Read more about the award here.
Saleema Noon is British Columbia’s preeminent sexual health educator and a tireless advocate for empowerment education.
Since 1998, thousands of children, teens and adults throughout the province have attended her comprehensive “body science” workshops, specifically tailored to reflect her firm belief that every person – regardless of race, religion, age, ability, gender identity, gender expression, or sexual attraction – deserves respect. She arms young children with knowledge and skills to keep their bodies safe and empowers parents to share positive, meaningful messages about sexuality with their children at every age.
In one year Noon personally presented sexual health workshops to 630 groups of children, teens and adults in diverse communities in all corners of B.C. Committed to the growth and success of others in the field, she has voluntarily trained, mentored and inspired dozens.
In addition to teaching body science in schools, Noon co-created B.C.’s first empowerment workshop for pre-teen girls, Go Girl!, in 1999. In 2010, Go Girl! became iGirl, tackling topics such as body image, media literacy, gender stereotypes, internet safety, consent, healthy relationships and assertiveness skills. In 2014, Noon launched iGuy, a first-of-its-kind empowerment workshop for 9- to 12-year-old boys. Facilitated in an inclusive environment that celebrates diversity, iGuy challenges society’s definition of masculinity to help boys have healthy relationships, express their emotions, make smart decisions online and live life in a way that honours who they truly are. Both iGirl and iGuy have received rave reviews from participants, parents and teachers.
Although Noon personally provides financial support for youth to participate in her workshops, her recently created Saleema Noon Empowerment Foundation aims to sponsor body science, iGirl and iGuy workshops on a larger scale at schools where children need them most.
A breast cancer survivor, Noon has served on the board of directors of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation (BC/Yukon Region), as well as others currently. Options for Sexual Health has honoured her with their Educator of the Year award, and in 2011 she received the YWCA Metro Vancouver’s Women of Distinction Connecting the Community Award.
Her book Talk Sex Today, co-authored with Order of British Columbia and Order of Canada member Meg Hickling, will be released in summer 2016.
