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Workshops and Training

We Offer Workshops, Lectures, Training, Group Facilitation and Professional Development. We cover topics such as healthy masculinity, relationships, consent, addressing sexism and sexual violence culture, bystander intervention and more. Our engaging, interactive presentations are ideal for:

• Sports teams (Leading By Example sports program)
• Corporations (Raise the Bar corporate training program)
• Elementary and High School Classes
• Youth Groups
• Community Groups
• University and College Classes​​

Using a participatory approach, our workshops actively engage learners and spark meaningful conversations relevant to their lives and communities.
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Book A Workshop

If you’d like to request a workshop for your group, please fill out our booking form or email PubEd@sascwr.org

BOOKING FORM

#RaiseTheBar Corporate Training

Looking to provide professional development for your staff team? The Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region and Male Allies can provide an engaging, informative experience which will promote creating healthier and more inclusive spaces for all employees. All of the below workshops have elements of engagement through activities, discussions, and open question periods in order to provide the best possible outcomes for all attendees.

The #RaiseTheBar program, generously funded by the Department of Justice, can help your organizational culture thrive by providing staff, managers, and business owners alike with tools through training workshops that encourage more inclusive and equitable workplaces, a deeper understanding of sexual harassment policies/legalities, bystander intervention techniques, and what it means to be a Male Ally in the workplace.

These workshops provide an engaging, informative experience that can strengthen your workplace culture for people of all gender identities and sexual orientations. We also offer customized programming based on your industry and needs. Our workshop offerings are listed below. Please click the titles for details.

#RaiseTheBar Workplace Equity Training (Click to expand)

How do we address unsafe workplace cultures before lines are crossed or legal issues arise? In this highly engaging workshop, we will focus on examining how different actions, behaviours, attitudes and beliefs contribute to healthy or unhealthy workplaces.

We will help participants explore:

• Current statistics on how people of all genders view their workplaces right here in Waterloo Region
• Recognizing and addressing negative internal/unconscious biases as well as day to day habits, comments and small actions which can have a large impact on peers
• Creating gender equity in the workforce, in the boardroom and on panels/special committees
• Benefits to the internal cultures, retention rates, and employee satisfaction of organizations that make a consistent ongoing effort to strengthen the culture within their organization

This workshop covers the legal rights and responsibilities of employees/employers, and also helps participants think about how we can move beyond a policy threshold and #RaiseTheBar in our workplaces.
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Workplace Sexual Harrassment Legalities/Responsibilities (Click to expand)

Workplace sexual harassment is a widespread issue, spanning companies, sectors and communities. In this workshop participants will learn about harassment, including the legalities within Canada and Ontario, as well as rights and responsibilities as employees/employers.

Workplace Bystander Intervention (Click to expand)

This workshop provides participants with a foundational knowledge of what sexual violence is and discusses what effective bystander intervention looks like in the workplace. There will be an opportunity to explore how you can safely intervene, and what the effects/benefits are of different intervention tactics.
We will provide tools for colleagues, managers, and business owners to support one another:

• When they witness incidents,
• In providing support after an incident
• With ways to examine power structures that may enable inequities and how to prevent future incidents so that people of all genders feel safe at work.

Workplace Male Allyship (Click to expand)

​What does it mean to be an ally? How can you be an ally in the workplace? In this workshop, participants will learn about the process of allyship, including understanding our own power and privilege, and tangible steps we can take to support our colleagues.

Leading By Example Sports Program

Our Leading by Example Sports Program offers athletes the opportunity to become community champions in areas such as positive masculinity and consent culture. 

In 2016, Male Allies developed the curriculum for OHL Onside, a program which is delivered to all teams across the league. We provide training locally for the Kitchener Rangers as well as for the three American OHL teams and for athletes at Wilfrid Laurier University. Through our Leading by Example sports program, we are pleased to be able to offer similar training to minor level teams, school athletic teams, and community sports leagues.
In a Leading by Example session participants will:

• Learn important leadership skills in how to stand up against sexual and gender-based violence
• Look at how our actions, words and behaviours can impact others
• Discuss and learn to combat stereotypes which effect men and boys, particularly athletes
• Talk honestly about what it means to be a “strong man”
• Have an opportunity to ask questions in an open and supportive environment

School and Community Workshops

We offer a variety of workshops which are tailored to the age and needs of the group. We provide specific content for elementary and secondary schools, university/college students, workplaces and community organizations.​ Workshop themes are listed below; to read more just click on the title!

Bystander Intervention (Click to expand)

This workshop provides participants with a foundational knowledge of what sexual violence is and discusses what effective bystander intervention looks like. There will be an opportunity to explore how you can intervene, and what the effects are of different intervention tactics.

Sexual Violence Culture/ Sexual Harassment (Click to expand)

In this workshop participants will learn about sexual violence, including sexual harassment. The conversation will include how different actions, behaviours, attitudes and beliefs contribute to a culture of sexual violence.

Enthusiastic Consent (Click to expand)

Talking about consent doesn’t need to be awkward! Through a conversation on what consent is, what barriers exist in creating a culture of consent, and how to apply consent practices in sexual and non-sexual contexts, participants will learn ways to incorporate consent into their daily practices.

Healthy Relationships (Click to expand)

What does a healthy relationship actually look, sound, and feel like? What are “red flags” that someone may be trying to control or harm us? This workshop explores the characteristics of healthy, unhealthy, and abusive relationships.

Masculinity and Gender Stereotypes (Click to expand)

“Man up.” “Act like a lady.” Statements like these are heard every day and push people into boxes based on their gender. This workshop examines some of the ways in which gender-based stereotypes impact our relationships with ourselves and others.

Intro to Male Allyship (Click to expand)

What does it mean to be an ally? In this workshop, participants will learn about the process of allyship, including understanding our own power and privilege, and tangible steps we can take to support survivors of sexual violence.

Deconstructing Porn (Click to expand)

Online pornography has become widely available and is relatively easy for people of all ages to find. In this workshop participants will discuss the role pornography is playing is shaping people’s understanding of sexuality and sexual health, consent, sexual violence and more.  We will also explore ethical porn production, and the concept of feminist porn.

Queer/Trans Masculinity (Click to expand)

Homophobia/transphobia are commonly used as tools to control and constrain masculinity. Participants will discuss masculinity through a queer and trans lens, and look at strategies to open up the conversation surrounding gender, as well as ways to not recreate toxic masculinity in LGBTQ+ communities.

Testimonial

“Thank you for coming this morning to talk to our male athletes. You are a great resource in the community, the guys really responded to you. I want to talk about these things with them, but am not always sure how. This is something we will explore again in the future.”  
Tom Mandich – Department Head, Health and Physical Education, St. Mary’s School