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Subject:
Respectful Behaviour Policy
Policy Number:
Administration 41/2024
Date Approved:
Approved by:
Date of Last Approved Revision:
This Policy Applies to:
All members of the public, volunteers, councillors and township staff.
Policy Statement:
The purpose of this policy is to promote a safe, healthy, respectful, and positive
environment for all members of the public, volunteers, councillors and township staff.
This policy is intended to serve in addition to the existing Township of Wellesley's
Code of Ethics and focuses on behaviour specific to Township facilities including both
indoor and outdoor spaces. The Township recognizes and values the importance of
community organizations, groups, partnerships, and the businesses who work with
the Township. It is our goal to work together to ensure a positive and cooperative
understanding of this policy.
Nothing in this policy is intended to limit a person's rights and ability to express their
thoughts and opinions in a safe, healthy, respectful, and positive manner.
It is also an understanding of this policy that any organization, group, partner, or
business using Township facilities must take responsibility for managing the
behaviour of all associated participants, volunteers, officials, spectators, patrons,
parents, guests, contractors/consultants, and the public.
Definitions:
Abuse: Abuse is a behaviour that scares, isolates, or controls another person. Abuse
may be a pattern or a single incident. (Government of Canada Website).
Types of abuse; Physical, Sexual, Psychological, Financial and Neglect.
Harassment: Engaging in a course of vexatious comment or conduct that is known or
ought to be reasonably known to be unwelcome (Ontario Human Rights Code).
Township Facility: Includes both indoor and outdoor facilities, owned, allocated,
programmed, operated, or managed by the Township, intended for public or staff use.
This includes but is not limited to, municipal office and yard, council chambers, sport
Township of Wellesley
facilities and fields, fire stations, staff offices, meeting rooms, community meeting
spaces, trails, parks and temporary workplaces including vehicles.
Vandalism: The deliberate destruction, damage or defacing of buildings, structures, or
property owned or leased by the Township.
Violence: The exercise of physical force, or attempt to exercise physical force by a
person, against another, that causes or could cause physical injury. Examples include:
verbal threats, threatening notes or correspondence; shaking a fist at an individual,
wielding a weapon, hitting, or trying to hit someone, throwing an object at someone or
sexual violence.
Procedure:
1 Inappropriate behaviours that obstruct or hinder the ability of others to use and
enjoy Township facilities, or participate in Township services, programs or events,
or compromise the health and safety of others, including staff are unacceptable
and prohibited.
2 Inappropriate behaviour, for the purpose of this policy includes, but is not limited to
the following:
2.1
Failure to supervise children at all times
2.2
Blocking thoroughfares/corridors/stairways/exits/elevators
2.3
Use of profanity or obscene language
2.4
Illegal consumption of alcohol, drugs, or other substances
2.5
Smoking/Vaping that does not comply with all Smoke Free Ontario
regulations.
2.6
Engaging in horseplay, running in throughways, corridors, and stairwells
2.7
The use of air horns, sirens, and other noise makers
2.8
Causing unsanitary conditions (chewing tobacco, expulsion of bodily
fluids)
2.9
Engaging in sexual activity
2.10 Any form of Abuse as listed in the above definition
2.11 Theft of property
2.12 Vandalism of any kind
2.13 The use of cameras, video recording devices, personal digital recording
devices or use of any other equipment with video or photographic abilities
in change rooms or public washrooms
2.14 Display of lewd, illegal, or offensive material including pornography or
material that includes violent acts, indecency, hate, racial slurs, illegal
gambling, or profanity; as well as material with text or imagery that has
explicit or malicious intent.
2.15 Refusal to follow rental contract agreement and all other related
Township Policies/Procedures/By-Laws/Regional, Provincial or Federal
Statutes.
3 Responding to Inappropriate Behaviour
The Township's primary concern is the safety of members of the public, volunteers,
and staff. If patrons, volunteers, or staff feel threatened, they are to call police
immediately. Staff or patrons or any other member of the public are NOT expected to
put themselves at risk or jeopardize their safety or that of others, when dealing with
any perceived or real threatening situation.
3.1
In accordance with the Occupiers Liability Act, the Trespass to Property
Act, the Criminal Code and any other relevant Provincial Legislation,
Township of Wellesley management and employees are authorized to
respond at a Township facility if inappropriate behaviour or activities are
observed or reported. Management and staff may exercise the terms of
the Occupiers Liability Act and ask individuals to vacate the property or
premises of the Township. Staff are NOT expected to respond to
occurrences of inappropriate behaviour if they feel unsafe, threatened, or
otherwise unable to respond for any reason. Staff are encouraged to
contact the Region of Waterloo Police Services and call 911 under these
circumstances.
