Code of Conduct
Our commitment to anti-bullying, anti-harassment, and anti-discrimination.
The Fringe Workplace Culture
Summary
Our team strive to create an environment that is safe, inclusive, and welcoming to all, whilst allowing for the diverse experimentation and sometimes challenging subject matters that may be presented by our independent artists. We welcome any and all suggestions towards making Vancouver Fringe a great experience for all and furthering our mission of ‘theatre for everyone’ from BC and beyond.
There is no place at Vancouver Fringe for any form of behaviour that creates a hostile environment. Harassment, including micro-aggressions, are unacceptable within our Festival, and we are committed to providing a space where everyone can feel free from harassment, violence, and discrimination.
This Code of Conduct is a community pledge for all participants of Vancouver Fringe. Whether you are an artist, patron, volunteer, cultural partner, staff member or associate of our Festival in any other way, you have the right to be treated with respect and dignity and also the obligation to treat others in the same way.
Ideally, we would live in a world where a Code of Conduct was not necessary, but we believe in being proactive and clear about our community expectations. As part of our ongoing and progressive efforts towards inclusivity for all, we look to you, our ever-inspiring community for insight, assistance, and help.
If you have ideas on how we can continue to make Vancouver Fringe a more welcoming environment for all, please email our Workplace Culture and Oversight Committee via board@vancouverfringe.com. We look forward to hearing from you.
Code of Conduct
In the spirit of an open and inclusive Fringe community, we ask all participants in our Festival to commit to the following:
- Understand and foster an environment that is free of harassment, sexual harassment, violence, and discrimination in any form.
Be nice. Harassment is often defined by the person that is being harassed, so being understanding of another point of view can be critical. - Respect others.
We respect every person and encourage personal development in ourselves and others. Respectful behaviour includes listening before speaking and asking questions rather than assuming intentions. - Do your part to prevent and stop harassment.
Watch out for others. Contribute to this not only through refraining from engaging in harassing behaviour yourself, but by supporting others, only when appropriate and safe, that you see experiencing forms of harassment. - Respect your own needs.
Pay attention to your own needs. Ask for help or clarification. Take the time or space you need to be fully present and rested. - Engage in constructive dialogue.
Vancouver Fringe brings together people from many different walks of life. Recognize that someone else’s frame of reference is likely to be different from your own.
How We Define Harassment
Harassment includes,
but is not limited to:
- Offending or humiliating someone physically or verbally.
- Threatening or intimidating someone.
- Making unwelcome jokes or comments about someone’s gender, gender expression or identity, sexual orientation, disability, mental illness, neuro(a)typicality, physical appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, citizenship status, or religion.
- Micro-aggressions, which is a term used for brief and commonplace daily verbal, behavioural, or environmental indignities, whether intentional or unintentional, that communicate hostile, derogatory, or negative racial slights and insults toward any marginalized group.
- Deliberate ‘outing’ of any aspect of a person’s identity without their consent, or stalking or following without consent.
Sexual Harassment includes,
but is not limited to:
- Offensive or humiliating behaviour that is related to a person’s gender identity.
- Behaviour of a sexual nature that creates an intimidating, unwelcome, hostile, or offensive environment.
- Physical contact and simulated physical contact (e.g. textual descriptions like ‘hug’ or ‘backrub’) without consent or after a request to stop.
- Behaviour of a sexual nature that could reasonably be thought to put sexual conditions on a person’s work opportunities.
Violent Behaviour includes,
but is not limited to:
- Hitting another person.
- Throwing objects.
- Incitement of violence towards any individual, including encouraging a person to commit suicide or to engage in self-harm.
- Any violence, or threats, whether conveyed verbally, in writing, or through behaviour.
Who to Contact
Vancouver Fringe will always be available for confidential support and guidance if needed. Should you be on-site during our Festival and require assistance, please inform a Fringe staff member or volunteer and they can radio for further support if they are unable to address your concern directly. You will be able to identify staff members and volunteers by their branded Fringe t-shirts which have ‘Staff’ or ‘Volunteer’ printed on them.
In addition, the following care resources are available:
- If you feel you are in an emergency situation, always first make sure you are safe and dial 911 immediately for police, fire, or ambulance services.
- If you are in need of crisis support, please call the Crisis Centre Distress Line via 604-872-3311 or alternatively via 866-661-3311 (toll free). The Crisis Centre is open 24 hours, seven days a week, and offers confidential, anonymous crisis support for any issue.
Please contact board@vancouverfringe.com for the Workplace Culture and Oversight Committee, made up of board members who have been identified as the first point of contact for all Code of Conduct-related matters. All messages will be responded to as soon as possible.
