Respectful Cultural Centre Policy

Preamble:

The Respectful Cultural Centre policy is applicable to all members, volunteers, visitors, and contracted service providers of the Scandinavian Centre Inc., also know as Nordic House of Canada, and Scandinavian Cultural Centre.

Policy Statement:

While attending the Scandinavian Cultural Centre everyone is entitled to a respectful environment that is without disrespectful behaviour including discrimination, harassment (including sexual harassment) and violence.

Visitors, guests, participants and Members of the Scandinavian Cultural Centre, attending any event hosted or sponsored by, or representing, the Scandinavian Centre Inc., any of its member country clubs (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden), or any of its Groups (Scandia Young Folk Dancers, Scandia Fun Folk Dancers, Scandinavian Canadian Choir, Sill-i-tones or Scandinavian Collectors Club) are entitled to a respectful environment that is without disrespectful behaviour including discrimination, harassment (including sexual harassment) and violence.

The Centre recognizes it is responsible to build and maintain a diverse, respectful environment where the dignity and respect of every person is valued. A respectful cultural centre requires the cooperation and support from every member, participant, guest, visitor and contractor involved with the organization and they all have a responsibility to set a positive example and behave in a manner that will not reasonably offend, intimidate, embarrass or humiliate others, whether deliberate or unintentional.

Definitions:

Respectful Cultural Centre is one that values diversity and inclusion, dignity of the person, courteous conduct, mutual respect, fairness and equality, positive communication between people and collaborative working relationships.

Discrimination is the different treatment of an individual or group on the basis of a Protected Characteristic, as defined in the Manitoba Human Rights Code, rather than on personal merit.

Harassment is any objectionable or offensive behaviour that is known, or ought to be reasonably known, to be unwelcome. It includes objectionable actions (e.g, touching, pushing), comments (e.g. jokes, name-calling), or displays (e.g. posters, cartoons), made by either a one-time or continuous basis that demean, belittle, or cause humiliation or embarrassment. Harassment can also take place electronically (e.g. text messages, social media, email or screen savers).

Sexual harassment is:

abusive comments or behaviours that are based on gender or sex,
objectionable and unwelcome sexual solicitations or advances,
any sexual advance by a person in a position of authority,
a reprisal, retaliation or threat of retaliation for rejecting a sexual solicitation or advance, or
a reprisal for filing a sexual harassment complaint.

The unwanted behaviours may be physical or verbal. Examples of behaviours that may constitute sexual harassment include, but are not limited to:

unnecessary physical contact such as touching, patting or pinching
requests for sexual favour(s) in return for a promise or reward or a threat of reprisal for rejecting the sexual advance(s)
unwelcome sexual remarks or jokes that degrade a person’s gender

Violence is any act that results in injury or threat of injury, or threat against personal security or safety, whether it be real or perceived, by an individual.

Approved by the Board of Directors

Effective Date: February 5th, 2019