projects of interest
a selection of some of my favourite ventures
BEING CHATTY
GetSome Podcast
with Michelle Fischler
Had a blast speaking with Michelle Fischler, certified Sex Therapist and RP about ethical porn, Intimacy Coordinating, and navigating sexual health.
Visit GetSome to access the podcast.
VOLUNTEER
Info Line Responder,
Action Canada (2021 - 2022)
Access to reproductive health services and information is vital, especially as comprehensive sex education in many parts of Canada is severely lacking. Action Canada for Sexual Health and Rights helps fill the void for those seeking info on sexual health and safe abortion.
Visit Action Canada for more info on this important resource.
VOLUNTEER
Crisis Responder,
Crisis Text Line (2020 - 2021)
The COVID-19 Pandemic has wreaked havoc, not only on physical health, but also on mental health. The 24/7 emergency text line has seen a substantial increase in calls and requires added hands on deck. After an excellent training program, I volunteereed as a Crisis Responder to help those in immediate need of mental health aid.
Visit the Crisis Text Line site for more information on this amazing organization.
FILM & TV
Certified Intimacy Coordinator
(2019 - 2022)
The position of Intimacy Coordinator is relatively new. Sprouting from the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements, it is the formal response by the film, television, and digital media industry to help avoid exploitation of talent on set. ICs help directors and talent navigate scenes of nudity, sexuality and otherwise vulnerable moments.
Projects I worked on include SEE, Y: The Last Man, The Kings of Napa, The Expanse.
EDUCATION
Honours Specialist Degree,
University of Toronto
I had the immense pleasure of graduating from UofT in 2019 with a specialist degree in Sexual Diversity Studies.
I received multiple awards and scholarships, as well as graduating with High Distinction. It is one of the few sexual studies programs in the world.
RESEARCH
The Future of Fucking
University of Toronto Sexual Diversity Studies Symposium; SexPosium; Playground
One of my research foci is how technology affects sexuality. For my Advanced Research Project as part of my Sexual Diversity Studies undergrad at the University of Toronto, I studied the phenomenon of technosexuality and what it means for our future, and how far we are willing to go — or need to go — to get off.
I also spoke on the topic for Atomic Lollipop, “Canada's premier geek festival” at their SexPosium event, held at The Ontario Science Centre; and Playground Conference.
SPEAKING
The Phil: This House Believes That Women Should Embrace The Word ‘Slut’.
The Philosophical Society, Trinity College, Dublin is one of the world's oldest student institutions. In October, 2014, I was invited among other esteemed guests & students to debate the merit of reclaiming the word ‘slut’. We were also honoured to have been the first all-women debate in The Phil’s 330 year history.
See my viewpoint {left}. Watch the entire debate here.
FILM
MAKING
Short Films
Erotic films aren't the only thing I love to direct. Basement Pictures selected 5 Toronto filmmakers to work with 5 local musicians for their Sound and Vision project under Bell Media.
I had the pleasure of working with Amy Force to be my lead in this short film about a driver's journey to change industrial wastelands into lush greenlands using music.
Watch the Making Of and the short film here.
Award-winning Feminist Porn
I have directed and produced a variety of sex- & body- positive, queer friendly erotic shorts, in an effort to add to the growing industry of sexy, feminist films. Providing a filming environment that is safe and ethical is one of the main tenets of feminist porn.
All of my films have travelled the world to various film festivals, including Dan Savage's HUMP! Fest; and all have won awards.
EDUCATION
Sexual Health Educator Certification
Most health care practitioners receive little or no training in the field of sex & sexuality. Filling this void is SFSI {San Francisco Sex Information}, a 40+ year old organization that offers “comprehensive, nonjudgmental, and factual information on sex and sexuality through training, public events, and a free telephone/email switchboard” hotline.
I was fortunate enough to be accepted & trained by their amazing team in the Fall of 2014, adding to my growing sex education roster.
ACTIVISM
Sexwork Action Project: AfterBedford
The current legislative climate in Canada on sexwork law is shifting. The Supreme Court of Canada struck down 3 major laws in the Criminal Code ruling them unconsitutional and in direct violation of Section 7 of our Charter, Security of the Person.
