Sexuality Education Resource Centre

What Sexuality Education Resource Centre does

Sexuality Education Resource Centre (SERC) is a Manitoba-based non-profit charitable organization, founded circa 1935 and now in its ninth decade of continuous operation, delivering sexuality education, sexual health resources, and harm reduction services to Manitobans. It serves four primary populations — youth (the primary segment), parents and caregivers, service providers, and the 2STLGBQIA+ community — through youth workshops, community workshops, professional development/training, free safer sex supply distribution, an anonymous text/email Q&A service called TextEd, and an extensive digital and physical resource library. Sub-brands include TeenTalk (youth-focused), 2STLGBQIA+ Program, Consent at Work, White Wolf Speaking, and Afro-Franco Outreach. Multilingual resources are published in six languages (English, Amharic, Arabic, Somali, Swahili, Tigrinya) in partnership with Mount Carmel Clinic, and the organization distributes translated and culturally adapted materials such as Affirming Your Identity and It's Safe to Ask.

Its core 'technology' is non-existent in the software sense — SERC's platform is a community-based service delivery model anchored by two physical offices (headquarters at 167 Sherbrook Street, Winnipeg, with a secondary office in Brandon), augmented by a website (serc.mb.ca), an Instagram presence (serc_mb), Facebook, an email newsletter, and earned media placements in outlets such as CBC and Winnipeg Free Press. The product surface is a curated curriculum and resource library (fact sheets, facilitator manuals, translated guides, activity guides, lending library) and structured workshop content such as Touch Talk and Puberty Changes. The TeenTalk.ca website was redeveloped with 6P Marketing and funded by the Telus Friendly Future Foundation in February 2026 as a significant UX upgrade.

Revenue mechanics are those of a charitable non-profit: government grants (Health Canada funding the Affirming Your Identity resource, Justice Canada funding the Consent at Work project), corporate philanthropy (Telus Friendly Future Foundation for TeenTalk), individual donations via etapestry.com, merchandise sales through a shop partnership with artist Kal Barteski, and modest resources-for-purchase revenue. The overwhelming majority of services and safer sex supplies are free at point of use. Pricing is best characterized as a 'freemium' community-services model with no transactional software revenue. SERC operates exclusively within Manitoba, has no subsidiaries, no parent company, no venture or PE backing, no patents, no API surface, and no disclosed financials in the input data. Governance is via a Board of Directors and current leadership comprises Executive Director Gillian Roy and Director of Programs Hafiz Jatto (effective May 11, 2026), following Co-Executive Director Leigh-Anne Caron's October 2025 departure.

Name

Sexuality Education Resource Centre

Legal name

Sexuality Education Resource Centre MB

Website

https://serc.mb.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1935

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Sexuality Education Resource Centre (SERC) is a Manitoba-based non-profit, founded circa 1935, delivering sexuality education, free safer sex supplies, professional training, and harm reduction services to youth, parents, service providers, and the 2STLGBQIA+ community across Manitoba through offices in Winnipeg and Brandon.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sexual Health Education Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Services (611), Social Assistance (624), Human Rights Organizations (813311)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Sexual Health & Relationship Wellness Education (EDAAAHAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Sexual & Reproductive Health Services (EDALAFAG)

Keywords

• Sexual health education
• Community workshops
• Safer sex supplies
• Professional training services
• Youth health programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Winnipeg

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: SERC receives funding from government sources including Health Canada and Justice Canada to support various programs and initiatives such as the Consent at Work project and sexual health education programs.
2. Donations: The organization accepts donations through their website platform (app.etapestry.com) for supporting their programs and services.
3. Merchandise Sales: SERC has a shop partnership with Kal Barteski for merchandise sales.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Sexuality Education Resource Centre (SERC) is a Manitoba-based non-profit charitable organization that provides sexual health education through youth and community workshops, peer support groups, and professional development training for service providers. The organization distributes free safer sex supplies, operates the TextEd anonymous Q&A service, and maintains a multilingual library of online resources, translated publications, and a physical lending library. Services are delivered primarily in-person across Manitoba with offices in Winnipeg and Brandon.

Product overview

SERC operates as a sexuality education resource organization providing a portfolio of educational services rather than a single software product. Core offerings include Youth Workshops, Community Workshops, and Professional Development/Training programs delivering sexuality education from a harm reduction perspective. The organization distributes Safer Sex Supplies for free and operates TextEd, an anonymous sexual health Q&A service via text and email. Online Resources provide digital access to fact sheets, translated publications, and guidelines. Sub-brands include Teen Talk (youth-focused education), 2STLGBQIA+ Program (support for Two-Spirit and queer community), Consent at Work (workplace harassment prevention), and White Wolf Speaking Program. Services are delivered primarily in Manitoba through offices in Winnipeg and Brandon.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Teen Talk: A SERC program focusing on youth health education covering sexuality, reproductive health, body image, substance use awareness, mental health, diversity, and anti-violence issues.
• TextEd
• Consent at Work

Products and services

• Youth Workshops In-person educational workshops for youth covering sexuality, reproductive health, body image, substance use awareness, mental health, diversity, and anti-violence topics, delivered in Manitoba schools and community settings.
• Community Workshops Educational workshops for community members including the PIVOT program and Totally Outright 2STLGBQIA+ Community Series addressing sexual health education and community engagement.
• Professional Development and Training Ongoing Learning Hub and organizational training for service providers, including the Consent at Work and Queering the Compass programs, supporting trauma-informed and culturally competent sexual health service delivery.
• Safer Sex Supply Distribution Free distribution program providing condoms, internal condoms, gloves, and sex dams to community groups, events, and individual requests across Manitoba.
• TextEd Anonymous text and email service where users can text 204-982-7801 or submit questions via an online form and receive responses within two business days.
• Sexual Health in Canada (Multilingual) Free downloadable booklet on sexual consent, sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections, and birth control methods, translated into Amharic, Arabic, Somali, Swahili, and Tigrinya and produced in partnership with Mount Carmel Clinic.
• Affirming Your Identity Resource compiled to increase accessibility to gender-affirming care and help Trans people change legal names and gender designations on federal and provincial government documents.
• Teen Talk Program SERC youth program with a dedicated website covering sexuality, reproductive health, body image, substance use awareness, mental health, diversity, and anti-violence topics for young people.
• 2STLGBQIA+ Program Dedicated program serving Two-Spirit, Trans, and LGBQIA+ community members with peer support groups, social gatherings, and inclusion-focused programming, including the Brandon Trans Peer Support and Social Group.
• Consent at Work Workplace sexual harassment response initiative developed with Justice Canada funding in collaboration with MFL Occupational Health Centre and Klinic Community Health.
• Lending Library Physical library of sexual health resources available for loan to community members, with a public catalog hosted on LibraryThing.
• Consulting Services Consulting services offered by SERC to organizations seeking sexual health program design, training, and advisory support.

Quantifiable outcome

• Distribution of safer sex supplies to community groups and events across Manitoba

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Mount Carmel CliniccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership project with Mount Carmel Clinic to create translated sexual health resources. The partnership produced 'Sexual Health in Canada' booklet translated into 6 languages (Amharic, Arabic, Somali, Swahili, Tigrinya) for distribution to diverse communities in Manitoba.
• Action CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSERC participates annually in Action Canada's SexPlus campaign during Sexual Health Week (February 8-14). The campaign 'sparks conversations, challenges misinformation, and creates space for asking more, learning more, and knowing more about sexual health' across Canada.
• MFL Occupational Health CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with MFL Occupational Health Centre and Klinic Community Health on Consent at Work project, funded by Justice Canada, to develop a community health response to workplace sexual harassment in Manitoba.
• Klinic Community HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with Klinic Community Health and MFL Occupational Health Centre on Consent at Work project, funded by Justice Canada, to develop a community health response to workplace sexual harassment in Manitoba.
• 6P MarketingmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner6P Marketing worked with SERC on the redevelopment of the Teen Talk website, creating a significant upgrade from the previous version with improved user experience for youth.
• Manitoba Institute for Patient SafetyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSERC distributes 'It's Safe to Ask' resources, developed by the Manitoba Institute for Patient Safety, which encourages patients to ask three key questions about their health care.
• CBRC (Community-Based Research Centre)minorOthersCBRC contributed to the funding and development of sexual health resources, with their logo appearing on the Affirming Your Identity resource as a contributor.
• Kal BarteskiminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSERC has a shop partnership with artist Kal Barteski for merchandise sales, allowing supporters to purchase items while supporting SERC's work.
• Little Teaching Lodge (Brandon)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLittle Teaching Lodge (205 College Ave, Brandon) hosts SERC's Trans Peer Support & Social Group and 2STLGBQIA+ Get Together meetings, providing a community space for these programs.
• Shilo MFRCminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMilitary Family Resource Centre (MFRC) in Shilo partnered with SERC to co-facilitate a mental health and body image workshop for girls and female-identifying youth.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Options for Sexual Health (BC): British Columbia-based nonprofit providing sexual health education, clinical referrals, and community workshops. Closely comparable mission, service mix, and free-distribution model to SERC, but regionally scoped to BC.
• Nine Circles Community Health Centre: Manitoba-based community health centre delivering STI testing, harm reduction, and sexual health programming. Strong local peer in overlapping services (STBBI testing, harm reduction) and Manitoba geography.
• CBRC (Community-Based Research Centre): 2STLGBQIA+ sexual health and wellness organization delivering research, resources, and community programs. Direct peer in queer-inclusive sexual health education, with whom SERC has partnered on Affirming Your Identity.
• Action Canada for Sexual Health and Rights: National Canadian organization delivering sexual and reproductive health education, policy advocacy, and SexPlus awareness week. Directly comparable as a peer sexual-health education body SERC collaborates with annually.
• Klinic Community Health Centre: Manitoba community health centre partnering with SERC on Consent at Work and translated resources. Directly comparable as a peer in community-based sexual health education and service delivery in Winnipeg.
• SHORE Centre (Sexual Health Options, Resources & Education): Kitchener-Waterloo-based sexual health education center offering workshops, resources, and clinics for youth and community. Highly comparable in size and service mix to SERC but serving southwestern Ontario.

Others

• The Wisdom Seekers: White Wolf Speaking Program: White Wolf Speaking Program is actually a SERC sub-program (Indigenous-focused education); relevant adjacent peer would be Ka Ni Kanichihk or similar Indigenous-led health programs offering culturally grounded sexual health education in Manitoba. Listed as adjacent thematic peer for SERC's Afro-Franco and Indigenous programs.
• Teen Talk (sub-brand relaunched 2026): SERC's own youth-facing sub-brand after 2026 rebuild; comparable adjacent peer resources include Kids Help Phone and Scarleteen as youth-targeted sexual health education platforms. Listed for ecosystem context rather than as an independent competitor.

Broad incumbents

• CATIE (Canada's source for HIV and hepatitis C information): National HIV/STBBI education and knowledge exchange organization. Comparable as a peer in sexual-health education delivery, though broader in mandate and federally funded.

Regional players

• Sexual Health Centre (Cape Breton): Regional sexual health education and resource organization in Nova Scotia offering workshops, supplies, and support similar to SERC. Comparable as a peer serving a distinct Canadian province.

Market position

Strengths3 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/serc_mb
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sercmb

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sexuality Education Resource Centre