Sexual Health Options, Resources & Education
235 King St.E Suite 130 N2G4N5 Kitchener, ON, Canada

Join us on Nov 19th for a FREE virtual workshop: How to talk to your LGBTQ2+ kids and clients about sex and dating This workshop is presented by OK2BME, and we'll be joined by our friends from A.C.C.K.W.A The AIDS Committee of Cambridge, Kitchener, Waterloo & Area. Read more and register at: ok2bme.ca/events

It's #transawarenessweek ! Accessible reproductive health care is for everyone and that includes safe/free/legal/stigma-free abortion care.

Check out our newest virtual training! We are partnering with @shorecentrewr to offer a segment on The Prevalence & Risk of Postpartum Depression among Immigrant Women in Canada. This training is being held on Nov 25 at 11am. Please RSVP to [email protected]

Just your friendly neighbourhood ghosts reminding you that costumes = consent. #spookyseason Have a spooktacular (and COVID safe) Halloween Art by @_jennaleeee on Instagram

Click this link to listen! : https://www.shorecentre.ca/myth-or-menstruation/ We are so excited to be releasing our second podcast in partnership with The Kitchener Public Library; Sex-Ed Stories! This podcast discusses the many different types of sex education stories, aims to normalize talking about sexual and reproductive health, and gives folks the opportunitiy to bond through each other’s experiences. Thank to our amazing partners at the Kitchener Public Library and everyone who shared their stories with us! Let us know what you think in the comments below.

A majority of transgender and gender nonconforming people experience harassment, violence and discrimination in their homes, medical offices, and in the community. It is even worse for trans women of color. We must do more to stop these #scarystats and push for #transequality.

We're on track to see twice as many clients in our clinic this year over last. The pandemic has created even more barriers to accessing sexual and reproductive healthcare, and we've been filling in the gaps left by the cancellation of essential healthcare services. You can ensure that folks in our community get the testing, birth control, and abortions they need by donating here: https://www.shorecentre.ca/donate-to-shore-centre/

SHORE Centre and the Kitchener Public Library are teaming up again to bring you another podcast! This time we are asking for you to provide stories about your sexual health education, or experiences as a sexual health educator! Any story is accepted, whether that be heart warming, good or bad experiences, funny experiences, or misguided sexual health information, etc. We will be sharing your stories along with some of our own. ... If you would like to share your experience, the link to share is here: https://forms.gle/qBXH4diXPjQtNR5B8 We are looking very forward to hearing from you!

