The Group Sex Project
Feb 14, 2026 update: Happy Valentine’s Day! We’ve started reaching out to folks with a link to the follow-up survey. We’re contacting people based on when they completed the initial survey, so if you haven’t received an email yet, don’t worry!
art by Max Wittert
This Canada-wide survey is part of a broader community-based research project focused on group sex in Canada. Our aim is to gain knowledge that will benefit group sex participants. Through our work, we are learning about:
- How people have safer group sex
- What contributes to high quality healthcare
- What makes group sex experiences positive
Community advisory board
We work in partnership with a community advisory board of people with experience attending and/or hosting group sex events in Southwestern British Columbia. We meet regularly to align the study with the needs of people who have group sex through shared decision making.
RESEARCH TEAM
Aki Gormezano (he/him), a postdoctoral research fellow in the School of Health Sciences at the University of Northern British Columbia in Canada and at the BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS.
Nathan Lachowsky (he/him), a Ukrainian-English settler scholar and Adjunct Professor in the School of Public Health and Social Policy at the University of Victoria. He is also a Professor in the School of Health Sciences and Dean of the Faculty of Human and Health Sciences at the University of Northern British Columbia.
Coady Babin (he/him), a queer/trans project coordinator with the AdJust Research Collective at the University of Victoria.
Jay Tang (they/them), a queer/trans PhD student in the Department of Sociology at the University of Victoria.
Questions? Email thegroupsexproject@uvic.ca!
RESULTS
So far, we’ve presented our results at several conferences and have published two papers, with more in progress!
Crisis lines, hotlines, and warm lines
Please note: many crisis lines, hotlines, and warm lines may call emergency services (e.g., police) on your behalf without your consent. We have indicated which of the services below have specific policies guaranteeing that they will not do this.
| Name | Contact | Notes |
| Suicide Crisis Helpline | Call or text 988 | Crisis line, English and French |
| Trans Lifeline | Hotline – Trans Lifeline 1-877-330-6366 | For trans and questioning folks – will not call 911 without your consent |
| Warmline | Call 416-960-9276 or text 647-557-5882 or chat online https://www.warmline.ca/ | Peer emotional support |
| SUCCESS BC | Help Lines – Counselling & Crisis Support Services | Crisis lines in Mandarin, Cantonese, Farsi-Dari, Korean, and Ukrainian |
| Wildflower Alliance | Call 888-407-4515 – visit https://wildfloweralliance.org/peer-support-line/ for hours. | They will not call 911 without your consent. US-based but available to anyone. You can find their privacy policy here: https://wildfloweralliance.org/privacy-policy/ |
| Youthline | Chat and resources: https://www.youthline.ca Call: 1-800-268-9688 Text: 647-694-4275 |
For youth (29 and under) |
| Kids Help Phone | https://kidshelpphone.ca/ Call 1-800-668-6868 or text CONNECT to 686868 |
For youth (29 and under) |
| Le centre de crise de Québec | http://centredecrise.com 418-688-4240 |
(FR) |
Indigenous-specific crisis services
| Name | Contact |
| Hope for Wellness – will not call 911 without your consent | Online chat: https://www.hopeforwellness.ca, 1-855-242-3310 |
| National Indian Residential School Crisis Line | 1-866-925-4419 |
| Native Youth Crisis Hotline | 1-877-209-1266 |
| KUU-US Crisis Line Society BC | 1-800-588-8717 (toll-free) Youth Line: 250-723-2040 Adult Line: 250-723-4050 |
| Talk 4 Healing for Indigenous women in Ontario | Online chat: https://www.beendigen.com/programs/talk4healing Call or text: 1-855-554-4325 |
| Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO) 24HR Mental Health and Addictions (MHA) Crisis Line | 1-877-767-7572 |
| Métis Crisis Line BC | 1-833-638-4722 |
Directories and resources
| Name | Notes |
| LifeLine Canada Foundation | Directory to local resources |
| Support Network for Indigenous Women and Women of Color | Resources and services for Black, Indigenous, and racialized women and gender-diverse people |
| Multicultural Mental Health Resource Centre | Multilingual, culturally-relevant mental health resources and information |
| Find a helpline | Directory of Canadian helplines |
| Aide aux Trans du Quebec | (FR) Resources and services for trans folks in Quebec |
| AlterHeros | (FR) Resources for neurodiverse and queer youth |
| jack.org | Mental health resources and information for youth |
| Rainbow Refugee | Resources and support for people fleeing Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression and HIV+ persecution |
| Centro para Gente de Habla Hispana | Resources, services, and information for Spanish-speaking people |
| Canadian Mental Health Association | Mental health resources and information |
| Across Boundaries | Resources and services for racialized folks in Ontario |
| Bounce Back | Resources and online self-directed mental health programs |
For survivors of sexual violence, assault, or abuse
| Name | Contact | Notes |
| Ending Sexual Violence Association of Canada | https://endingviolencecanada.org/getting-help/ | Directory of resources, helplines, and services |
| Salal Sexual Violence Support Centre | Online chat: https://www.salalsvsc.ca/connect-chat 1-877-392-7583 |
Resources, services, and support for women, Two-Spirit, trans, non-binary, and gender diverse people. |
| Sexual Violence Helpline | Online chat: https://sexualviolencehelpline.ca/ 1-888-933-9007 |
In English and French |
| Sexualized Assault Response Team Yukon | 1-844-967-7275 | |
| Alberta’s One Line for Sexual Violence | Online chat: https://aasas.ca/get-support Call or text: 1-866-403-8000 |
|
| Sexual Violence Support Line New Brunswick | Online chat: http://svnb.ca/en/get-help 506-454-0437 |
|
| Fem’aide | Online chat: https://femaide.ca/clavardage 1-877-336-2433 |
Ontario based for French speaking women |
| End Sexual Violence NL | Online chat: https://endsexualviolence.com 1-800-726-2743 |
|
| Support for those in Ontario who identify as men | 1-866-887-0015 | |
| Assaulted Women’s Helpline in Ontario | Online chat: https://www.awhl.org/online-chat 1-866-863-0511 1-866-863-7868 TTY |
|
| VictimLinkBC for BC and Yukon | Call or text: 1-800-563-0808 Email: VictimLinkBC@bc211.ca |
|
| Avalon Centre | https://avaloncentre.ca/ | Support and services for survivors in Nova Scotia – not a helpline |
| Klinic Sexual Assault Crisis Line (24/7) in Manitoba | 1-888-292-7565 |