While our Ministry of Justice was working to criminalize sexwork which will continue to put more people at risk & remove labour rights for those who need them most, many workers and allies are fighting back. AfterBedford.com was a place for info about bill C36 before it became law, now known as PCEPA.
SPEAKING
Creative Mornings
Creative Mornings is a breakfast lecture series for the creative community. Hosted in over 70 cities around the world, a monthly global theme is set and speakers are invited to talk, sharing their ideas on that theme.
April 2014's theme was sex, and I was selected to represent Toronto. I discussed the concept that porn is art and represents more than just an expression of sexual desire, from the political to the personal.
University of Western Ontario's
OneLove Event
I was honoured to participate in UWO's OneLove event to discuss, teach, learn and celebrate diversity.
To learn more about UWO's diversity events, visit their site.
SMALL SAMPLING OF THE COLUMN I CREATED FOR TORONTO STANDARD, “SEX+”. THE TITLE CONNOTES BOTH A COUPLING OF TOPICS AND SEX POSITIVITY.
WRITING
SEX+DISABILITY
“Getting used to living with illness or disability is difficult enough just trying to get through the day-to-day. Loss of independence and self-esteem affect all aspects of life, and it’s a shame that the more personal — and just as important — aspects, like sexual activity, are often seen as mere collateral damage…
SEX+LEXICON
“Maybe I was living in some linguistic and identification bubble, but I somehow managed to go through most of my teens and twenties, ignorant of more inclusive language, thinking I was a heterosexual woman (with ‘bi-curious tendencies’), and that people around me were either ‘straight,‘ ’gay’ or ‘bi‘…
SEX+EDUCATION
“When we can’t teach our kids the proper words for genitalia at an early age, we have proof that our Health and Physical Education system is failing. When we’re teaching only about abstinence as safe sex, we are failing. When eighth grade girls are performing oral sex with a mouth full of toothpaste because they think it removes the chances of getting an STI, we are failing…
Lauded and reviled, SlutWalk was covered in news outlets from CBC to CNN to the London Times to Al Jazeera and anything in between, but it was hometown media that I'm most proud of, like Toronto Life naming us as one of 30 reasons to love our city, torontoist naming us Heroes and The Grid awarding us Menschies.
ACTIVISM
SLUTWALK TORONTO
In 2011, a Toronto cop told some University students that they 'shouldn't dress like sluts if they didn't want to be victimized'.
Less than impressed, a group of us decided to make a stink about this prevailing attitude. What we thought would be about 50 of our closest friends marching to Police HQ turned into 3500 protestors and subsequent SlutWalk satellites in over 200 cities around the world.
Love us or hate us, we sparked a movement of people who just weren't going to take misogynist crap anymore.
SPEAKING
TEDx TORONTO
SlutWalk became a worldwide movement because it highlights the need for changes in society regarding gender & respect. At the core of this debate is use of language and how the motives of the speaker can be deeply influential, regardless of the word.
In this talk, my SlutWalk Toronto co-founder and I discuss how language can infect, spread, and damage.
CLICK THE VIDEO TO PLAY
ART EVENTS
THE KEYHOLE SESSIONS
I founded TKS in 2009 to celebrate the union between sex and art. Believing that taboos should be broken, sexuality championed, and kink encouraged, I hosted events inviting artists and photographers to participate in a community that welcomes all of these ideals.
From massive life-drawing & photo sessions, ethical erotic films, rogue Nuit Blanche events and art exhibitions, The Keyhole Sessions were where people have felt most welcomed with their sexuality.
ACTIVISM
NUDE PHOTO REVOLUTIONARIES CALENDAR 2012/13
Conceptualized by human rights activist Maryam Namazie and designed by me, the calendar was to share the message of censored Egyptian blogger Aliaa Elmahdy who posted a nude photo of herself, after which she received threats of rape and death.
Various women from around the world {including yours truly} posed in solidarity to spread the word against the silencing of artistic expression through the female voice.