Healthy Relationships
The DSBN is committed to safe and caring learning environments that promote healthy relationships and behaviours. The DSBN recognizes that sexual violence is a serious and complex problem with adverse affects on individual student well-being, learning environments, and the community at large. Through age or grade appropriate curricular learning and school initiatives, students learn about consent, how to recognize healthy relationships and respond to unhealthy ones, and how to stay safe online.
To assist staff and parents/families/guardians with supporting students who have experienced sexual violence, the DSBN has developed the following guide: Supporting Students Who Have Experienced Sexual Violence.
What is Sexual Violence?
Sexual violence is a broad term that describes any sexual act or act targeting a person’s sexuality, gender identity or gender expression, whether the act is physical or psychological in nature, that is committed, threatened, or attempted against a person without the person’s consent, and includes sexual assault, sexual harassment, stalking, indecent exposure, voyeurism, and sexual exploitation. In general, according to the Criminal Code of Canada, sexual violence is any form of non-consensual sexual contact.
Understanding Consent
Giving consent involves voluntarily agreeing to a proposal or desire made by someone else. According to the Criminal Code of Canada, as it relates to sexual activity, consent is the voluntary agreement to engage in sexual activity with another person. There are many misconceptions about consent to sexual activity, which tend to be exploited by perpetrators of sexual violence to coerce victims or to justify their actions.
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Consent is:
- Mutual
can only be given by the individual, not by someone else on their behalf,
- Active and Ongoing
an individual can change their mind to yes or no at any time, without giving a reason,
- Clear
it must be a clear “yes”, and it is never assumed or implied with silence or the absence of “no”
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Consent is NOT:
- Impaired
cannot be given by an individual who is impaired, incapacitated, or mentally unable (e.g., under the influence of a substance, unconscious, severe intellectual disability)
- Coerced
cannot be given by someone who is being threatened or coerced (e.g., feeling like saying “no” will break up your relationship), or when a position of authority (e.g., teacher, coach), trust, or dependency is being misused to obtain consent
- Automatic
cannot be generalized from one sexual act or instance to another, even with the same partner.
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In Canada, the age at which a person can legally consent to sexual contact is 16 years old. Sexual activity with an individual under age 16 is considered non-consensual and illegal. When the sexual activity is considered exploitative (e.g., prostitution, pornography) or occurs in a relationship of authority, trust, or dependency (e.g., teacher, coach), an individual must be 18 years old to legally consent.
Myths and Stereotypes about Sexual Violence
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MYTH: Behaviour or attire can provoke sexual violence.
MYTH: Sexual violence is perpetrated by strangers.
MYTH: It is not considered sexual violence if it occurs in the context of a romantic or intimate relationship.
MYTH: People lie about experiencing sexual violence.
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FACT: Sexual violence is never justified; behaviour or attire are irrelevant.
FACT: Individuals often know their perpetrator of sexual violence.
FACT: Sexual violence is often perpetrated by a romantic partner. Sexual assault is an offense under the Criminal Code of Canada.
FACT: Sexual violence is severely under-reported, and when it is, the allegations are no more likely to be false than for any other violent came.
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How to Get Support
At School:
- At all secondary schools, students have access to a social worker with a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree, and/or a youth counsellor with a with a diploma in Child and Youth Care, Social Service Work, or the equivalent.
- At all secondary schools, students have access to a Niagara Region Public Health Nurse, who can provide sexual health services and supports to students.
In the community:
Mental Health Services
Medical Care
Emergency Shelters & Housing
*Consult Supporting Students Who Have Experienced Sexual Violence for more detailed information on professional supports.