BCCEC- The British Columbia Coalition of Experiential Communities (BCCEC) is a consortium of sex worker activists who work to eliminate the oppressive systems and forces that create harm for individuals within the sex industry. We operate under the principle that members commit to creating an environment of inclusion and change.

WCCSIP- Vancouver sex workers expressed their desire to explore cooperative business models as a way to generate alternative sources of income, increase health and safety, build community capacity and begin to take control of our collective destiny. The cooperative cooperation was formally incorporated in February 2008 and is known as the West Coast Cooperative of Sex Industry Professionals.

CAEC- The Canadian Adult Entertainment Commission is a consortium of people who have experience either working within, providing services to, running a business in, or purchasing services/products of the sex industry and agree to work towards the common goals of health, safety and stability in the sex industry

Education

Dartmouth High School- Dartmouth, Nova Scotia- Grade 12 completed 1986.
Royal Conservatory of Music- Grade 9 piano completed
Academy of Cosmetology- Dartmouth, Nova Scotia- Hairdressing Program
completed 1988.
Policy and Development Training- PACE Society, Vancouver, 2003-04 including seminars with Dr.Ted Palys and Dr.John Lowman.

Advocacy Work Reports

Active sex worker working as an independent or sole proprietor escort. 1987 til present.

2005-BC Coalition of Experiential Women-“a broad perspective on the portrayal of sex workers in the media.”- author.
2005- PACE Society-“Research Ethics: A guide for Community Organizations”- policy development team members
2005- PACE Society Organizational Policy Manual- policy development team member
2006- PACE Society- Media Liaison
2006- BC Coalition of Experiential Communities- “From the Curb”- Sex Worker’ perspectives on Violence and Domestic Trafficking- data collection
2007- BC Coalition of Experiential Communities- “Developing Capacity for Change” exploring the potential of cooperative business models to address certain issues and barriers facing sex industry community members.- project coordinator, author
2007- BC Coalition of Experiential Communities- “Labor on the Margins”- project coordinator, author
2007- BC Coalition of Experiential Communities- “Vancouver City Sex Industry By-laws Revisions”- project coordinator, author
2007- BC Coalition of Experiential Communities “411- Victim Services Info Sheet for sex workers” development team members
2007- BC Coalition of Experiential Communities “Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Workshops”- contributor
2007- BC Coalition of experiential Communities project to “Revise Provincial Liquor Control Regulations” in relation to exotic show lounges- adopted by Legislative Assemble in 2008
2008-BC Coalition of Experiential Communities-“Leading the Way: Strategic Planning Toward Sex Worker Cooperative Development. -project coordinator, author
2008- Canada’s First Sex Worker Cooperative Incorporated- West Coast Cooperative of Sex Industry Professionals- project coordinator
2008- WCCSIP –“Building Choices for the Future”- Sex Worker Cooperative Consulting Enterprise Development. Project coordinator, author
2008- BC Coalition of Experiential Communities- “Trade Secrets: Occupational Health and Safety Guidelines for Sex Industry Workers- a collaborative project engaging diverse sex industry constituencies in occupational health and safety community development activities: data collection
2009- BC Coalition of Experiential Communities- “CAEC- Industry Association draft Terms of Reference” project coordinator, author

Presentations/ Panels/ Committees

2003-2006- PACE Society Board of Directors
2004-2006- Chairman of PACE Society Board of Directors
2004- Present- Living in Community Steering Committee Member
2005-2007- LIC communications sub committee
2005-2007- LIC recommendations sub committee
2006- International harm reduction conference “from the curb” research presenter
2006- PIVOT Legal Society panel presenter- “Beyond Decriminalization”
2004-2009- UBC, SFU, Rhodes College- Lecture on issues facing sex industry community members, decrim, PTSD, history of sex industry, hate crimes, sex industry as a distinct culture, impacts of enforcement, sex industry labor organizing, ethics in research, street medicine, working with addiction within abstinence based funding environments.
2005-2007- Vancouver Police New Recruits sensitivity training- issues facing sex workers, lack of trust in police as it relates to reporting violent offenders, collecting evidence, street medicine, available resources.
2007-Present-Sex Industry Worker Safety Action Group- SIWSAG- a partnership between Vancouver Police, sex industry support agencies, sex industry consumer groups, sex industry workers the over all sex industry.
2006- Present- Sex Industry Community Policing Partnership Car sub committee
2006- 2009- 2010 Games Impacts sub committee
2006- Present- VPD Policy and Procedure Manual Revisions sub committee
2006- Present- VPD Professional development package sub committee
2006- Present- Defining the VPD Sex Industry Liaison Officer position sub committee

Current Actions in Planning

May 2010- “Protection for All” Sex Industry Stakeholders conference on human rights.
2010- “Filling the Gaps”- a project in partnership with all stakeholders to design meaningful supports for sex industry community members who are trauma survivors.
2009-2010- “Building Choices for the Future” cooperative sex worker café enterprise business plan development
2009- Indefinitely- recruiting organizations into the CAEC and working toward industry consensus on our collective futures.