TW: forced sterilization, genocide, eugenics While news spreads of the mass sterilizations at ICE detention centres in America (thank you Dawn Wooten!), conside...r learning more about Canada's own appalling record of reproductive violence. Here in Canada, there is a long tradition of egregious human rights violations against Indigenous women, trans, and 2-Spirit people, including in the form of forced and coerced sterilization. These practices are in obvious breech of medical ethics, domestic and international human rights law, and are the subject of numerous class-action lawsuits. Birth professionals have shared that the practice of doctors "suggesting" a tubal ligation procedure to Indigenous patients before or during a C-section is still occurring at some major hospitals here in Toronto. A patient cannot give free, prior and informed consent for this irreversible procedure while in active labour or on the operating table. This is obstetric violence. This is colonial violence. This is genocide. This is a national shame. Evidence on forced sterilization of Indigenous women [and gender diverse people] was presented by Alisa Lombard, Dr. Karen Stote, Francyne Joe, Chaneesa Ryan, and Melanie Omeniho to the Standing Committee on Health Number 153, 1st Session, 42nd Parliament, House of Commons, Canada - June 13, 2019 : "Many of the women who have reached out did not know that they had rights, that they had a choice. Some did not know that, under Canadian law, no doctor, nurse or government has any right to make decisions about their fertility for them. They were not given a fair chance to partake in medical decisions about their reproductive capabilities. In fact, their wishes for their own bodies were ignored. lt is critically important that women know what their rights are and that their rights are proactively upheld by medical professionals, their self-regulating entities and governments alike." - Alisa Lombard, Lawyer, in an address to the Standing Committee on Health READ MORE: https://www.ourcommons.ca///42-1/HESA/meeting-153/evidence OTHER READINGS: Eugenics in Canada by Tabitha Marshall, Gerald Robertson https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/eugenics Forced sterilization of women flagged in MMIWG report its allegedly still happening The Canadian Press - June 13, 2019 https://globalnews.ca///forced-sterilization-mmiwg-report/ End forced sterilizations of Indigenous women in Canada by Nickita Longman - December 4, 2018 https://www.washingtonpost.com//end-forced-sterilizations/ Dozens of Indigenous women forcibly sterilized file a class-action lawsuit against the Canadian government https://www.pri.org//dozens-indigenous-women-forcibly-ster AN ACT OF GENOCIDE: CANADAS COERCED STERILIZATION OF FIRST NATIONS WOMEN by Courtney Parker - November 15, 2018 https://intercontinentalcry.org/canadas-coerced-sterilizat/ Indigenous women coerced into sterilizations across Canada: senator by Kristy Kirkup - November 12, 2018 https://www.cbc.ca//pol/sterilization-indigenous-1.4902303 Canada's Human Rights History - Eugenics https://historyofrights.ca/encyclopae/main-events/eugenics/ Links to law firms representing class action plaintiffs can be found in the "Reporting Negative Reproductive Healthcare Experiences in Canada" resource: obstetricjustice.org/resources If you need mental health support, call the Hope for Wellness Line 1-855-242-3310 for First Nations, Inuit, and Metis people across Canada 24/7 - Free counselling is available in English, French, Cree, Ojibway and Inuktitut: https://www.hopeforwellness.ca/ -- UPDATE: Wow! This post has gotten a bit more traction than expected. For those asking, here are some more things to read and learn from: EUGENICS IN CANADA Forced & Coerced Sterilization of Individuals with an Intellectual Disability Statement by Inclusion Canada https://inclusioncanada.ca//forced-coerced-sterilization-/ Eugenics Archive - Canada by Erika Dyck https://eugenicsarchive.ca/discover/world Ontario Human Rights Commission Policy on preventing discrimination based on mental health disabilities and addictions Appendix A: Historical context http://www.ohrc.on.ca/tl/node/11476 Letter to the Senate Standing Committee on Human Rights on behalf of Canadian Association of Community Living and People First of Canada May 17, 2019 https://sencanada.ca//c/421/RIDR/Briefs/RIDR_CACLPFC_e.pdf HISTORICAL AND ONGOING GENOCIDE OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES IN CANADA First Peoples, Second Class Treatment The role of racism in the health and well-being of Indigenous peoples in Canada by Dr. Janet Smylie and Dr. Billie Allan https://www.wellesleyinstitute.com//first-peoples-second-/ Reclaiming Power and Place: The Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls June 2019 https://www.mmiwg-ffada.ca/final-report/ 231 'imperative' changes: The MMIWG inquiry's calls for justice CBC News - June 02, 2019 https://www.cbc.ca//indigen/mmiwg-inquiry-report-1.5158385 Canada is asking families of murdered, missing Indigenous women to wait for action plan. Why? by Jane Gerster - June 3, 2020 https://globalnews.ca/news/7015803/mmiwg-action-plan/ Indigenous women come forward with accounts of forced sterilization, says lawyer by Avery Zingel - April 18, 2019 https://www.cbc.ca/amp/1.5102981 PLACES TO DONATE The Native Youth Sexual Health Network (NYSHN) an organization by and for Indigenous youth that works across issues of sexual and reproductive health, rights and justice throughout the United States and Canada. http://www.nativeyouthsexualhealth.com/donate.html Aunties on the Road Doula Collective an organization providing full-spectrum doula support to Indigenous youth (12-30) living on traditional Algonquin and Mohawk territories in Eastern Ontario. https://www.minlodge.com/doula-program https://www.minlodge.com/donate Ocama Collective a community-directed group of birth workers of colour, living and working in Tkaronto (Toronto), who are dedicated to the reclamation of traditional and holistic childbearing and birthing practices, amongst queer and trans IBPOC [Indigenous, Black, People of Colour] folx. https://www.ocamacollective.com/donate Ode'min Giizis Doula Collective an Indigenous full spectrum doula collective that offers compassionate, culturally safe care for folks who are or can be pregnant. https://static1.squarespace.com//1564620/Odemin+Giizis.pdf 1492 Land Back Lane legal fund for the Land Defenders of 1492 Land Back Lane bordering the town of Caledonia and the Six Nations reserve in Ontario https://ca.gofundme.com/f/legal-fund-1492-land-back-lane Please drop more suggestions in the comments! SHARE YOUR STORIES The Obstetric Justice Project is building a public body of evidence of mistreatment and abuse in childbirth and reproductive healthcare across Canada. Patients, families, doulas, students, and healthcare professionals are encouraged to lend your voices. Your stories of receiving or providing care related broadly to pregnancy, loss, abortion, sterilization, childbirth, infant feeding, the postpartum period, birth alerts, mental healthcare related to reproduction, and much more are welcome on the blog. You may choose to remain anonymous. There is no time limit - whether it happened yesterday or many decades ago, your story counts. How many whistleblowers will it take to end obstetric and gynaecological violence, medical racism, reproductive mistreatment and abuse in Canada? Together our voices are so powerful. Let's speak up together: obstetricjustice.org/share-your-story/ ---- IMAGE DESCRIPTION Digital illustration of the scene from behind a C-section drape in an operating room. Two white healthcare providers are visible standing under a bright light in blue gowns, caps, and surgical masks, occupied with a surgical task. The television screen in the background is blank, so the person on the operating table is not able to see what has happened. Bold black sans serif text in all caps reads: "Forced Sterilization is a Canadian Tradition" "ObstetricJustice.org" Illustration by Kate Macdonald

