OPTIONS Sexual Health Association has a long history
serving Edmonton and the surrounding area.
The first and most important goal of the new organization was to work towards changing the existing criminal code of Canadian law that stated "Everyone commits an offense who... offers to sell, advertise , publishes an advertisement of, or has for sale or disposal any means, instructions, medicines, drug or article intended or represented as a method of preventing conception or causing abortion or miscarriage."
The other objective was to distribute birth control information – illegally.
In 1965, one of the founders, began to teach the first sex education classes in schools.
On June 27, 1969, the Liberal government passed a bill, which legalized contraception. It became the law on July 1, 1969.
The new main objectives of the organization were to improve access to birth control, to provide public sexual education and to provide non-judgmental support for pregnant women.
With legalization of contraceptives, it became possible for the organization to apply for funding. The opposition to birth control in the community, however, was still very strong.
The first Executive Director of the organization, was appointed in January 1973, with no salary.
Perceived by some to be a "pro-abortion lobby", the organization was often challenged to defend its existence. The president of the organization wrote in the Edmonton Journal (May 1, 1981) "It should be a basic human right to decide freely and responsibly whether or not to have children, as well as determine their number and spacing...We do not try to force personal opinions on anyone, but, rather, hope to continue disseminating information necessary to allow people to make informed choices."
In the following years, one of the priorities of the organization was improving the access to abortion facilities in Edmonton and Alberta. Nearly one half of the women in the Edmonton area who required the procedure had to go out of province for the procedure.
Dr. Henry Morgentaler opened an abortion clinic in Edmonton, September 17, 1991.
Continuing its advocay the organization raised its voice against discrimination based on sexual orientation preventing lesbians from accessing artificial insemination.
1997 the organizations mission statement "Promotion of healthy sexuality for all, through education, counselling, advocacy, in partnership with the community".
W. E. Harris a founding memebr of the organization stated upon the 30th anniversary of legalized birth control "The need of wider application of contraceptive information and prevention of unintended pregnancies are now more crucial then ever"