Safe Spaces Policy

Winterruption YEG is committed to provide an inclusive and welcoming festival to all members of the arts and music community and to be a catalyst that inspires people to embrace being a winter city. We are also committed to promoting issues of diversity, human rights, and environmental responsibility. Winterruption YEG will try to touch as many people in our community as possible by making programming affordable for all, by introducing children and youth to the arts in a winter climate, and by collaborating on projects with other community groups and artists.

We believe that everyone has the right to a harassment-free experience regardless of gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, ability, physical appearance, age, race, religion, or place of origin. We do not tolerate harassment in any form. As we believe everyone has the right to feel safe, we have worked to create a policy to foster Safe Space and Inclusion at festival events. We believe everyone has a valuable role to play in the creation of Safe Spaces and Inclusion, and as such, relevant information related to our policy, such as Bystander Intervention tips, will be posted in all venue washrooms.

This policy will continue to evolve to meet the growing needs of our community. Please direct any questions or concerns to info@winterruptionyeg.com.

Winterruption YEG does not tolerate abusive or discriminatory behaviour from attendees, artists, volunteers, or Winterruption YEG. Such behaviour is subject to removal from any Winterruption YEG event and will result in the cancellation of passholder privileges, a permanent festival ban, artist cancellation or cancellation of volunteer privileges.

Winterruption YEG producers and venue staff have the authority to remove offenders from festival venues. Any decision to act on a permanent festival ban is at the discretion of the Winterruption YEG Board of Directors. Bans and passholder cancellations will all be made on a case-by-case basis.

Resources to provide guidance and education are available to attendees or volunteers who have had their pass privileges revoked or have incurred a permanent ban. Survivor safety is our priority.

If you witness abusive or discriminatory behaviour at Winterruption YEG, please find one of our trained Safe Spaces and Inclusion Volunteers.

Artists with a history of abusive or discriminatory behaviour, or any sort of behaviour that is deemed harmful to the creation of Safe Spaces at Winterruption YEG are not welcome at the festival. Programming decisions are made with this in mind using the fullest extent of our knowledge.

We reserve the right to cancel any artist, without payment or other compensation. Should new information arise, we will exercise our right to re-evaluate an artists’ participation in Winterruption YEG Festival. Any decisions to cancel an artist will be made on a case-by-case basis in consultation with survivors when possible.

Resources to provide guidance and education are available to artists who may have been cancelled. Survivor safety is our priority.

If you witness abusive or discriminatory behaviour at Winterruption YEG, please speak with one of our trained Safe Spaces and Inclusion Volunteers, who will be identified by a festival lanyard. Our Safe Spaces and Inclusion Volunteers have taken a mandatory Bystander Intervention Training provided by the Sexual Assault Centre of Edmonton and are equipped to assist you.

Offensive attire, including (but not limited to) hate symbols, or culturally appropriative attire, is not welcome at Winterruption YEG Music Festival. Such attire may be grounds for removal from a festival venue as well as cancellation of passholder privileges or a permanent ban from the festival. Any decisions to cancel a festival pass or invoke a permanent ban will be made on a case-by-case basis by the Winterruption YEG Board of Directors.

Community Bystander Intervention Training & Harm Reduction

Winterruption YEG’s producers and volunteers undergo Bystander Intervention Training provided by the Sexual Assault Centre of Edmonton. This training provides the skills needed to recognize when and how to help when witnessing power-based violence.

Winterruption YEG actively encourages all participating venues to complete a Bystander Intervention Training with the Sexual Assault Centre of Edmonton. All Winterruption YEG participating venues are made aware of the Safe Spaces and Inclusion Policy and expected to abide. Naloxone kits will be provided on site at participating venues. Volunteers are available for support should you require it.

Accessibility Information

Winterruption YEG will continue to review its practices and any that do not respect and promote the dignity and independence of people with disabilities will be modified or removed. We are committed to seeking input from people with disabilities in order to ensure Winterruption YEG meets the needs of people with disabilities.

Washrooms

Winterruption YEG works with participating venues to ensure all gender washroom signage is part of the festival. As everyone needs a washroom, this is an important part of making the festival safe, inclusive and welcoming for all.

Resources

211 Alberta (24 Hour Service Referral): 211

Alberta Mental Health Helpline: 877-303-2642

Community Urgent Services and Stabilization Team: 780-342-7777

SACE (Sexual Assault Centre of Edmonton) 24 Hour Hotline: 780-423-4121