Sexual health educator recognized
Penny gets provincial award for her work
A woman who spent 29 years working at the Cape Breton Centre for Sexual Health has been recognized provincially for her work in the sexual health and education field.
Cathie Penny, former executive director of the Cape Breton Centre for Sexual Health, is one of this year’s recipients of the Sexcellence Awards, an award given to those who support and promote outstanding work in the field of sexual health education.
Penny started working at the Cape Breton centre in 1987. Over the years she has been known for her work as a skilled educator on healthy sexuality and relationships. She has been involved in launching the Ally Centre of Cape Breton, the Sharp Advice Needle Exchange, the Sydney region’s local community health board and the earliest youth health centres.
She has also been a longtime active supporter of the Elizabeth Fry Society, which serves women who are involved with the criminal justice system. She retired last year after a lengthy career as a sexual health educator. She served at the Cape Breton centre for 29 years.
This is the first year that more than one Sexcellence Award has been given out. The other recipient for 2017 is Ruthie Patriquin, executive director of the Sexual Health Centre for Cumberland County.
Her work with youth has gained her national awards.