Radical Inclusion is one of SideBurn’s core values. We invite all to participate and do our utmost to reduce barriers to engagement. The land where SideBurn is located is referred to as the Haya. We do our best to ensure all participants can access the Haya and participate fully in the SideBurn experience.
If you have any accessibility or inclusivity requests not listed below, please contact equity@sideburn.ca.
Equity Program
SideBurn’s Equity Program helps reduce barriers to purchasing a ticket. The program offers two streams to assist with ticketing:
- Reduced-cost tickets: A 75% discount on a purchased ticket for those experiencing financial hardship
- Equity Assist: A guaranteed second ticket will be directed to a caregiver for participants requiring assistance with activities of daily living.
You can apply to both streams if they apply to your situation. The Equity Program does not bypass the ticket lottery. You must still participate in the lottery or artist/theme camp directed group sale to receive your ticket.
For more information and to apply, visit our equity ticketing page. Dates and deadlines will be shared in the SideBurn Facebook group and newsletter.
Family Friendly
SideBurn is a family-friendly event. Often, a children’s village theme camp attends SideBurn, and many events are family-friendly. See the What, Where, When (WWW) Guide online or on the Dust App, released weeks before the event, for a complete listing of family-oriented events. Some volunteer shifts are family-friendly and annotated in the volunteer portal. We recommend that you read the SideBurn Family Survival Guide.
Service Animals
SideBurn has a strict policy on animals at our event. Service Animals are welcome to join, but they can only gain entry to the event with a free service animal ticket provided by Equity. See our Animals Policy for full details. If you wish to bring your service animal, please contact equity@sideburn.ca.
Accessible Toilets
SideBurn offers both regular and wheelchair-accessible portable toilets. The Survival Guide, released to participants in the weeks before the event, includes a map with this year’s toilet locations. If you need your camp to be placed near an accessible toilet or have other toilet-related needs, please contact equity@sideburn.ca. We do not provide handwashing stations.
Terrain
The Haya is primarily flat terrain. It is a former hay field that is approximately one square kilometre. It takes around 15 minutes to walk the length of the event. Past participants have been able to navigate the land with walkers and electric wheelchairs during dry conditions. If we get significant amounts of rain, the Haya can be more difficult to negotiate, and you will need rubber boots. Bikes are not common but can be used in dry conditions.
Getting to Your Camping Site
If the Haya is dry, you can drive to your campsite to drop off your gear before returning your vehicle to the parking lot. Be prepared to transport your gear in cases where the land is waterlogged. You should bring a handcart in cases where cars are not allowed on the Haya. Open camping is available close to the parking lot.
Accessible Parking
All vehicles, except RVs and those used for theme camp infrastructure, are asked to park in our parking lot. If you need to park your vehicle at your camping site due to accessibility reasons, please contact equity@sideburn.ca so that an exception can be made. If the Haya is too wet to drive on, parking at campsites will not be allowed. Open camping is available close to the parking lot.
Recreational Vehicles (RVs)
SideBurn offers limited RV passes for those who wish to bring one to the event. Our Vehicle Policy outlines the process for obtaining an RV pass. Unless the RV is part of a theme camp’s infrastructure, it must be parked in RV camping. The Survival Guide, released to participants in the weeks before the event, includes a map with this year’s RV camping location.
Volunteer Shifts
Participation is one of the principles of Burner culture. SideBurn encourages every participant to volunteer for at least one shift. The descriptions of each volunteer role in SideBurn’s volunteer portal list the physical requirements for each shift and whether the role is family-friendly. If you are unsure if a role suits you, feel free to contact us.
Quiet Space
If you are feeling overwhelmed at the event, Sanctuary offers a quiet space to minimize sensory overload with trained staff to help you out. SideBurn also offers an open camping section farther away from the sound camps for those who prefer to camp with minimal noise. We cannot guarantee no crossover noise, but we do our best to provide quiet areas for those who prefer it. For more information, please refer to our Sound Policy. The Survival Guide, released to participants in the weeks before the event, includes a map with this year’s Sanctuary and open camping locations.
Charging Medical Equipment
SideBurn offers medical equipment charging at HQ. If you intend to use medical equipment that requires changing at the event, please contact equity@sideburn.ca so that we can ensure we have sufficient gas for our generators to offer this service. We do not charge phones or any other non-medical equipment. The Survival Guide, released to participants in the weeks before the event, includes a map with this year’s HQ location.
Medication Storage
SideBurn does not have facilities to refrigerate or store personal medications. If applicable, you must plan for the storage and refrigeration of your medicines. However, ice is available for purchase during the event.
Support in English & French
We try our best to offer official SideBurn communications in both official languages. We will do our best to communicate with you in your preferred language.
Radical Inclusion Training
All SideBurn Board members have committed to taking Radical Inclusion, Diversity, and Equality (R.I.D.E.) training each year, and SideBurn Leads are also encouraged to complete it. SideBurn is a radically inclusive event, and the Board strives to strengthen our values of being an open and inviting space for all.
CARE Team
CARE is SideBurn’s Consent, Accountability, Resilience & Equity team. It is comprised of the Consent Chair and the Equity Representative and seeks to ensure that SideBurn and all Flame Ontario Arts Collective events follow the CARE team’s core values of:
- Radical Accountability
- Trauma-Informed
- Informed Consent
- Empathy
- Humility
- Diversity
- Equity
- Timeliness
For more information on the CARE Team, please contact care@sideburn.ca.
