| Resources |
| PEERS
Victoria |
Providing front-line support and resources for
adult sex workers in Victoria, BC, with an emphasis on a peer-based model
of support. Projects include a three-stage exiting program, free
food and clothing, an outreach van, a men’s program, counseling and other
supports. |
|
| PEERS
Vancouver |
PEERS Vancouver provides exiting programs, job
training, lifeskills and other support to sex workers in Vancouver. |
|
| PACE Vancouver |
PACE is a peer-based organization offering
support, education, outreach and health services to sex workers in
Vancouver. PACE also offers workshops and other educational services
to inform the community about the reality of working in the sex
trade. Also see their Research section to download reports from
research projects they have completed. |
|
| PEERS Prince George |
PEERS PG is a non-profit society established by
sex workers and those wanting to exit the sex work industry, and community
supporters. PEERS PG is in the process of establishing programs
including public education, research, advocacy, community partnerships and
counselling services. |
For more information about their programs, contact PPERS PG at
peerspg@telus.net |
| S.H.O.P. Program, Kamloops |
The S.H.O.P. Program (Social and Health
Opportunities for People working in the sex trade) offers drop-in
programs, support and advocacy for adults and youth involved in the sex
trade. |
For more information contact:
AIDS Society of Kamloops
megan_aidskamloops@telus.net |
| WISH Drop In Centre |
Drop in for sex trade workers in Vancouver’s
Downtown East Side. |
|
| Canadian National
Coalition of Experiential Women |
The Canadian National Coalition of Experiential
Women is responsible for recommendations to the federal government on the
needs of sex workers. Coordinators from Victoria, Vancouver, Moncton
and Winnipeg all sit on this committee, giving a voice to women with
experience being sexually exploited as children or working in the sex
trades as adults. |
|
B.C. Coalition of Experiential Women |
The B.C. Coalition of Experiential Women (BCCEW) was formed out of two regional meetings of women in and from the sex industry in 2002 and 2004. In 2005 BCCEW became a consortium of sex worker activists mandated as a mechanism for the voices of experiential women to support the development of legislation and policies; peer driven programs and services; and work toward the elimination of oppressive systems and forces that create harm within the sex industry. |
For more information:
rbowen@shaw.ca |
| Maggie’s Toronto |
Maggie's is the first sex-worker-run education
project in Canada. The project provides information about health
promotion, AIDS and STD prevention, Canadian law, and dangerous clients to
sex workers. Maggie's was founded in 1986. The website provides
downloadable reports, information cards and other educational resources
about health and safety in the sex trade. |
|
| Missingpeople.net |
A website dedicated to the women missing from
Vancouver’s Downtown East Side, most of whom worked in the sex
trade. The website provides information on recent media coverage of
the missing women’s case and links to other resources. |
|
| “John
School” in Vancouver |
The "John School" concept originated in San
Francisco in January 1995 with over 300 men participating successfully in
the first year. The program has been expanded and now includes more than
14 programs in Canada. The school is based on a restorative justice
model focusing on educating the offenders who are attempting to buy sex
from prostitutes on the streets of Vancouver neighborhoods. |
If you have questions and or comments please e-mail the Vice Squad
directly at: vpd_vice@city.vancouver.bc.ca |
| John
Lowman’s Prostitution research |
This website has information on research
conducted by John Lowman, a leading criminologist and professor at SFU in
Vancouver, with a focus on the adult sex trade in Canada. |
|
"Dispelling Myths and
Understanding Realities—
Working Conditions, Health Status, and Exiting
Experiences of Sex Workers" |
This study, conducted by PEERS Victoria, involved
training ex-sex workers as research assistants who became involved in
activities ranging from recruiting respondents, interviewing them,
inputting questionnaire data, and transcribing tape recorded interviews
creating a genuine community-academic collaboration. The sample included
201 respondents and looks at the sex trade from a work perspective,
arguing that there is an urgent need to give voice to sex workers located
in indoor as well as outdoor venues. |
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| Pathways:
Real options for women to reduce reliance on survival sex |
Published by PEERS Vancouver, this document
introduces practical ideas for organizations and groups to include and
foster leadership from sex workers who access their services. |
|
| Strolling Away |
Dr. Sue McIntyre conducted this long-term
research, interviews with 38 individuals involved in the sex trade, many
of whom had been interviewed 10 years earlier. The interviews were
held to collect their thoughts on the entrance, time in, attempts and
successful departures out of the trade. The opportunity to gain
insights on service delivery model in reference to prevention,
intervention and reintegration was provided through these interviews. |
|
New Hope Society |
The Prince George New Hope Society was established in September of 2005 and follows the philosophy of 'for sex workers, by sex workers". New Hope recognizes that there is a lack of services for women in the sex industry. Front line workers strive to bridge the gap in services for sex workers through creating a place of safety and security for women, both adults and youth, to access support services pertinent to their needs. Some of the services they provide include drop-in services, meals, advocacy, referrals, transitional exiting programs, outreach, counselling, and harm reduction materials. New Hope Society is at the forefront in the northern community for doing research around the needs of street level sex workers. |
For more information contact:
Christal Capostinsky, Executive Director
newhopesociety@shaw.ca |
CIHS (Community Initiative for Health and Safety) Toolkit |
Resources for and about street-level sex workers in Vancouver. |
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