3.2
Township staff are to report acts of abuse, harassment, violence,
vandalism, or inappropriate behaviour to their immediate director. The
director will convey a report to appropriate patron or association within
five (5) business days (excluding weekends)
3.3
Patrons of Township facilities are encouraged to report acts of abuse,
violence, vandalism, or inappropriate behaviors to a Township staff
member and /or designated person of the appropriate organization within
five (5) business days (excluding weekends)
3.4
All incidents of abuse, violence and/or vandalism or threatening situations
shall be reported to the Police
3.5
Organizations dealing directly with incidents are required to inform the
Township of Wellesley of a resolution within 30 days
4 Reporting Requirements
4.1
Township staff will complete the Township of Wellesley Respectful
Behaviour Incident Report Form (Appendix B) when responding to an
occurrence of violence, vandalism, or inappropriate behaviours or in
response to a complaint from a member of the public, volunteer or other
individual
4.2
The completed Respectful Behaviour Incident Report, along with any
other written, photo or video documentation, including letters of warning,
trespass notices, or any follow-up or action taken will be provided to the
appropriate director/supervisor.
4.3
Once the Wellesley Respectful Behaviour Incident Report and all other
related documentation are received by the appropriate
director/supervisor, the director/supervisor will determine if additional
action should be taken in accordance with the penalties outlined in
Section 3.0 of this policy.
4.4
Any follow up with an individual about an occurrence, such as a meeting,
phone call or other communications, must be noted on the Incident report
and kept with the file.
4.5
If additional action is warranted, such as a warning or trespass notice, the
director (or designate) will send a letter to the identified individual within
14 days of the incident. The letter will describe the occurrence of
inappropriate behaviour and the remedial action to be taken. A copy of
the Respectful Behaviour Policy should be included with the letter.
4.6
If the Police issue a ticket for trespassing at the request of a Township
staff member, the Township shall follow up with a letter of trespass to the
individual charged, noting the length and terms of ban from Township
facilities, programs, service, or events.
4.7
Information about incidents of inappropriate behaviour and individuals
who have been issued trespass notices will be shared, on a confidential
basis, with appropriate staff to help support a safe and healthy
environment for patrons, volunteers, and staff.
4.8
If the individual involved in inappropriate behaviour is associated with an
organization using a Township facility, the organization will be notified of
the incident within seven (7) business days.
4.9
Occurrences of inappropriate behaviour involving minors that results in an
Incident Report Form must include parent or guardian contact as soon as
possible.
4.10 Staff will be provided with appropriate training to support the safe
implementation of this policy.
Procedure:
5 Staff Authorization
5.1
Department Heads are authorized under this policy to determine the level
of penalty to be applied for verified inappropriate behavior according to
Table 5.4. of this policy.
5.2
If the Department Head determines that an individual should be banned
from ALL Township facilities (including indoor and outdoor spaces), the
CAO will be required to make the final decision.
5.3
In addition to any other measures taken, where damage to Township
property has occurred, the individual(s) responsible will be required to
reimburse the Township for all costs associated with repairs or
replacement, including labour, materials and lost revenues and will be
subject to an administration fee as set out in the Fees and Charges
Bylaw. Legal action may be taken to recover related costs if required.
5.4. Table 1: Penalties
Incident
1st Occurrence
2nd Occurrence
Any Subsequent
Occurrences
Inappropriate language,
harassment, abusive
language
Written warning
Minimum 1 day
suspension
Minimum one week
suspension
Disrespect towards another
patron, volunteer, staff, or
councillor
Written warning
Minimum one week
suspension from
recreation program
and/or facility(s).
Removed from
recreation program
and/or banned from
facility(s) for
minimum one year.
-Knowingly putting oneself
or others in a situation
where safety is at risk; or
-negatively impacting
programs
Minimum one week
suspension from
recreation program
and/or facility(s).
Removed from
recreation program
and/or banned from
facility(s) for
minimum one year.
Lifetime ban from
recreation programs
and/or facility(s).
Bullying/Cyberbullying
Minimum one week
suspension from
recreation program
and/or facility(s).
Police notified.
Removed from
recreation program
and/or banned from
facility(s) for
minimum one year.
Police notified.
Lifetime ban from
recreation programs
and/or facility(s).
Police notified.
Threats, hate speech
Minimum one week
suspension from
recreation program
and/or facility(s).
Police notified
Removed from
recreation program
and/or banned from
facility(s) for
minimum one year.
Police notified
Lifetime ban from
recreation programs
and/or facility(s).
Police notified
-Abuse/Assault/Violence
-Possession of a weapon
Removed from
recreation program
and/or banned from
facility(s) for
minimum one year.
Police notified.
Lifetime ban from recreation programs
and/or facility(s).
Police notified
Theft
Removed from
recreation program
and/or banned from
facility(s) for
minimum one year.
Police notified
Lifetime ban from recreation programs
and/or facility(s).
Police notified
Vandalism
Minimum one week
suspension from
recreation program
and/or facility(s).
Police notified.
Removed from
recreation program
and/or banned from
facility(s) for
minimum one year.
Police notified.
Lifetime ban from
recreation programs
and/or facility(s).
Police notified.
Drugs and Alcohol
-possession
-under the influence
-distribution
Minimum one week
suspension from
recreation program
and/or facility(s).
Police notified.
Removed from
recreation program
and/or banned from
facility(s) for
minimum one year.
Police notified.
Lifetime ban from
recreation programs
and/or facility(s).
Police notified.
See Also: