Registration deadline for conference on sexual health

SYDNEY — Registration for the It’s Natural conference on sexual health in the early years is open until Friday.

The conference is being hosted by Shey (Sexual Health in the Early Years) committee and aims to teach people how to be an “approachable” adult, learn about developmentally appropriate sexual health education and promote creating cultures of acceptance and respect for diversity.

“We want to send the message that sexual health is not just about intercourse and reproduction. It includes how we feel about ourselves, knowledge about our bodies and how they work, healthy relationships … And how to keep our bodies safe,” said Cape Breton Centre for Sexual Health spokesperson Vanessa Walker, one of the organizers and speakers at the two-day conference.

Madonna Doucette, program coordinator for the Cape Breton Youth Project, is also presenting during the conference which happens Nov. 2- 3 at the Nova Scotia Community College Marconi Campus.

Also presenting are Toronto Public Health staff members Irene Kassies, a sexual health promoter, and Jennifer Katz, a public health nurse. This conference is recommended for people working with young children in daycares, preschools, family resource programs, public health, social work as well as people studying these professions.

To register for the conference go to Eventbrite.ca. For more information call Madonna Doucette at 902-5785801 or Vanessa Walker at 902-5395158.