PEIThe University of Prince Edward Island aims to encourage more open conversations about consent on campus through a series of events during Sexual Assault Awareness Week.‘What we’re trying to do is create a culture of consent at UPEI right now’Thinh Nguyen · CBC News · Posted: Sep 17, 2025 9:45 AM EDT | Last Updated: September 17Pam Atkinson, left, co-ordinator of UPEI’s sexual violence prevention and response office, and Caitlyn Sallavo, vice-president student life with the UPEI Student Union, say consent is a crucial part of all relationships, not just romantic ones. (Thinh Nguyen/CBC)The University of Prince Edward Island aims to encourage more open conversations about consent on campus through a series of events during Sexual Assault Awareness Week.The provincial awareness week runs from Sept. 18 to 24, but UPEI has extended its programming with displays, workshops, and activities running through to Sept. 26.Pam Atkinson, co-ordinator of the university’s sexual violence prevention and response office, said the aim is to highlight the importance of consent in everyday life, especially in a campus setting.”What we’re trying to do is create a culture of consent at UPEI right now, and so that is, like, having people really think about, ‘How do we practice that in our everyday life, with not just romantic relationships, but with classmates and coworkers and other people that we interact with every single day?'” Atkinson told CBC’s Island Morning Wednesday.Learning to set boundariesCaitlyn Sallavo, vice-president student life with the UPEI Student Union, said students need to understand that consent extends beyond dating or romantic relationships.”In a classroom, it may look completely different. You’re asking for consent from your classmates to work together or talk to each other a certain way … And it’s the same thing in the workplace,.”Sallavo added that it can be challenging to practice consent in large classes where students don’t know each other well. Still, she said, it’s important to set boundaries.UPEI is hosting a series of events for Sexual Assault Awareness Week that are designed to create a culture of consent on campus and support survivors. (Thinh Nguyen/CBC)Atkinson agreed, noting that the influence of social media often adds pressure for young people to be liked and accepted, which can lead them to compromise their own boundaries.”So another part of the work that we’re doing is having conversations with students about exploring what their boundaries are, so that they’re first aware of them, and then talking about how that feels to say no to people and then potentially having them reject you, and taking that as like, ‘It’s OK, I have aligned with my own values.'” Atkinson added that cultural differences also play a role in how people understand and practice consent. Her office has recently engaged students, asking them what consent looks like to them.Events to build awarenessAtkinson highlights one of the events this week, called Scatter Stones, invited students, faculty, and staff to paint stones with messages of consent or support for survivors.The stones will be sealed and placed across campus.”So that when you’re going to your car, when you’re going to your class or your office, there’s always those little reminders that we’re here to support survivors, and we really want to create a culture of consent,” she said.Other initiatives include Love Letters to Survivors at Robertson Library, where people can write notes of encouragement that will be collected and turned into a collage.There’s also The Art of Thriving, a PhotoVoice project in partnership with Women’s Network P.E.I.Pictured is the Sexual Assault Awareness Week display at the Robertson Library. (University of Prince Edward Island)The project provides a creative, community-based space for survivors of gender-based violence and others navigating life after trauma.”It’s a photography event where they have taken photos and created captions around their healing journey and where they find hope, where they find healing, just so that survivors on campus know that they’re not alone, that there is a community for them, and that we’re here to support them,” Atkinson said.The art will be on display in the W.A. Murphy Student Centre concourse on Thursday and in the Robertson Library lobby throughout next week.A full list of events can be found on the UPEI website.With files from Island Morning
UPEI puts spotlight on consent during Sexual Assault Awareness Week
