Objective

The purpose of this policy is to affirm the commitment of Caravane Films Productions, producer of the REGARD Festival, to prevent and provide tools to respond to any situation of psychological, sexual, or discriminatory harassment within its organization, throughout the year. It also aims to establish the intervention principles applied within the organization when a harassment complaint is filed or a harassment situation is reported to the employer or their representative.

Scope

This policy applies to all organization staff at every level of the hierarchy, as well as to participants within the framework of the organization's activities, particularly in the following locations and contexts:

→ Workplaces, including remote work locations where applicable;
→ The various venues where Festival screenings and activities are held;
→ Any other location where individuals may find themselves in the course of their employment (e.g., common areas on the employer's and volunteers' premises, during meetings, training sessions, travel, or social activities organized by the employer).

This policy also covers communications sent or received by any means, technological or otherwise, in a work context and during its festive activities throughout the Festival and its off-festival activities.

Definitions

Participants
The term "participants" refers to any person who takes part in any way, in any location, in the activities of the REGARD Festival, including but not limited to:

→ Festival guests
→ Passport, ticket, or accreditation holders
→ Partners
→ Funders
→ Media
→ The team
→ Board of directors members
→ Volunteers
→ Suppliers

Psychological Harassment
The Act respecting labour standards defines psychological harassment as follows:

"Any vexatious behaviour in the form of repeated and hostile or unwanted conduct, verbal comments, actions or gestures, that affects an employee's, volunteer's, or festival-goer's dignity or psychological or physical integrity and that results in a harmful work or living environment for that person. For greater certainty, psychological harassment includes such behaviour when it manifests itself in the form of such verbal comments, actions or gestures of a sexual nature. A single serious incidence of such behaviour that has a lasting harmful effect on the employee, volunteer, or festival-goer may also constitute psychological harassment."

The definition includes discriminatory harassment based on any of the grounds set out in the Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms.

The concept of harassment must be distinguished from other situations such as interpersonal conflict, work-related stress, difficult professional constraints, or the normal exercise of management rights (managing attendance, work organization, disciplinary measures, etc.).

The term psychological harassment includes discriminatory harassment and sexual harassment, as described below.

By way of example, the following behaviours could be considered vexatious conduct constituting harassment if they meet the other criteria of psychological harassment:

→ Intimidation, cyberbullying, threats, isolation;
→ Offensive or defamatory comments or gestures directed at a person or their work, through any technological or other communication means;
→ Verbal violence;
→ Disparagement.

Discriminatory Harassment
The term "discriminatory harassment" refers to psychological harassment based on one or more of the grounds listed in section 10 of the Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms, namely, as of the adoption of this code of conduct: race, colour, sex, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, sexual orientation, civil status, age (except as provided by law), religion, political convictions, language, ethnic or national origin, social condition, disability, or the use of any means to palliate a disability.

Sexual Harassment
The term "sexual harassment" refers to psychological harassment involving words, acts, or gestures of a sexual nature, such as a sexual advance, a request for sexual favours, a gesture or physical contact of a sexual nature, or any other verbal, non-verbal, or physical conduct of a sexual nature, including: insults, crude remarks, jokes, comments, the display or distribution of drawings, images, calendars, or the sending of electronic messages (emails, text messages, Messenger, Facebook posts, or others).

POLICY STATEMENT

The REGARD Festival does not tolerate or permit any form of psychological or sexual harassment within its organization and activity venues, whether:

→ By managers toward employees and vice versa;
→ Between colleagues;
→ Between employees and volunteers, or vice versa;
→ Between employees and participants, or vice versa;
→ Between participants;
→ Between volunteers.

CONSEQUENCES AND MEASURES

Any violation of this code of conduct brought to the attention of the REGARD Festival will be subject to appropriate measures depending on the circumstances, in order to put an end to them and prevent their recurrence. The REGARD Festival reserves the right to remove and expel any person who violates this policy, without any refund of their ticket, passport, or accreditation. We reserve the right to request that venue managers where REGARD activities take place exclude any employee who violates this code. We do not tolerate any act of violence of any kind on the premises of REGARD's activities.

If you feel you have been the target of behaviour covered by this code, or if you have witnessed such a situation, we strongly encourage you to first notify people on-site: an intervener, a member of the Sentinel Brigade, a member of the REGARD team, or a volunteer. This person will then either intervene or direct you to an appropriate resource person. Should you be unable to discuss it with someone on-site, we invite you to contact the REGARD Festival team by writing to [email protected].

Our team, made up of volunteers and professionals, is trained and informed of the procedures to follow in the event of an incident.

The REGARD team is committed to supporting those potentially affected by listening carefully, directing them to appropriate resources, and recognizing the validity of their experience — with no minimization of what they have been through.

The internal recourse provisions in this code of conduct should not be interpreted as restricting or limiting any person's right to file a complaint or initiate legal proceedings with the relevant authorities.

CELEBRATING SAFELY

Being able to celebrate safely during the Cabarets is important to us, which is why this year we are establishing a Sentinel Brigade. This brigade is made up of volunteers trained in identifying violence by the Centres d'aide et de lutte contre les agressions à caractère sexuel (CALACS).

The Sentinel Brigade will be present during the Festival's cabarets to ensure compliance with the Prevention Policy. The Brigade's role is to welcome, listen, and redirect to relevant resources — confidentially. This service is available to anyone who, during the Festival, is a victim or witness of discrimination.

The on-site presence of outreach workers from Chicoutimi also makes it possible to offer prevention, information, awareness, and intervention services, while respecting each festival-goer's pace and choices.

Our team is also trained in the administration of naloxone in the event of an opioid overdose, thanks to the Chicoutimi Street Outreach Service. The team has also completed training on the prevention of sexual violence, provided by CALACS Saguenay.

IN-THEATRE SUPPORT

The Festival is aware that some films may be distressing for certain audience members, which is why we endeavour to set up, where possible, discussion spaces in connection with these screenings.

This is the case during the Short & Queer screening, with the valued presence of Diversité 02 — a non-profit organization whose mission is to intervene and support individuals concerned by sexual diversity and the plurality of gender identities (SDPGI), while also raising awareness, informing, and educating the public about SDPGI realities.

Here is a list of external resources that can support you if needed:

Info-aide violence sexuelle
Listening and chat line
24/7, in French and English
https://infoaideviolencesexuelle.ca/
418-545-6444

Le CALACS
Centres for Aid and Action Against Sexual Assault
In Saguenay: 418-545-6444
Elsewhere in Québec: 1-877-717-5252
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://calacsdusaguenay.ca/

CAVAC du Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean
Crime Victims Assistance Centre (men and women)
418-545-6444

La Maison ISA
Centre for combating sexual assault and violence
418-543-9695

La Chambrée
Welcome and shelter home for women experiencing domestic violence
24/7
418-547-7283

Centre féminin du Saguenay inc.
Aid and shelter home for women victims of violence
418-549-4343

Centre de crise l'Équilibre
Temporary housing for adults aged 18 and over going through a crisis situation who need help reorganizing their circumstances
581-543-2772

Street Outreach Service
Jonquière: 418-542-7537 ext. 111
Chicoutimi: 418-545-0999

Diversité 02
Organization whose mission is the intervention and support of LGBTQIA2+ individuals
581-447-2211
Email: info@diversité02.ca

Gai-Écoute
1-888-505-1010
www.interligne.co

Centre de prévention du suicide 02
1-866-APPELLE (1-866-277-3553)
www.cps02.org