at postsecondary schools in the Canadian provinces, 2019. Juristat, Statistics Canada. statcan.gc.ca
[10] Konsmo, E. M. & Pacheco, A. K. (2016). Violence on the land, violence on our bodies. Women's Earth Alliance & Native Youth Sexual Health Network. landbodydefense.org
[11] Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. (2015). Calls to action.
[12] Simpson, L. B. (2017). As we have always done: Indigenous freedom through radical resistance. University of Minnesota Press.
[13] King, H. & Pasternak, S. (2019). Land back: A Yellowhead Institute red paper. Yellowhead Institute. redpaper.yellowheadinstitute.org
Support: If you or someone you know has experienced sexual violence, you can connect with a local sexual assault centre or support service. In an emergency, contact your local emergency number.
CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Consent Awareness Week is a national initiative created by High School Too and Possibility Seeds, held annually the third week of September. This page's content may be shared and adapted for non-commercial use, with attribution, under the same licence. Note: BRAVE Model™ and the framework are the original work of Farrah Khan, separately licensed (CC BY-NC-ND); it should be used unadapted, with attribution.
It starts with one conversation
You don't need to do everything, just something. One story, one poster, one honest talk at the dinner table or the staff meeting. Small moments of care add up to a culture. Pick a guide, mark the week, and see where it leads.
Consent Awareness Week was created by High School Too and Possibility Seeds, and is now marked by communities across Canada.