Policies: Table of Contents
Harassment Policy
Kings Historical Fencing (KHF) is committed to providing all members an environment that is free from all types of violence and harassment. All forms of harassment, discrimination and violence are unacceptable, and will not be tolerated. KHF will take every reasonable effort to ensure members are not subject to harassment.
For purposes of this policy, harassment is defined as any of the following:
- A single incident or repeated incidents of objectionable or unwanted comment, conduct, display, action, bullying (including an assertion of power through aggression) or gesture by a person that the person knows or ought to know will or could cause offence or humiliation to a member, or that adversely affects the members health and/or safety.
- Actions or comments that the person knows or reasonably ought to know would cause another person to be humiliated, intimidated, or threatened.
- Bullying and harassment based on prohibited grounds of discrimination, or otherwise discriminatory behaviour, as set out in human rights legislation.
- Psychological harassment, which may involve any behaviour in the form of repeated and hostile, or unwanted conduct, verbal comments, actions, or gestures that affect a member’s dignity or psychological integrity.
- Sexual harassment, including but not limited to unwanted comments, touching, jokes, showing of images, or other materials displaying sexual content.
Harrassment includes bullying, spreading gossip or malicious rumours, targeted isolation of a person or group of people, vandalizing equipment or belongings, personal attacks, asserting power through aggression, or any other repeated pattern of behaviour intended to intimidate, offend, degrade, or humiliate a person or group.
For harassment (or bullying) to occur, it is not necessary that a person have intentionally offended the victim or that the bully or harasser target another person or persons. The bully or harasser may be unaware that their behaviour is offensive and perceived as bullying and harassing. It is sometimes difficult to determine what may be considered inappropriate and offensive behaviour because every member is different and may see things and events differently. Therefore, all members must be attentive to perceptions that certain behaviours may inspire in others and act in conformity with this policy.
Kings Historical Fencing Club was formed with the purpose of developing HEMA in the Annapolis Valley and ensuring opportunities for our sport in this region. Understanding that we are diverse and inclusive, and have many different cultural, educational, and unique backgrounds, it is important to remember the strength in our differences. As such, these simple rules should become engrained in every Council member as we move forward.
All members of the Council, regardless of position held, represent Kings Historical Fencing and our drive to grow and move the club forward, and should conduct themselves at all times, whether in public, class, on-line, or in Council meetings or sub committee meetings with behaviours that align with our core values of respect and inclusion.
Members of the Council should not make any decisions without Council approval, or take any actions that could put the club in any financial or legal risk. All decisions made by Council are determined by majority vote, and as such, all members are required to support those determinations. The same applies to any sub-committee that might be created by the club.
Sub committees will be structured so there is a note taker, and all meetings must have minutes kept. No sub committee may move forward on any actions until the minutes are presented and discussed by Council as a whole (or quorum). A special meeting of Council may be held, but minutes and attendance must be taken. Steps to address violations of any of the above should be as follows: If it is determined that a member blatantly and with disregard for the club’s reputation and the respect of other members acts contrary to our guidelines, membership and Council position will be revoked. If it is found that a member was unaware that their actions or behaviour was likely to violate the policy, the Council may vote to take corrective action to change the members behaviour. A second violation will result in a revocation of membership.
Snow Day and Cancellation Policy
If school is cancelled in the area, we will be cancelling class. For the 10-week Beginner program cancelled classes will be added at the end to make up the 10 weeks.
Cancellations will be communicated via email at the earliest opportunity. The class calendar on our website will also be updated as soon as a change to class is made.