As the world commemorates International Sex Workers’ Day on June 2nd, a significant spotlight shines on the continued stigmatization of the sex work community in Canada. This day, rooted in a 1975 protest by sex …
National Human Trafficking Awareness Day
February 22 is marked as National Human Trafficking Awareness Day. Every year, February 22 is a day to encourage Canadians to “raise awareness of the magnitude of modern-day slavery in Canada and abroad and to …
International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers
December 17th is International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers (IDEVASW). This day is a day that joins sex workers, allies, and advocates around the world in recognizing violence committed against sex workers globally. …
HIV Community Link’s Shift Calgary Program Wins Prize for Innovation and Leadership
HIV Community Link is one of the Bentley Awards 2017 winners with our Shift Program, which for the past 10 years has provided support, outreach and education for adults involved in sex work. First place was …
Human Trafficking: A Sex Worker Rights & Harm Reduction Narrative
At Shift, we don’t spend a whole lot of time talking about human trafficking.
In 2014, we provided ongoing support and case management to 125 registered program clients; only a handful of these individuals had experienced trafficking. In the 8 year history of Shift, people experiencing human trafficking and other forms of sexual exploitation have remained a small minority of the individuals we support.
What Now?: Sex Work in Calgary Post Bill C-36
When Bill C-36 (The Protection of Communities and Exploited Persons Act) was first proposed the Shift Line phone was ringing off the hook. And honestly, it hasn’t stopped ringing. Sex workers are confused, upset, frustrated, and in general unsure how this new law is going to affect their lives. Many of the people who call us care about following the law and avoiding criminal charges, but these laws are so vague that they just can’t figure out what they can and cannot do.
Why I Choose the Shift Program
As I began my search for a practicum I knew that that finding a harm reduction program was top priority. In a sea of abstinence based programs in Calgary, I was ecstatic to find the Shift program, a pro-choice, client centered, program for adults who have ever been involved in sex work.
BBBJ’s: They Don’t Exist in a Vacuum
One day, while organizing Shift’s condom supply, I took the following photo of all of our beautifully colored flavored condoms: I wanted to post it on our blog because a) The condoms looked so adorable …
Safe Sex Doesn’t Exist in a Vacuum
One day, while organizing Shift’s condom supply, I took the following photo of all of our beautifully colored flavored condoms: I wanted to post it on our blog because a) The condoms looked so adorable …
Shift: International Day to end Violence Against Sex Workers
December 17th will be the 10th anniversary of The International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers (lovingly nicknamed Red Umbrella Day). The red umbrella is a symbol of safety for sex workers and was …