Your Consent Toolkit: Education Resources
This year, Consent Awareness Week (CAW) takes place from September 15 to 19, 2025. As a national organization working to end gender-based violence in post-secondary education, the Courage to Act Foundation is proud to join and amplify CAW as part of our ongoing efforts to create learning and working spaces free from harm.
We are calling on communities, campuses, workplaces and organizations across Canada to build a better culture of consent in STEM disciplines where all students can learn, work and thrive. Women and gender-diverse students face heightened risks of sexual violence and harrassment in experiential learning environments due to power imbalances and systemic inequities; but we have the power to change this.
Education is a key component of strengthening skills and accessing tools to address sexual violence in all STEM spaces – from labs and classrooms to field placements and co-ops. Whether students are learning and working on or off-campus, respect, equity and safety are essential.
Below is a curated list of education resources that we hope can help you, your team or organization in taking action. Resources on the intersections between consent and STEM are limited, but we hope to see more in the future as awareness increases. Engage your curiosity, explore these resources, and share across your own networks and platforms during CAW this September.
Safer STEM Environments
The Co-Op Internship Experience in Science and Engineering
A 2023 study of women’s internship experiences published by the Chair for Women in Science and Engineering at the Universite de Sherbrooke with support from HATCH Engineering and the Government of Quebec.
A 2022 literature review by the Society for Canadian Women in Science and Technology (SCWIST) and Woman Abuse Council of Toronto (WomanACT) that summarizes approaches to creating workplace cultures that do not tolerate gender and sexual harassment through prevention, response, and accountability.
Safer Campus Communities
Campus Toolkit for Creating Consent Culture
Toolkit by the Canadian Federation of Students to help members of the campus community build consent culture in their institution.
Impact of the Undressing Consent Program
Evaluation report on a consent education program conducted at Western University, containing valuable insights for designing consent education programming.
Primer from the Sexual Assault Centre of Edmonton on the intersections between racism and sexual violence.
Courage Catalysts: Creating Consent Culture on Campus
A guide created by students, for students during the Courage to Act project to support advocacy on consent and gender-based violence prevention.
Consent and Indigenous Ways of Knowing and Being
“Consent over Land and Body” in Chapter 1 of this report from Women’s Earth Alliance and the Native Youth Sexual Health Network.
Part One of this report from the Yellowhead Institute, called “Spectrum of Consent”.
Outline of frameworks for Indigenous consultation and consent from the Yellowhead Institute.
Sex Education Curriculum
Comprehensive information on sex, sexuality, and sexual health for teens and young adults from the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada
An in-depth sex-education site by Heather Corinna that explores topics for users ages 15-25 and their care givers.
Sex ed resources for 2SLGBTQIA+ youth from Planned Parenthood Toronto.
Listening or Watching: Podcast + Video Recommendations
Queer in STEM: Conversations of Belonging
Luam Araya, a Biochemistry Masters student from the University of Alberta, shares their journey in navigating the science world as a queer scientist. Released June 30, 2021 by the WISEST STEM podcast.
TikoTime: A podcast for Black women in STEM
For Black girls trying to make their way in STEM fields. Interviews with Black women currently in industry sharing their own breakthrough journeys.
A Ted Talk by Mena Fombo on the connections between non-consensual touch of Black hair, and the history of misogynoir and the objectification of Black feminized bodies.
Suggested Citation: Courage to Act Foundation. (2025). Your Consent Toolkit: Education Resources. www.couragetoact.ca/blog/your-consent-toolkit-education-resources
