Working Toward Consent: Reflections on Consent Awareness Week 2025
2025 marked the third annual Consent Awareness Week. Held every year during the third week of September, Consent Awareness Week is a national campaign for dialogue, education, and action around consent!
This year, people across the country heeded the call to learn about consent and honour it as a core value in both their work and personal lives. The theme of this year’s Consent Awareness Week was “consent in the workplace.” Consent is often discussed in personal and educational contexts, but its application in professional environments matters just as much – especially when looking at consent education in experiential learning environments (co-ops, labs, internships, etc.).
At the Courage to Act Foundation, our flagship project, At the Root, is focused on addressing sexual harassment in STEM-focused experiential learning. The Courage to Act Report found that 1 in 2 students report being subjected to sexual harassment or violence while completing experiential learning opportunities, and this number is likely higher in STEM professions. Women and gender-diverse students are at an increased risk of being subjected to sexual violence in these STEM experiential learning environments, limiting their ability to learn, work, and thrive in these spaces.
As we reflected during Consent Awareness Week, it's important to understand that consent in the workplace should encompass more than just measures to prevent harassment. It should also aim to foster cultures of respect and accountability. Workplace consent can involve setting boundaries in communication, regularly checking in about workloads, and respecting each other's autonomy and time.
Another key focus this year was the role of power dynamics in shaping how consent operates in professional settings. This is especially important for students, interns, and young professionals who may feel pressure to say “yes” to requests from supervisors or senior colleagues. By naming and addressing these dynamics, we open the door to healthier, more equitable relationships at work.
It was incredible to see such broad participation this year. Provinces from coast to coast, and groups across the United States, engaged in Consent Awareness Week, with organizations, universities, and workplaces stepping up to host events, share resources, and spark conversations. Over 100 organizations participated in digital campaigns for Consent Awareness Week 2025, calling on schools, employers, and local and federal governments to invest more resources into improved consent education. Our project manager, Aubrianna Snow, and National Student Advisory Council member Madiha Waqar, spoke with CBC New Brunswick about the need for improved funding and a commitment to education on sexual violence, both on and off campus.
“A lot of times you see quite a bit of turnover in these roles addressing campus gender-based violence just because there is so much that's being asked of these folks without a lot of resources behind them.”
We also witnessed more provinces advocating for Consent Awareness Week. Notably, on the creation of a Bill declaring Consent Awareness Week in Ontario and British Columbia officially proclaiming it, in addition to Alberta’s proclaiming it in perpetuity last year. Additionally, the involvement of international organizations highlights that the momentum for building cultures of consent is growing.
We were especially encouraged to see action across diverse sectors: government bodies, post-secondary institutions, nonprofits, unions, corporations, and grassroots groups all played a role. This cross-sector collaboration shows that consent isn’t limited to one type of setting or relationship – it is a shared responsibility that touches every profession and community.
Looking back, this year’s Consent Awareness Week demonstrated how awareness can become action. For effective progress, we have to move beyond creating awareness to embedding consent into everyday practices. Taking action beyond this week can look like asking before assuming, respecting boundaries, and recognizing the impact of power, among other powerful methods of change. As we move forward, we hope this week will serve as a catalyst for sustained shifts in culture, so that everyone can thrive in safe, supportive, and equitable environments.
The Work Doesn’t Stop Here
Our call to build a better culture of consent across campuses, workplaces, and communities doesn’t stop here. This work continues all year long! For education and community resources, as well as instructions on how to get Consent Awareness Week proclaimed in your region next year, check out https://www.couragetoact.ca/consent-awareness-week.
