Who we are
SWAN grew out of a pilot community health care initiative that extended HIV outreach to local massage businesses.
During the project, we learned that women and gender-diverse people working in massage businesses dealt with a host of issues much broader than sexual health.
These women were most concerned about issues related to the law, immigration, employment, and safety among others.
At the end of the project, we recognized the importance of outreach work and decided to continue working together.
In December 2002, the outreach workers officially formed SWAN Vancouver which now stands for Supporting Women’s Alternatives Network. In 2008, we dropped our previous name “Sex Workers Action Network” to ensure the inclusion of im/migrant women who do sex work but do not self-identify as sex workers.
In 2017, SWAN became a registered charity.
Our Mission
SWAN promotes the rights, health, and safety of im/migrant women and gender-diverse people engaged in indoor sex work through frontline service and systemic advocacy.
Our Values
Safety
Self-determination
Our Vision
Safety, rights, and freedoms for im/migrant women and gender-diverse people engaged in sex work.
Position Statements
SWAN’s position statements make clear our stance on key priority areas, and bring detail to our beliefs and values that guide our mission. SWAN utilizes current research and consultations with the community we serve to inform these statements, programs, and services.
Sex work is not trafficking, sexual exploitation, or child and youth exploitation.
Sex work is work.
Sex work is the exchange of sexual services between adults for money or goods.
Human trafficking is the recruitment, transportation, transfer, and harbouring or receipt of persons, by means of threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, abduction, fraud, deception, or the abuse of power or a position of vulnerability; or of the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person for the purpose of exploitation. Human trafficking can occur in various industries, such as agriculture, construction, garment, manufacturing, hospitality, domestic work, and the sex industry, among others.
Sexual exploitation involves any actual or attempted abuse of vulnerable persons, or abuse of a differential power or trust, for sexual purposes.
Child and youth exploitation involves sexual activity with children and youth under the age of 18 in exchange for money, drugs, food, shelter, or any other considerations.
We believe that effectively countering human trafficking, sexual exploitation, and child and youth exploitation requires recognizing the distinction between these crimes and sex work.
SWAN supports the full decriminalization of sex work.
SWAN advocates for the sex work sector to have the labour rights and protections as other sectors.
Canada’s Protection of Communities and Exploited Persons Act (PCEPA) criminalizes the sex industry(1). PCEPA increases sex work stigma and creates unsafe working conditions by impeding im/migrant sex workers from reporting violence, violating their basic human rights, and preventing them from accessing labour and legal protections.
Migrant sex workers experience multi-layered criminalization. The Immigration and Refugee Protection (IRPR) Regulations prohibit temporary residents in Canada from engaging in sex work(2). In combination with PCEPA, IRPR creates disproportionate vulnerabilities to systemic violence and barriers to reporting violence for migrant sex workers.
SWAN advocates for the full decriminalization of sex work, i.e. decriminalization that includes migrant sex workers.
(1) PCEPA criminalizes paying for sexual services, communicating to exchange sexual services, profiting as a third party from someone else’s sexual services, procuring someone to provide sexual services, and third party advertising to provide sexual services. See: Protection of Communities and Exploited Persons Act, Sections 286.2, 286.3, 286.4, 286.5.
((2) IRPR states temporary residents are “not to enter into an employment agreement, or extend the term of an employment agreement, with an employer who, on a regular basis, offers striptease, erotic dance, escort services or erotic massages.” See: Justice Laws Website, Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, Sections 183.1, 196.1, 200.3
Our Team
The people who work at SWAN share the vision and values of our community.
At SWAN Vancouver, no one is ever required to disclose their current or former sex work status. This applies to the im/migrant community we support, whether they are currently engaged in sex work, have past experience in the industry, or work in massage parlours without providing sexual services. This policy also extends to staff, volunteers, collaborators, and anyone visiting our office. Because being “out” carries risks, removing the expectation of disclosure ensures that participation at SWAN never depends on sharing personal histories, and that our community can engage with us without compromising their safety or privacy.
With feedback and guidance from our Advisory Group, made up of community members who access our services, we have shaped our team to reflect the community’s complex and intersectional identities, languages, cultural connections, and migration journeys.
Angela
She/her
Executive Director
Kelly
She/her
Program Manager
I work at SWAN because of its intersectional and person-centred approach.
I am honoured to be able to be in this position to support this community. I hope that the work I do can help create a more equitable society that respects and values im/migrant sex workers as an integral part.
