2022
2022 CRKN Conference: Strength in Community
Online & in Montreal
October 03 - November 02, 2022
Code of Conduct
CRKN is dedicated to providing a welcoming, professionally engaging, and safe conference experience for all participants. CRKN values the productive exchange of ideas and insights from our community and fosters an inclusive environment to discuss opportunities and challenges. Discriminatory language, actions, and imagery are not appropriate for any CRKN event, including conferences, meetings, talks, workshops, or sessions, whether online or in a face to face environment.
CRKN does not tolerate harassment in any form. Harassment is understood as any behaviour that threatens another person or group or produces an unsafe environment. It includes offensive verbal comments or non-verbal expressions related to gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, age, religious beliefs, sexual or discriminatory images in public spaces (including online), deliberate intimidation, stalking, following, harassing photography or recording, sustained disruption of talks or other events, inappropriate physical contact, and unwelcome sexual attention.
The CRKN Conference will have a designated Code of Conduct Committee consisting of no less than two CRKN Board Members, two CRKN staff members, and a representative from a member institution. The Committee members will be identified, both in advance and at the event, should an attendee need to contact them. Incident reporting training will be provided for all members of the Code of Conduct Committee and a reporting process will be shared in advance of the conference.
Adapted from the Ontario Library Association Code and Code4Lib Creative Commons Conference Code.
Code of Conduct Incident Reporting Process
CRKN values the safety of conference attendees and speakers. We encourage participants to use the incident reporting process outlined below in order to ensure a safe environment for all.
If you need to report a Code of Conduct violation, you may:
Submit your report via an online form
*Please note that the form requires individuals to submit their name and contact information.
Or reach out directly to a member of the Code of Conduct Committee by email:
- Jean Blackburn, Vancouver Island University, she/her: jean.blackburn@viu.ca
- Francesca Brzezicki, CRKN, she/her: fbrzezicki@crkn.ca
- Nazia Bundhoo, CRKN, she/her: nbundhoo@crkn.ca
- Claire Duncan, CRKN, she/her: cduncan@crkn.ca
- Émilie Fortin, Université Laval, she/her/elle: emilie.fortin@bibl.ulaval.ca
- Melissa Just, University of Saskatchewan, she/her: melissa.just@usask.ca
- Cassandra Larose, Royal Roads University, she/her: cassandra.larose@royalroads.ca
- Sarah Simpkin, University of Ottawa, she/her/elle: sarah.simpkin@uottawa.ca
- Catherine Steeves, Western University, she/her: csteeves@uwo.ca
Reporting an Incident
Any attendee (hereafter referred to as the Reporter) may report the incident to an event representative (CRKN staff). If they are not a member of the Code of Conduct Committee, the event representative will contact a member of the Committee to take an account of the incident.
- If you submit a Code of Conduct violation, you must provide your name and contact information.
- Your name and contact information will not be shared beyond the Code of Conduct Committee.
The Code of Conduct Committee representative will record the Reporter’s account of the incident using a report template as a guideline. If the incident was submitted through the form linked above, the Reporter may be contacted to provide additional details on the incident.
Following this, the Code of Conduct Committee will meet to discuss the incident and prepare to follow up with the person who is alleged to have violated the Code of Conduct (hereafter referred to as the Reported Person). The Reporter will not be asked to resolve the incident with the Reported Person or to communicate with them in any way.
If a member of the Code of Conduct Committee is reported, that individual will not be permitted to review the incident report.
Contacting the Reported Person
A Code of Conduct Committee member will contact the Reported Person as soon as possible. Once the Reported Person has been contacted, the Code of Conduct Committee member will:
- Relay the details of the incident, without identifying the Reporter.
- Provide or link to a copy of the Code of Conduct and procedure and identify the behaviour that prompted the report.
- Record the Reported Person’s response.
Next Steps
The Code of Conduct Committee will meet again following contact with the Reported Person. If the Committee agrees that the behaviour constituted a violation of the Code of Conduct, they will also decide upon the sanction to apply, based on the severity of the incident.
Sanctions may include, but are not limited to:
- A warning with notice of further sanctions if the behaviour continues.
- Requiring the Reported Person to seek no further contact with the person who submitted the report.
- Prohibiting the discussion of certain topics.
- Removal of formal role associated with the event (if the person is a volunteer, speaker, etc.)
- Removal from specific conference sessions.
- Removal from the event.
After the Committee has come to an agreement, up to two representatives will communicate directly with the Reported Person to inform them of the committee's decision and any associated sanctions. The Code of Conduct representative will not facilitate or relay any apologies or messages from the Reported Person or attempt to mediate a difference of opinion.
The Committee members will also follow up with the Reporter and inform them of the committee's decision.