Overview 

We ask all Fringers to adhere to the following code of conduct, including any person who comes on site to any Guelph Fringe Festival partnering venue, or who represents and/or participates in a Guelph Fringe Festival produced event. 

Fringers will not participate in or condone activities that discriminate on the grounds of race, colour, place of origin, gender, age, marital status, religious beliefs, citizenship, mental and physical abilities, sexual orientation, or any other prohibited grounds within the Ontario Human Rights Code. 

Definitions 

1. Fringers: Any person who comes on site to any Guelph Fringe Festival partnering venue, or who represents and/or participates in a Guelph Fringe Festival produced event. This includes but is not limited to attendees, patrons, sponsors, donors, vendors, renters, performers, crew members, volunteers, and staff. 

2. Consent: A voluntary, ongoing, active, and conscious agreement to engage in the activity in question. Consent or a “yes” that is obtained through pressure, coercion, force, threats, or by inducing intoxication, impairment, or incapacity is not voluntary consent. Silence or ambiguity do not constitute consent. Additionally, there is no consent when: 

• it is given by someone else. 

• the person is unconscious, sleeping, or lacks the capacity to consent. 

• it was obtained through the abuse of a position of power, trust, or authority. 

• the person does not indicate “yes,” says “no,” or implies “no” through words or behaviours. 

• the person changes their mind and withdraws their consent. 

It is the responsibility of all parties wanting to engage in an activity to obtain clear consent from the other, and to recognize that consent can be withdrawn at any time. 

3. Discrimination: A distinction, whether intentional or not, based on a characteristic or perceived characteristic that has the effect of imposing on an individual or group of individuals burdens, obligations or disadvantages that are not imposed on others, or of withholding or limiting access to opportunities, benefits and advantages available to other individuals in society. 

4. Harassment: Conduct or comment, either one time or repeating, that: 

• is demeaning, intimidating, threatening, or abusive; 

• is not trivial or fleeting in nature; 

• causes offense and should have reasonably been expected to offend; 

• serves no legitimate purpose for the environment; 

• is a reprisal or threat of reprisal against an individual for rejecting a solicitation or advance; and 

• undermines authority or respect in the environment, limits opportunities for advancement, or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive environment. 

Harassment includes conduct or comments, or the creation of a negative psychological and/or emotional environment that humiliates, excludes, or isolates an individual or group by focusing on their race, colour, place of origin, gender, age, marital status, religious beliefs, citizenship, mental and physical abilities, sexual orientation, or any other prohibited grounds within the Ontario Human Rights Code. 

Harassment also includes bullying, which is a form of aggression that may include physical, verbal, or emotional abuse. It can include persistent, offensive, abusive, intimidating or insulting behaviour, abuse of power, and/or unfair sanctions which make the individual feel threatened, humiliated, and/or vulnerable. 

Code of Conduct 

Additionally, all Fringers will maintain the Guelph Fringe Festival and all events produced by the Guelph Fringe Festival as a safe place by: 

• Maintaining positive, respectful relationships with fellow community members; 

• Acting with honesty and integrity, declining to participate in or condone any activities that may be considered unethical or illegal; 

• Avoiding participating in or condoning activities that may put people in harm’s way or risk their physical, emotional, or mental wellbeing; 

• Practising active consent when engaging in activities of a sexual nature; 

• Supporting people who have experienced or disclosed harassment, violence, or discrimination by reporting any incidents of bullying, harassment, violence, discrimination, or abuse that you witness when you are able; 

• Not participating in or condoning in activities that may be bullying, non-consensual, discriminate, harassing, or violent in nature; and 

• Maintaining a drug and tobacco-free environment by not utilising such products on site. 

Violation of Policy 

Violation of this Code of Conduct may result in being removed from the grounds, and/or banned from participating in future activities related to the Guelph Fringe Festival.