More pro tips for #PronounsDay ["Trans & nonbinary people often *have* to share their pronouns to be identified correctly. As a cisgender person, sharing pronouns costs nothing and naturalizes this process.]

There's still time to apply to join our team! We're extending the application for the weekend, so now's your chance!

October 15 is #PregnancyAndInfantLossRemembranceDay in Ontario. Up to 1 in 5 pregnancies ends in miscarriage, and many people experience pregnancy loss in silence, sometimes having not shared their pregnancy with anyone. We see you. Societal norms often mean that pregnant people in Canada are encouraged not to share a pregnancy until the second trimester, so many people never share a miscarriage with anyone. Some people experience miscarriage before they have decided whether or not to continue a pregnancy. Grieving after miscarriage is normal. Not grieving after miscarriage is normal. Everyone knows someone who's miscarried, even if they've never shared it. We can all do more to talk about early pregnancy, pregnancy loss, and challenge norms that lead to grieving in silence.

Visit our instagram (instagram.com/shorecentrewr) on Tuesday evening to get to know our new ED, TK Pritchard!

Today we wear orange shirts to stand in solidarity & recognize the devastating impacts of residential schools on Indigenous survivors, families, & communities. We wear orange to remind us that the last residential school only closed in 1996 & that there is much work to be done. Orange Shirt Day started in 2013, inspired by Phyllis Webstad. Phyllis was stripped of her new orange shirt on her first day of residential schooling. A true imagery of Indigenous children being str...ipped of their identity. The residential school system was a cultural genocide that continues to impact Indigenous communities to this day. In addition to wearing an orange shirt today, we encourage learning more about residential schools and the impact they’ve had.

We support you, no matter who you are and what choices you make.

SHORE Centre and the Kitchener Public Library are teaming up again to bring you another podcast! This time we are asking for you to provide stories about your sexual health education, or experiences as a sexual health educator! Any story is accepted, whether that be heart warming, good or bad experiences, funny experiences, or misguided sexual health information, etc. We will be sharing your stories along with some of our own. ... If you would like to share your experience, the link to share is here: https://forms.gle/qBXH4diXPjQtNR5B8 We are looking very forward to hearing from you!

