BCNPHA Non-Discrimination and Harassment Policy
BC Non-Profit Housing Association (BCNPHA) is committed to creating and supporting a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment at our online and in-person events, as well as in our virtual education programs.
Professional ideas and information are exchanged most effectively in an atmosphere that is free of discrimination or harassment and is characterized by courtesy and respect. BCNPHA is dedicated to providing learning experiences free of harassment for everyone.
All event attendees, speakers, sponsors, and organizers must agree with the BCNPHA Code of Conduct as part of registering for our events and online learning opportunities. If you are being harassed or notice that someone else is being harassed, please contact an event or session organizer immediately. Anonymity will be maintained as much as possible, but may be compromised if action is required.
Participants should exhibit appropriate professional conduct in their interactions with all individuals whom they encounter during an event or online learning platform. Inappropriate professional behaviours include but are not limited to:
- Discrimination against or harassment on the basis of an individual’s race, ethnicity, age, religion, colour, citizenship, national or ethnic origin, disability, military or veteran status, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, technology choices, or any other classification protected by applicable municipal, provincial or federal law;
- Intimidation, stalking, abusive or threatening behaviour, or bullying;
- Retaliation against individuals who raise conduct concerns.
BCNPHA reserves the right to assess whether an individual’s behaviour is consistent with these conduct expectations and, based on that assessment, the right to bestow, deny, revoke or limit participation in event or online learning activities. This policy also applies to BCNPHA partners, staff, event attendees, speakers, or the tradeshow at any event activity.
BCNPHA Practices for Inclusion and Respect
In addition to our policy for a harassment-free event, we have instituted numerous practices for enhancing the safety and comfort of everyone who participates in our events and communities.
- Highlighting marginalized voices : BCNPHA’s programming is intended to lift up and highlight the voices of marginalized people, with sessions and learning opportunities that broaden and deepen the perspectives within the event experience.
- Support for gender diversity and LGBTQ2S+ rights: BCNPHA will not tolerate sexist, misogynist, transphobic or homophobic language, expression, or behaviours.
- Holistic support for the well-being and access of BCNPHA partners, staff, and delegates: BCNPHA will work to make its events and online learning programs fully accessible to participants with disabilities, including closed captioning in live event sessions. BCNPHA will include programming in its events that supports the mental health of participants and guests, including education content, networking and break options, wellness tips, and resources from our sponsors.
What Constitutes Harassment?
BCNPHA prohibits the following list of behaviours, whether directed at other attendees, staff, speakers, exhibitors, or partners. This list is not meant to be comprehensive, but to give general guidance as to what constitutes harassing behaviour:
- Physical or verbal intimidation, including threats, stalking, or unwelcome following;
- Any conduct that is harassing, abusive, discriminatory, or intentionally demeaning of a person by any attendees at the event and related event activities;
- Personal attacks or other behaviour during disagreements or in discussions;
- Offensive verbal comments related to gender, sexual orientation, race, religion, national origin, gender identity, or disability;
- Inappropriate use of nudity and/or sexual images (including presentation slides);
- Harassing or intimidating photography or recording;
- Sustained disruption of talks or other events; and
- Unwelcome sexual attention, including unwelcome sexual flirtations, advances, or propositions; unwelcome verbal comments or physical actions of a sexual nature; sexually degrading words used to describe an individual; an unwelcome display of sexually suggestive objects or pictures; sexually explicit jokes.
If you are asked to stop any harassing behaviour at an event, you are expected to comply immediately.
BCNPHA Photo and Video Release
When attending one of our events or participating in an online education session, you consent to photography and video recording and its release, publication, exhibition, or reproduction to be used for news, web casts, promotional purposes, advertising, and inclusion on websites, social media, or any other purpose by BCNPHA. Images, photos and/or videos may be used to promote similar BCNPHA events in the future, highlight the event and exhibit the capabilities of BCNPHA. When you register for an event or session, you release BCNPHA’s employees and each and all persons involved from any liability connected with the taking, recording, digitizing, or publication and use of photographs, computer images and/or video. You also waive any right to inspect or approve any photo, video, or audio recording taken by BCNPHA or the person or entity designated to do so by BCNPHA.
Privacy Policy
BCNPHA ensures that the personal information of event delegates and online education participants is protected in compliance with applicable privacy legislation.
We respect and uphold an individual’s right to privacy and to the protection of personal information, and we are committed to ensuring compliance with applicable privacy legislation.
This policy applies to all event and/or online education participants, as well as to the staff, directors, members of BCNPHA, non-members, and partner organizations.