Full Circle Festival Society Respect for All Policy

POLICY AND UNDERTAKINGS

The Full Circle Festival Society (FCFS) is committed to creating and maintaining a culture of respect for all people in all of its activities and events. Consequently, the FCFS is committed to taking action to support and encourage this culture, as well as action to prevent and respond to allegations or instances of disrespect, including harassment and sexual harassment. All participants (e.g., employees, volunteers, performers, sponsors, and patrons) at any and all FCFS events are expected to demonstrate respect for all others and for the public, and to refrain from behaviour that is disrespectful, including behaviour that may constitute harassment or sexual harassment.

The FCFS undertakes to

  1. take seriously all allegations of, or concerns about, disrespectful behaviour, harassment, or sexual harassment

  2. assign responsibility and give authority to an individual or small group of individuals to respond quickly to any such concerns or allegations

  3. create and follow a simple process by which allegations will be investigated, and to respond as quickly as possible to any concerns or allegations

  4. to review this policy, these undertakings, and the related procedures and protocols annually, and to update them as appropriate.

DEFINITION OF TERMS:

Respect means to show regard or consideration for people, and to refrain from intruding upon or interfering with their activities, privacy, etc.

Harassment is a generic term that can refer to any single instance or a pattern of behaviour of one or more people, where the effect, intentional or unintentional, is that a hostile, offensive, or intimidating environment is created for another person or a group of people. It is not possible to identify every action (including verbal comments, emails, voicemail messages, or the distribution of written or pictorial material) that may constitute harassment; however, examples of behaviour that may constitute harassment include:

  • Inappropriate comments that are gender-based, sexual, ethnic in nature, or related to personal characteristics

  • Religious insults

  • Racial insults

  • Bullying or threats

  • Unwanted touching or sexual advances

  • Age-based remarks

  • Derogatory or sexist jokes or epithets

The term “sexual harassment” refers to any unwelcome conduct that is directed towards an individual because of their gender or sexual identity, or that is sexual in intent or nature, and which has the purpose or effect of interfering with that person’s performance (e.g., of their job) or of creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment. It is not possible to identify every action (including verbal comments, emails, voicemail messages, or the distribution of written or pictorial material) that may constitute sexual harassment; however, examples of behaviour that may constitute sexual harassment include:

  • Unwelcome flirtations, advances, or requests for sexual favours

  • Sexually suggestive comments or jokes

  • Comments regarding the sexual behaviour or the body of another person

  • Sexual innuendo and other actions, such as whistling

  • Publishing or distributing or sending obscene letters, emails, notes, invitations, photographs, cartoons, articles, or other written or pictorial materials of a sexual nature