Flame Ontario Arts Collective is committed to providing a safe and respectful environment for all persons who attend our events, including volunteers.
We affirm that no one should be subjected to discrimination, violence, or harassment based on gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, ethnicity, colour, socioeconomic status, age, family status, marital status, or religion for any reason at any time.
All complaints of discrimination based on the protected grounds listed above of violence and harassment will be treated seriously, and Flame Ontario Arts Collective will address them.
Participation in Flame Ontario Arts Collective events and its online forums is open to all; however, continued attendance and opportunities for participation can be limited or revoked if you fail to respect other attendees, volunteers, and the members of the surrounding communities adjacent or in proximity to the location where a Flame Ontario Arts Collective event is occurring or if you behave in a way that endangers yourself or the event.
Please be conscious of your well-being and needs. Practice self-care and harm reduction. Self reliance includes dispute resolution at the lowest level. However, if you require additional support, reach out to your camp, rangers, or sanctuary. To identify a conduct violation, please contact the Conduct Committee or file an Incident Report.
For the purpose of this Code of Conduct:
- “harassment”, “harassing”, “harass” means engaging in a course of vexatious comment or conduct against a person at a Flame Ontario Arts Collective event that is known or ought reasonably to be known to be unwelcome, including exerting or attempting to exert undue or inappropriate influence on a person at a Flame Ontario Arts Collective or behaving in a manner that may reasonably be perceived as intimidating or threatening, and, depending on the circumstances, may include one incident of such comment or conduct; and
- “violence”, “violent” means the exercise of physical force by a person against another person that causes or could cause physical injury or death to the other person, an attempt to exercise physical force against another person that could cause physical injury or death to such other person, and/or a statement or behaviour that it is reasonable for a person to interpret as a threat to exercise physical force against the person that could cause physical injury or death to the person.
1. The expected behaviour from attendees and volunteers at Flame Ontario Arts Collective events includes but is not limited to:
- Ensuring consent: Consent is supported by our whole community. You are obligated to get someone’s consent before any form of physical contact in situations involving videography or photography at Flame Ontario Arts Collective events. Ask first and respect the response.
- Being considerate and respectful of fellow participants and the community around the event.
- Refraining from demeaning, discriminatory, harassing or violent behaviour.
- Being mindful of your surroundings and of your fellow participants’ safety.
2. The unacceptable behaviour that all attendees and volunteers at Flame Ontario Arts Collective events shall not engage in includes, but is not limited to:
- Predatory behaviour is defined as any unwanted and non-consensual form of any one or more of the following behaviours: intimidation, harassment, coercive behaviour, stalking, verbal or physical abuse, violence, and the intentional destruction of or damage to property.
- Discrimination based on the protected grounds listed above in paragraph (a)
- Non-consensual physical contact, including unwelcome sexual interaction or commentary.
- Destruction or neglect of Flame Ontario Arts Collective property, physical or otherwise, such as vandalism, theft, defrauding the ticketing process, or impersonating a lead or organizer.
- Disrespecting the host community, residents, and businesses surrounding the event. Examples of non-tolerated behaviours include dumping trash in local dumpsters, trespassing, or repeated violations of the event’s sound ordinance.
- Wanton, flagrant, or repeated disregard for one’s own safety or well-being in a manner that demands the intervention of other attendees, community members, volunteers, or outside agencies, such as intervention by local emergency services.
- Repeated or egregious violations of any and all policies put in effect by event organizers.
3. Consequences of unacceptable behaviour
Unacceptable behaviour will not be tolerated; this includes behaviour before, at, or after the event, whether by phone, email, social media, or face-to-face communication.
Anyone asked to stop unacceptable behaviour is expected to do so immediately: the Flame Ontario Arts Collective board may take any action they deem appropriate to ensure the safety of the event and its participants. This action may include expulsion from the event without refund and/or removal from volunteer or leadership roles.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Flame Ontario Arts Collective will investigate all complaints of discrimination, harassment, and/or violence reported by attendees, including volunteers, at Flame Ontario Arts Collective events. Such investigation will be carried out in a serious and confidential manner. The procedures for carrying out an investigation will be established by the board of directors of Flame Ontario Arts Collective, and the investigation may be carried out by a third party appointed by the board of directors of Flame Ontario Arts Collective.
4. What to do if you witness or are subject to unacceptable behaviour
If you are, or someone else is, being subjected to unacceptable behaviour, including being discriminated against, being harassed or being the object of violence, or if you have any other concerns, then in each such case:
- First, speak up. Ask the person to stop. Say no.
- If you feel unsafe, leave the situation.
- If you feel uncomfortable but the behaviour does not cross any particular line, step away from the situation and reach out to the Rangers.
- If you need help, ask for it. If someone asks you for help, do your best to help or find someone who can.
- At any Flame Ontario Arts Collective event, report your concerns to a Ranger. These individuals are prepared to assist participants and listen to your concerns. They can be found roaming the event and/or stationed at Safety HQ. If you see any event Staff with a Radio, they can also contact a Ranger or Board Member for you.
- If you witness or are the victim of a crime during the event and wish to have a direct law enforcement response, please call law enforcement as needed and then advise safety HQ as soon as possible so we can best direct them from the entrance gate. Alternatively, please let someone with a radio know, and we can contact law enforcement on your behalf.
- At any time, you can submit a report directly to the Flame Ontario Arts Collective Conduct and Consent Committee using our Incident Reporting Form.
Flame Ontario Arts Collective does not have the power to exclude a person from the Burner community at large, public spaces where the community gathers, or private community events (parties, private fundraisers, etc.) that Flame Ontario Arts Collective does not sponsor or put on itself.
Flame Ontario Arts Collective does not intend this process to be an alternative forum for justice and cannot guarantee a repair of damage or reversal of trauma.
We thank you in advance for your adherence to this Code of Conduct. Together, we can craft an event and community that is safe and welcoming for all participants with a commitment to improvement.