On #InternationalSafeAbortionDay, we present the 2020 Abortion Caravan - a series of position papers celebrating the 50 years since the original 1970 Abortion Caravan. Read about the Caravan and the current state of abortion access below. Thanks so much to Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada, Action Canada for Sexual Health and Rights, Ontario Coalition for Abortion Clinics - OCAC, National Abortion Federation, and the countless other individuals and organizations who pulled together to create this incredible project.

It's here, it's here! Today's the day! #TBTNWR2020

Very exciting live this Thursday featuring our newcomer educator Hoda and student Jess! Check out the details below.

We are excited to be partnering with Community Justice Initiatives for a three-part video series on the restorative justice and gender-based violence. You can find these live conversations by visiting our Facebook page.

We've all seen the joke tweets about gender reveals, but what can we actually do about the harm that the gender binary creates? Here are 10 ways to challenge the binary in our own lives.

Are you passionate about comprehensive, inclusive, sexual health education? Do you have experience facilitating groups for boy-identified/non-binary youth and working with folks with developmental disabilities? We are looking for you! Check out the posting on Charity Village and apply by October 1st! Please share widely. https://charityvillage.com//sexual-health-educator-in-kit/

September is Suicide Prevention Month. Friends of Ruby offers a range of mental health services for LGBTQI2S youth, including same-day appointments for crisis support. You are not alone.

One week left before Take Back the Night. Are you joining us?

We're taking a break on Monday. If you want to book an appointment, leave us a message and we'll get back to you first thing on Tuesday!

If you or someone you know is pregnant, nursing, or planning to become pregnant, we have free prenatal vitamins available! Each bottle contains a 6-month supply, and are halal certified. Call us at 519-743-9360 to arrange a pick up.

Join us on September 17th for Take Back the Night. Instead of marching this year, we are participating in the TBTN Photo Scavenger Hunt. See https://www.facebook.com/events/306445153997418 for more details. #TBTNWR2020

Classroom learning looks different this year, and we're adapting to the changes at Region schools. Sexual health education remains an important part of a child's education, so we're working to provide virtual educational workshops. To book a workshop, visit https://shorecentre.ca/workshops For information on workshops, contact Maddy at [email protected].

**This is important** @sravya_attaluri

Want to be part of an awesome team? In order to meet increased demand for our services we are adding a part-time administrative assistant. Come join us! https://charityvillage.com//administrative-assistant-in-k/

Take Back the Night is 3 weeks away! We're proud to be included in the reclamation of our streets. Check out the Take Back the Night event page to learn how you can participate this year: https://www.facebook.com/events/306445153997418

When you think about sex work, what do you think of? SWAN is a local network dedicated to supporting sex workers in our community. Check out swanwaterloo.ca to donate. SWAN also had information for safe sex work during Covid-19, and provides a resource to assist keeping sex workers free from violence. Visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/SexWorkersActionNetwork.... Normalize sex work! #prochoice #mybodymychoice #sexeducation #sexeducator #sexualhealth #sexualwellbeing #sexwork #sexworkers #sexworkersrights #work #makethatmoneyhoney

Pregnant inmates and their babies deserve quality prenatal care. We also can't forget what this article fails to mention - that Black and Indigenous people are disproportionately incarcerated compared to white people. Combining the racism in the medical system with the racism in the justice system results in preventable deaths of racialized people.

Abortion is safe and regulated in Canada. People seeking access to abortion care deserve an appropriate referral. Anyone needing an abortion referral in Canada can use choiceconnect.ca to find the closest abortion clinics that meet their needs.

"It seems that everywhere women turn there is predatory messaging about vaginas, and much of it shares a common mutation: the erroneous belief that vaginas are problematic and the most dangerous vagina of all is wet." Your vagina is awesome, whether it's wet or dry. Wetness and dryness are both normal, but if you are experiencing pain, itchiness, or foul odour with either one, talk to your health care provider!

