In order to ensure an inclusive and safe environment for all members, staff and guests who attend the Scandinavian Community Centre, the Scandinavian Community Centre Society has established the following Code of Conduct:
Members of the Scandinavian Community Centre (“SCCS”) and its associated societies, organizations, their members, guests and renters of the facility agree to act in accordance with the following values. Members, staff, guests and renters are urged to familiarize themselves with this Code of Conduct, to take reasonable steps to prevent violations where possible, to report alleged violations, and to take alleged violations seriously.
Any violations of the Code of Conduct will be addressed by the Board of Directors the SCCS or the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of the SCCS and may involve but not be limited to official warnings and/or exclusions from attending any and all events at the Scandinavian Community Centre.
1. Bullying and Harassment
Bullying and harassment can harm SCCS’s reputation and are incompatible with SCCS’s values and commitment to a collegial and cooperative climate. Bullying and harassment includes any degrading, hostile or offensive conduct or comment by a person towards another that the person knew or reasonably ought to have known would cause the person or persons to be humiliated, intimidated, or otherwise gratuitously harmed, or that diminishes the capacity of the person or persons target to function effectively as a member, staff member, guest or renter of the facilities of the SCCS. This injunction is not intended to discourage expressing differences of opinion or offering constructive feedback, guidance, or advice.
2. Sexual Harassment
The SCCS does not tolerate sexual harassment. Sexual advances, requests for sexual favours, or sexually directed remarks constitute sexual harassment when submission to such conduct is made a condition of membership, a condition of access to the benefits of membership, or a condition of employment, or when such conduct persists despite its rejection.
3. Discrimination
SCCS rejects all forms of discrimination based on race, colour, religion, political convictions, national origin, sex, disability, sexual orientation, gender identification or age, whether in admitting new members or in any other SCCS activities.
4. Defamation
Members and employees of SCCS and their affiliated organizations must take all care to refrain from making any public statements that untruthfully impugn the reputation of the SCCS, its Board of Directors, its committees, or its members. Special care must betaken when making statements online or through social media, where missing context easily leads to misunderstandings and where rhetoric is easily overblown. This injunction is not intended to discourage truthful “whistle blowing” disclosures in the interest of the SCCS or disclosures in the public interest.
Member of the SCCS who are approached by the press with questions about the SCCS should direct all questions to the SCCS President.
5. Conduct Towards Staff, Volunteers, Guests, Users and Renters of the SCCS Facilities
Members of the SCCS, staff, volunteers, guests, users and renters of the SCCS facilities are expected to address office, hired staff, volunteers, and the members of the Boards of Directors of the SCCS with utmost courtesy and respect. Mistakes or other shortcomings of staff, volunteers and members of the Board of Directors of the SCCS are never grounds for discourteous conduct.
6. Responsibility for Guests
The SCCS welcomes members’ guests. Members must ensure that guests are accompanied at all times, and they must ensure that their guests conduct themselves appropriately at all times. Guests whose conduct is inappropriate will be escorted off the SCCS’s premises by the member who brought the guest to the SCCS Centre, by a staff member or another member.
7. Conduct Generally
The enumeration of this code of conduct does not limit to the grounds on which a member may be found to have conducted themselves in ways contrary to the expectations of the SCCS. The Bylaws provide that any conduct unbecoming a member, any conduct that hinders the purpose, aims, and objects of the SCCS, or any conduct that is likely to endanger the reputation of the SCCS is liable to result in discipline. Any illegal or unethical conduct on the part of a member can be grounds for appropriate sanctions, especially when the conduct takes place on SCCS property, impedes the SCCS’s orderly and effective operations, risks the reputation of the SCCS or the community houses that are part of the SCCS, or jeopardizes a climate of good will and respect among members.
8. Concerns, Complaints and Sanctions
Members and guests who fail to conduct themselves in accordance with this Code of Conduct may be subject to official warnings and/or exclusion for attendance at any and all events that are held on the grounds or premises of the Scandinavian Community Centre.
Concerns and complaints are to be directed to the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of the SCCS at this email address: President@scancentre.org