Vancouver Sexuality Resources

Home Page A New Look at Sex About this Site Educational Books Carol Leigh Transcript Guide to Safer Sex (Concise) Betty Dodson Transcript Educational Videos An Erotica Guide Giving and Receiving Erotic Massage Flirting Tips Information Hotlines Laura Antoniou Transcript Male Multiple Orgasms Sex-Positive Philanthropy Jack Morin Transcript The G-Spot Finding Your Local Sex-Positive Culture Web-Based Matchmaking Services Portland Sexuality Resources The 1998 SSSS/AASECT Conference Guide to Safer Sex (Lengthy) San Francisco Sexuality Resources Seattle Sexuality Resources A Guide to Sex Toys Anna Marti Interview NightOwl Interview Sex-Positive Student Organizations The Swing Community: A Profile Erotic Talk Vancouver Sexuality Resources Vena Blanchard Interview An Intro to Political Activism The Sexuality.org West Coast Awards The Sex Education Web Circle (INDEX) Transgenderism Archive (INDEX) Tantra Archive (INDEX) General Sexuality Archive (INDEX) Polyamory Archive (INDEX) GLB Archive (INDEX) Fetishes Archive (INDEX) Body Modification Archive (INDEX) BDSM Archive (INDEX) Activism Archive (INDEX) Contributed Documents (INDEX) Banners (INDEX) Vamp (INDEX) Syrinx (INDEX) David Steinberg (INDEX) Jack Morin (INDEX) Contributing Authors (INDEX) William Henkin (INDEX) Eric Francis (INDEX) Meghan Scott (INDEX) Norman Breslow (INDEX) Non-famous Lauren (INDEX) The Sexuality Advisor (INDEX) Kathryn Grosz (INDEX) Jane and Dick (INDEX) Jamie Jay Gatto (INDEX) Cuir Underground (INDEX) Brandy Williams (INDEX) SHS Mailing List Reviews (INDEX) SHS History (1995-1998) (INDEX)

A New Look at Sex Safer Sex

Books or Events Sex Toys or Erotica

Educational Videos Matchmaking

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Introduction

• This guide is only intended for (and frankly only of use to) consenting adults, since the overwhelming majority of the organizations it describes are restricted to participants over the age of legal adulthood.
• This guide comes with no accuracy guarantees, may eventually go out of date, in some points is (by necessity) based on second-hand suggestions rather than the first-hand experience of its creators, and in using it you release its creators from any liability concerning it. In other words, it is at best a starting point, and never a substitute for using good judgment.
• There is always time in life for new experiences, but some health and safety mistakes can't be undone: if you haven't learned enough about safer sex to know what you need to do to preserve your own health and that of those around you, or aren't sure whether you're the sort of person who can stick with what you've decided, then this isn't the guide you should be reading right now.
• Common courtesy, and asking whenever you're unsure whether something is OK, never go out of style.
• If you sometimes travel to other cities on the West Coast, then you may also wish to check out our Sexuality.org West Coast Awards.

BDSM/Leather

Vancouver's leather bar is the Pumpjack (1167 Davie Street / 685-3417).

Community charity events include the annual Mr. Jock and Mr. Denim/Leather contests sponsored by the Knights of Malta.

To stay informed of everything that's going on, the best course of action is to subscribe to the moderated Vancouver Leather Events List, but if you prefer not to subscribe to mailing lists you could just read the current month's BIO newsletter through their web site (which also lists select local events that might be good for beginners, such as the Vancouver munches). Generally, as new groups form they'll be linked to from the Vancouver Leather Groups Page.

Swing Clubs

The vancouver3somes group sponsors well-attended off-premise events at a club called Connections, and every once in a while hosts an informal party of their own.

Polyamoury

Men's Bathhouses and Sex Clubs

A cautionary, though hopefully obvious, reminder may be in order here: you cannot tell whether somebody is HIV-positive or HIV-negative based on how they look, or based on anything they say. Safer sex is always important, though perhaps here any sane person would consider it essential.

Spiritually-Focused Sexuality

Sex Education

A comfortable art gallery and sex toy store called The Art of Loving also sponsors educational events.

Sex Toys

Note that the range of sex education videotapes available for purchase or rental in Vancouver is smaller than that at equivalent stores in the United States: this is not the fault of Vancouver's stores, rather of the need for explicit tapes to pass through a formal governmental review process which may not be financially feasible for niche erotica or educational material.

Fetish Fashion and Dancing

For fetish fashion clothing: Mor Rubber (1263 Homer / 683-2667) specializes in rubber, and Judy Basha Designs specializes in PVC, and Hypatia Shoes specializes in fetish shoes. Mail-order fashion shops in the area include Flaming Angels.

LGBT Resources

General

For GLBT-focused books, visit the famous Little Sisters Book Store (click on the "Customer Care" link for directions and hours).

Bi

Gay or Bi Men

The Pacific-Canadian Association of Nudists sponsors social events and dances specifically for gay and bi men, while the Shadow Falls campground (host camp of the annual EmoMen event) offers a more rustic clothing optional environment.

Lesbian or Bi Women

Transgender

Crossdressing

Dance Clubs

See straight.com and gayvancouver.net for current club listings.

Local Sex-Positive Media

Health and Counseling

Politics

Bookstores

Traveling to Vancouver

Once you get to Vancouver you may find you can navigate the city on foot, although the city does have a very good bus system. However, if you're staying out late you may wish to have a few taxi numbers with you in case you're still out when the busses stop running: Black Top 800-494-1111, Vancouver Taxi 888-871-8294, and Yellow Cab 800-898-8294.

The most economical way to stay in Vancouver is in one of that city's excellent hostels: at the present time, based on its location Hi-Vancouver Central is probably the best choice.

Note that non-residents of Canada can apply for a refund of taxes paid while visiting Vancouver, for accommodations and goods that you'll be taking out of Canada, but the minimum amounts are such that you're unlikely to reach them if staying at a hostel. But definitely keep your receipts if you buy anything expensive, or stay at an expensive hotel.

You can typically exchange foreign currency for Canadian currency at one of the Canadian chartered banks, but Custom House Currency Exchange, Calforex, and Thomas Cook Foreign Exchange are other options.

Note that it's customary to tip 15% in restaurants and for taxis: in restaurants you can typically double the GST and round up.

Vancouver has 10-digit dialing, so even if you were calling your next-door neighbor within the same area code you'd still need to include the area code when dialing. In all other respects you make calls the same way you would in the United States, since the country code is the same. As is also the case in the United States, dial 911 in case of emergency.

Side-Trips

The main poly resource in Victoria is the vanisle_poly list, while Sagacity hosts BDSM/fetish social and educational events.

In Nanaimo, there's KIN Dungeon, and in Fraser Valley there's the Raven's Retreat BDSM bed and breakfast.