By Peter Berton

TORONTO – Mz. Scream is one of Canada’s best-known and most-respected dominatrices. She currently conducts services in Toronto … which is where she also is attending university.

That’s right: After years studying and plying her trade in some of the most-revered dungeons, Mz. Scream is hitting the books as well as her clients — but only if they ask nicely.

From all reports, the lady is as successful at her studies as she is at her profession, which should come as no surprise. After all, she specializes in all forms of discipline. YNOT.com recently submitted to her charms.

YNOT: How has university been going for you?

Mz. Scream: University has been going quite well in my first two terms so far. Today I changed out of the sexuality studies certificate program and into the sexuality studies undergraduate degree program.

Why did you decide to further your formal education?

Last year I suffered from a serious back injury where one of my discs was pushed into the nerve root. I had semi-retired from professional domination work and had been working in the harm-reduction field in Vancouver, BC. The job offered professional development funds to pay for a few terms of an online university certificate program offered by York University called the Harm Reduction Certificate program.

While I was off work due to my injury, the government slashed the funding to my job position. I was forced back into working in the adult entertainment industry, although it was really hard on my health.

Once I was jobless, my parents paid for me to complete the online Harm Reduction Certificate program from York University. My final grades for that online course were two As and one A+. This motivated me to continue school despite my health problems. A few months later I moved to Ontario and started [on-campus] in the Sexuality Studies Certificate program at York University.

I’ve maintained a B+ grade average, even though the program started me in third-year courses. I had no idea how to properly write an essay, how to use citations, and practically had to learn an entirely new language, as the terminology used in my courses was unfamiliar to me.

I am now taking the degree program, as I want to continue with my studies. My back will never be 100-percent healed, and tasks such as carrying books and laptops and taking public transit are very painful for me. However, my overall health has improved a lot.
I love going to school and am keeping up with it. I am also working part time in regular work again, in harm reduction, and I have a dungeon in Toronto.

I just finished a sexuality studies course in cultural anthropology during the summer term, and have a couple months of freedom before starting in with a full-time course load. I am taking Introduction to Critical Sexualities, Language and Gender, and Heterosexualities.

So you haven’t hung up your corset?

No, the corsets are still in use.

You’re involved with the Canadian Supreme Court case about decriminalizing sex work. Where does that stand now?

We are awaiting the judges’ final decision. We cannot appeal [a decision rendered by] the Supreme Court of Canada. The only way we could challenge their decision if they do not repeal the current prostitution laws would be to take [our grievance] to the World Court.
The Ontario Supreme Court has ruled our current prostitution laws unconstitutional, and I feel strongly that this will make an impact on the [Supreme Court’s] decision. I believe prostitution will become decriminalized in Canada, and the current laws will be struck down.

Back to academics: How has campus life changed you?

I have really had to discipline myself and manage my time in a different manner. It takes me a really long time to write essays — an unusually long time.

I used to have a really active social life in Vancouver, and it seems I have hidden myself away in a quiet neighborhood in Toronto to prevent distraction. I have had no time to date and only have a few friends in the city. So in terms of lifestyle changes? A lot has changed.

How well have you been accepted at school?

I’ve been well accepted at my school. I am a “mature student” and have classmates who are a lot younger than I am, so it’s not necessarily the place where I go to enhance my social life, but I am in sexuality studies programs at a very liberal-minded university. York University was the first Canadian university to have LGBT support groups. They teach from a sex-positive mindset, and sex work is not frowned upon. I don’t show up in my corset with my whips, so I just blend in with everyone else.

What are you doing during your summer vacation?

I have had very little time off this summer. I took a course for the first part of summer — a condensed five-week course that covered one year’s worth of course material — and then I got a full-time block at my harm-reduction job. Plus, I still see dungeon clients on the side.

I went up north to my friends’ parents’ farm for four days. I went fishing and had big fires in the yard and swam in their pool. It was very relaxing.

I also went to Las Vegas July 14-19 to facilitate two workshops at the Desiree Alliance conference. Now I’m spending August getting all of my administrative stuff sorted out with my two businesses, my student loans and all that jazz.

What do you plan to do after graduation?

After graduation, which is a few years away, I plan to teach independent workshops and offer sex therapy counseling. If I am still motivated, I would like to get a Masters [degree] and a Ph.D, as well.

For now, I’m working on short-term goals before I commit to any long-term goals. I hope to have a baby in the next few years, as well, so that may shuffle the schedule around a bit.

Just for kicks, tell us something few people know about you.

I’m actually extremely prudish and would love to be in a heterosexual, monogamous marriage and leave the sex industry altogether.