Vulvas and vaginas are actually pretty simple when it comes to keeping them healthy and happy. Vulvas and vaginas are self-cleaning body parts. The natural flora and bacteria of these body parts keep you clean. That being said, you should still wash your vulva when bathing. But, all you really need is warm water (add in a gentle soap, if that is your preference), and your fingers (or a soft cloth, again your preference). You dont need to clean or douche your vagina. Despite what many companies say, your vulva does not need to smell like "a summer's breeze", and you dont need to spend money on scented hygiene products in order to feel fresh downstairs.

Did you know that a copper IUD can be used as emergency contraception if it's inserted within five days of unprotected sex? Copper IUD insertion is the most effective form of emergency contraception (even more effective than Plan B) and can continue to provide protection from pregnancy for up to 5 years. If you think you need an emergency IUD, call us at 519-743-9360 or email [email protected].

The Odawa Two Spirit, Trans and Gender Diverse March is THRILLED to announce Trans-Fest 2020 - a one-of-a-kind virtual festival organized by trans people, for t...rans people! Check out our calendar of events (with 12 confirmed and more to come!) below, and please help us spread the word! For details about each event, you can check them out individually in our events section on this page! While we're organizing in Ottawa, on unceded and unsurrendered Algonquin territory, our events are open to folks, no matter where you are located!

Prenatal vitamins aren't only for people who are already pregnant! If you're planning to become pregnant in the future, it's a good idea to start taking prenatal vitamins ahead of time. Call us at 519-743-9360 or email [email protected] to get your free vitamins!

take a look at this post, its non-friction. #inthemoodforlube #livelaughlube #lubeitup... #mrlube #lube See more

We are now offering IUD insertions two days a week. Visit clinic.shorecentre.ca or call 519-743-9360 to book your appointment!We are now offering IUD insertions two days a week. Visit clinic.shorecentre.ca or call 519-743-9360 to book your appointment!

Consent Comes First Ryerson is working on a series of guides about safer sexting, online dating & harassment. They need your help! Fill out this survey with your advice, questions and ideas: https://tinyurl.com/consentisnotcancelled. Image IG @LiberalJane

Although we work regular office hours, our services are often needed after we've gone home for the day. Thanks to Lights On Fund, we have "after hours" phones so that our clients can get the support they need in the evenings and on weekends. We're always here for you!

The gender binary is something humans created a long time ago as a way of categorizing people, but gender can be much more complex than fitting into one of two categories! Let's normalize using our pronouns when we introduce ourselves. Try practicing in the mirror. "Hi, I'm _____, and my pronouns are _____". It might feel awkward at first, but the more you do it the more natural it will become.

"Showing up for folks historically left out of conversations around reproductive health and justice is anti-racist work" - Ana Lucia Carmelo. Thanks to Brea Baker & ELLE Magazine (US) for amplifying leaders in intersectional reproductive justice.

A few days ago we posted our statement of support for Black Lives Matter, but we failed to mention the hard work that ACB Network WR is doing in Waterloo Region. We have corrected the statement to make note of their activism. Thanks for everything you do, ACB Network WR! https://www.shorecentre.ca/blacklivesmatter/

Indigenous children are removed from their homes at a significantly higher rate than settler children, continuing the legacy of residential schools and the Sixties Scoop. Birth alerts are primarily used against marginalized women and disproportionately affect Indigenous women. https://www.theglobeandmail.com//article-ontario-issues-d/

"Just like slavery, anti-abortion efforts are rooted in white supremacy, the exploitation of Black women, and placing womens bodies in service to men." https://www.aclu.org//the-racist-history-of-abortion-and-/

Our Board and staff support the #BlackLivesMatter movement. We want to hold ourselves accountable for deconstructing white supremacy within our organization, and our movement. Here are some of the steps we are taking: