At age 93, Sue Johanson passed away. She was a pioneer in Canadian sex education.
The nurse and broadcaster was well known for her frank and entertaining approach to sex education.
Sue Johanson, the most well-known sex educator in Canada, died on Thursday at the age of 93, according to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.
Johanson went suddenly at a long-term care facility south of Toronto, according to CBC, while she was surrounded by her family.
The trained nurse dedicated her career to promoting safe sex practices and de-stigmatizing sex, and her straightforward, non-judgmental manner helped her establish herself as an authoritative figure in Canada and other nations.
She first rose to fame in 1984 as the host of the Canadian call-in radio program Sunday Night Sex Show, which later migrated to television and spawned the well-known American version of Talk Sex with Sue Johanson in 2002.
After several years of nursing practice, Johanson founded the Don Mills Birth Control Clinic in 1970. She worked as the clinic’s coordinator for 16 years. While touring Canadian schools, she spoke to thousands of teenagers and young people and released three books on sexuality.
Her appeal was fueled by her openness to discussing sex, pleasure, and sexuality as well as her wit and authority as a professional. Despite the angry phone calls and emails she received from critics, Johanson was unafraid to talk about everything, including contentious topics like sex toys and masturbation.
She was honored with the prestigious Order of Canada in 2000 for her work advancing sex education. The honor ranks as the second-highest civilian honor in the country.
In the announcement of her prize, she was praised for her candor and “listening without judgement.”
Sex with Sue director Lisa Rideout from Canada claimed on Thursday that Johanson had a “positive impact on millions of people all over the world.” The movie served as a tribute to the educator.
“To connect with Sue was to know, meet, listen to, or watch her,” stated Rideout. “Sue was a national treasure of Canada, and her legacy will last for many years to come, bringing about constructive change. You are loved, Sue.
One of Johanson’s three children, Jane Johanson, complimented her mother and her influence in an interview with CBC News Network on Thursday.
My mother was amazing, said Johanson. Her voice would be instantly recognizable by everyone, everywhere, at any time. Never did she ignore anyone. Everyone received the same treatment from her. She never showed any prejudice or snobbishness in response to a question.
Everyone, in my opinion, thought of Sue as a second mother or grandma.
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