Farewell to Sue Johanson, Canada's beloved sexpert

Sue Johanson was Canada’s resident sex educator and counselor whose blunt, honest, and often comical delivery helped normalize talking about sex.

She was born Susan Powell in Toronto in 1930. She began pursuing a career in health and wellness when she attended nursing school in Winnipeg. After graduating as a Registered Nurse, she married her husband, Ejnor Johanson, in 1953.

The couple moved to North York and raised their three children together. Sue stayed at home to care for her children during their early years.

A true pioneer in the promotion of sexual health and education, Sue opened up the first birth control clinic in a Canadian high school. She worked as the clinic coordinator for 18 years.

Sue expanded her knowledge and credentials through post-graduate education becoming a sex educator and counselor.

Sue began work on her first radio program in the 1980s. Q107 rock hosted her live call-in radio show where she would answer listeners’ questions about sex in way that made callers feel safe and unjudged.

In 1996, Sue went on to develop a sex-focused television program which premiered on the W Network. The program was again a live call-in show which covered a variety of topics related to human sexuality by answering the questions posed by viewers. The show aired until 2005.

Sue was a frequent guest on late night television talk shows having made appearances on ‘Late Night with David Letterman, ‘The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,’ and ‘Late Night with Conan O’Brien.’

She was part educator and part comedian as she shared her knowledge about sex. Her method of teaching frequently included props and often left television hosts and guests speechless.

Sue Johanson was a successful author having published three books about sex. Her first two books were titled, ‘Talk Sex,’ and ‘Sex is Perfectly Natural, But Not Naturally Perfect.’

Sue had an acting role on the Canadian television series, ‘Degrassi Junior High,’ and ‘Degrassi: The Next Generation,’ where she played a character who was a version of herself.

In 2002, Sue Johanson began work on a US version of her successful talk show entitled, ‘Talk Sex with Sue Johanson.’ Viewers were able to participate in the popular call-in segment of the show and learn about all things pertaining to sex.

For her tireless work advocating for sex education in Canada, Sue Johanson received the prestigious ‘Order of Canada,’ by then Governor General Adrienne Clarkson.

Sue’s impact on popular culture was evident when she was parodied by Rachel Dratch on ‘Saturday Night Live.’

‘Sex with Sue’ premiered in 2022 on the W Network. Written and directed by Lisa Rideout, the documentary won a Canadian Screen Award in 2023 for Best Documentary Program.

As fans and people impacted by her life learned of her passing, many shared words of praise and gratitude for the icon who advocated for frank and open sexual education. Her passion for her work and contributions to society will not soon be forgotten.