Internet porn surge prompts jump in sex education requests at Calgary centre

A non-profit group providing sex education programming to schools in Calgary says its seeing a big spike in demand for its services.

Pam Krause, who runs the Calgary Sexual Health Centre (CSHC), says requests for help are rising as kids are exposed to more pornography on their phones and iPads.

"We know we cannot stop the tsunami of pornography," she said. "There's just no way. It's not going anywhere, so for us the important thing is that you get good information." 

Krause says the requests aren't just coming from high schools.

"Junior highs keep coming to us and coming to us, and really for the first time in our organization's history — that I'm aware of — we've had to turn schools away, which is really difficult for us," she said.

Early puberty

Krause says kids are also hitting puberty earlier.

"Junior high teachers are facing more questions about pornography, sex and relationships," said Krause in a release. "When teachers learn of the opportunity to have outside educators come in and openly address these questions, they jump at the chance."

Currently the centre has four full-time educators who work in Calgary schools.

The Calgary Sexual Health Centre is holding a fundraiser to hire more sex-ed instructors on Nov. 6, which includes the sale of "woodies" — props used by CSHC educators — painted by local celebrities.

“The woodie auction is just another way of normalizing sexuality,” said Krause in a release. “It’s something fun that gets people talking, and that’s really what our healthy sexuality program is about — starting the conversation.”