Crystal
She/her
Communications Manager
I work at SWAN because I want to see accurate representations of im/migrant people who engage in sex work.
I aim to help the public gain a better understanding of this community and the barriers they face in order to advance their basic rights. I’m grateful to the community members who have shared their stories and perspectives with me, guiding my advocacy and public education work.
Chantel
They/she
Community Projects Coordinator
Meris
Human Resources Manager
I work at SWAN because of the organization’s person-centred approach that recognizes self-determination for the community we serve.
I am passionate about antiracism, intersectional feminism, and human rights for all, and I am honoured to be able to apply these principles to the work I do every day.
Ayaka
She/her
Office Manager/Program Support Worker
I work at SWAN because I admire its dedication to providing meaningful services to such a niche yet significant demographic that is severely neglected.
I hope my work supporting SWAN staff contributes to community wellness and leads to safer working and living environments for im/migrant women and gender-diverse people engaged in sex work.
Tuby
She/her
Frontline Support Worker
I work at SWAN because I believe that its person-centered approach and culturally safe practices enhance well-being and create safe environments for the community we serve.
I hope my work can help reduce the barriers the community faces, empower them to exercise their rights, and promote justice and integrity.
Tzezl
She/her
Frontline Support Worker
I work at SWAN because of its dedication and advocacy for the community of im/migrant women and gender-diverse people in sex work.
Through my work, I hope to provide direct and practical services, supporting our community to overcome challenges around immigration, healthcare access, and other basic services. As a frontline worker, I hope my work can also reduce the stigma this community faces.
Kristy
She/her
Frontline Support Worker
I work at SWAN because I believe in the importance of providing person-centred support and creating safe spaces for those who face discrimination because of their culture, experiences, and work.
Through my work here, I hope to help lower the barriers to healthcare and day-to-day support for people who may not have an established or safe support system.
Claudia
She/her
English Additional Language Instructor
I work at SWAN because I admire the organization’s dedication to providing person-centred, impactful resources for the community we serve.
In my role, I aim to reduce barriers to accessing language education and create a safe and welcoming environment for learners of all skill levels. I hope the work I do empowers our community and provides a creative space to share and learn together.
Board of Directors
The biannually elected board of directors oversee the conduct of business and provide strategic guidance.
Directors draw upon their professional, personal, and experiential knowledge to govern the organization.
We are currently accepting board applications. Previous board experience, as well as legal, human resources, or migrant rights expertise are assets, but we welcome all applicants.
Mindy
She/her
Chair & Co-Treasurer
I aim to strengthen and sustain the internal systems that underpin SWAN’s work and help to create stability and strategy behind our activism.
Bronwyn
She/her
Secretary
I joined SWAN’s board because of my academic background in community-based research involving sex workers, and my personal commitment to promoting sex workers’ labour conditions and human rights.
I hope to contribute my research, writing and knowledge translation expertise to SWAN’s community-based research initiatives as well as advocacy and awareness campaigns. It’s a privilege for me to have this opportunity to apply my skills and community connections to SWAN’s systemic advocacy supporting im/migrant women and gender-diverse people engaged in indoor sex work.
Melody
She/her
Vice-Chair
I joined SWAN’s board because I am invested in work that protects and advances the rights, health and safety of im/migrant sex workers, massage workers and other marginalized groups who engage in informal labour economies.
I hope to work humbly in support of SWAN’s mission and vision from a feminist, intersectional, anti-racist framework, contributing formal and informal experience working on the frontlines of the anti-violence movement and in community-based participatory research work.
Kelly
She/her
Co-Treasurer
I joined SWAN’s board because I love SWAN Vancouver’s grassroots approach and the various meaningful and educational initiatives and programs.
I hope to utilize my professional knowledge in finance and accounting to support SWAN and streamline the processes and financial operations within the organization.
Transparency
We know it’s important to you that your funding or donations are used effectively.
It’s important to us, too.
That’s why we work hard to be as transparent as possible.
You can also view our T3010 Registered Charity Information Return data for the past 5 years on the Canada Revenue Agency website here.
Strategic Plan
Strategic Plan 2025-2029
Our current Strategic Plan serves as a roadmap that guides SWAN Vancouver’s goals, priorities and actions. By outlining clear objectives, this plan helps us shift resources and make decisions, while demonstrating how we’re working towards these goals.
Careers
We’re a group of feminists whose feminism includes trans women, gender-diverse people and sex workers.
Are you passionate about systems change from an intersectional feminist lens, advocacy, policy and/or direct services? Then come join SWAN’s team!
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