Inclusion and Harassment Policy

Policy Statement

The Crusaders Rugby Club is committed to developing, maintaining, and supporting a culture where all participants can develop their skills and love of the game of rugby in a welcoming, safe and inclusive environment.

Purpose

The Crusaders Rugby Club welcomes full participation of all individuals in its programs and activities, irrespective of race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, creed, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, family status, or disability.

The Crusaders Rugby Club will ensure that equity, diversity, and inclusion are key considerations when developing, updating, and delivering policies, programs and all club activities.

Operations Guidelines

When selecting board members, coaching staff and leadership roles every effort will be made to ensure representation reflects the diversity of the broader community.
The Crusaders Rugby Club will encourage and solicit involvement from diverse and underrepresented groups.
The Crusaders Rugby Club will build a culture of inclusion and will not tolerate discrimination, harassment or bullying of any kind.

The following behaviour is prohibited and subject to disciplinary action:

Discrimination:

Discrimination is the unfair or prejudicial treatment of people and groups based on characteristics such as race, gender, age or sexual orientation.

Discrimination may take obvious forms, or it may happen in very subtle ways. Even if there are many factors affecting a decision or action, if discrimination is one factor, that is a violation of this policy.

Harassment:

Harassment (including sexual or gender-based) includes repeated conduct, comments, displays, actions or gestures or a single, serious occurrence that may have a lasting, harmful effect on a person. It can be an inappropriate conduct, comment, display, action or gesture. It includes unwelcome and/or repeated words or actions that are known or should be known to be offensive, embarrassing, humiliating or demeaning.

Examples of harassment include:

Remarks, jokes, or ridiculing a person based on race, ethnicity, gender identity, gender expression, sex, disability, sexual orientation, creed, age or any other protected group.
Posting or circulating offensive pictures, graffiti or materials, whether in print form or via e-mail or other electronic means.
Singling out a person for humiliating or demeaning “teasing” or jokes.

Examples of Sexual and gender-based harassment include:

Gender-related comments about a person’s physical characteristics or mannerisms.
Unwelcome physical contact or propositions of physical intimacy.
Suggestive or offensive remarks or innuendoes about members of a specific gender.
Gender-related verbal abuse, threats or taunting.
Leering or inappropriate staring.
Bragging about sexual prowess or questions or discussions about sexual activities.
Offensive jokes or comments of a sexual nature.
Rough and vulgar humour or language related to gender.
Display of sexually offensive pictures, graffiti or other materials including through electronic means.
Demands for dates or sexual favours.

Bullying:

Bullying involves verbal comments that could psychologically or ‘mentally’ hurt or isolate a person in the club. Sometimes bullying can involve negative physical contact as well. Bullying usually involves repeated incidents or a pattern of behaviour that is intended to intimidate, offend, degrade or humiliate a particular person or group of people. However, bullying may be one incident that has a lasting effect. It has also been described as the assertion of power through aggression.

Hazing and activities historically known as “initiation rites”, that have been a part of sport and group activities have been thrust into a negative light due to their decline from a shared bonding activity, to one that has the potential to cause psychological trauma, injury or death. Bullying or coercing a club member into participating in activities with which they are uncomfortable or which they have clearly stated their desire not to participate is considered a form of bullying.

Examples of Bullying include:

Spreading malicious rumours, gossip, or innuendo (this includes through social media)
Excluding or isolating someone socially.
Intimidating a person.
Physically abusing or threatening abuse.
Making jokes that are ‘obviously offensive’.
Yelling or using profanity (this must be differentiated between motivational coaching and berating)
Negatively criticizing a person persistently or constantly.
Belittling a person
Maliciously tampering with a person’s belongings or kit.
Forcing participation in hazing/initiation activities where a person has clearly indicated their desire NOT to participate.
Conducting and forcing participation in hazing/initiation activities where a “reasonable person” could foresee a high risk of injury occurring for any participant.

Consequences:

Individuals who do not comply with this Policy and/or are found to have engaged in discrimination, harassment or bullying, will be subject to appropriate disciplinary action, including termination of club involvement.

Reporting:

Incidents of discrimination, harassment or bullying should be reported to the President/Vice President for action. An ad-hoc committee may be established to investigate the incident and respond appropriately.

The Club will keep confidential and respect both parties’ privacy; if we must disclose, we will do so either to complete or move an investigation forward, or because the law requires us to share details.

Please report all incidents or complaints to president@crusadersrugby.ca and/or vice.president@crusaders.ca