Consent is not only a question during intimacy; it is part of treaties, technology, art, healthcare, and education. Yet being asked is not the same as giving permission. Join us for the Toronto premiere of the animated short Be BRAVE, followed by a lively panel exploring the conditions that must exist for the consent of nations, communities, and individuals to be respected. Presented as part of Consent Awareness Week.
- Thursday, September 24, 2026
- Doors open at 6 p.m., program 6:30 – 8 p.m.
- Five-minute film screening followed by a panel discussion
- Innis Town Hall, 2 Sussex Avenue, Toronto
- Free, registration required
Thank you to the event organizers: The Sexual Violence Prevention & Support Centre at the University of Toronto, Possibility Seeds, the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work at the University of Toronto, Hart House at the University of Toronto, and the Women’s Legal Education and Action Fund (LEAF).
Panelists
Dr. Megan Scribe (Ininiw iskwew, Norway House Cree Nation), Associate Professor of Indigenous Pedagogies in the Department of Sociology and founding Education Director of the Yellowhead Institute, Toronto Metropolitan University
Dr. Notisha Massaquoi, Assistant Professor of Health Education and Promotion, Department of Health and Society, University of Toronto Scarborough, with a graduate cross-appointment to the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, and founder and director of the Black Health Equity Lab
Dr. Kim Stanton, constitutional and Indigenous rights lawyer and Senior Fellow of Massey College, University of Toronto
Catherine Hernandez, award-winning author, screenwriter and artist of Scarborough and Crosshairs, and a Grief and Death Doula
Novera Shenin, Master of Biotechnology student at the University of Toronto and 2026–2027 Co-Chair of the Sexual Violence Prevention & Support Centre Student Advisory Committee
Jason Lin, High School Too Fellow and co-writer of the Be BRAVE animation
Moderated by Farrah Khan, gender justice advocate, founder of Possibility Seeds.
About the Animated Short
Be BRAVE is a five-minute animated short. When 16-year-old Camilla receives a text from her best friend Jordan disclosing an assault, she freezes, unsure how to respond. Scrolling social media, she’s magically pulled into a vibrant world where whimsical characters guide her through five steps: Begin by listening, Respect confidentiality, Ask what support looks like, Validate, and Empathize. Blending magic realism with heartfelt honesty, the film reminds us that when someone trusts you with their story, your response matters. Animated by Vivido Studio.
Accessibility
Innis College is accessible on the main floor, including Town Hall. There are four dedicated spaces for assistive mobility devices at the rear of Town Hall, and the theatre has power-assisted doors. Assistive-listening devices are available. An accessible gender-neutral washroom is located on the third floor of the east wing, reached by elevator. Innis Town Hall is entered through the east atrium. Innis College is undergoing renovations, so please allow extra time to find the entrance.
Getting Here
Three minutes from St. George station, three minutes east of the 510 Spadina stop at Sussex Avenue, two minutes north of the 94 Wellesley stop at St. George and Harbord. One-hour free parking along Sussex Avenue.