The ACA is Committed to Creating a Bias- and Harassment-Free Environment for Members and our Guests 

The Association of Canadian Archivists (ACA) does not tolerate harassment in any form. In keeping with the core principles stated in its Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct, the ACA is committed to providing an environment free from bias and harassment for its members and others who participate in its conferences, events, meetings, webinars, online spaces, and other programming, regardless of age, professional credentials, ethnicity, race, religion or creed, national origin or ancestry, sex, sexuality or gender expression, physical or mental disability, veteran status, physical appearance, genetic information or citizenship.

The Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct applies to the work of the ACA and its members. This includes, but is not limited to: 

• Any events hosted or supported by the ACA and its Special Sections 
• Official publications and communications of the ACA 

Bias refers to a prejudice in favour of or against a person or group of people compared with another, usually considered unfair. Often, bias is implicit and expressed as an unconsciously held set of associations about a social group. Implicit bias can result in the attribution of particular qualities to all individuals from that group, also known as stereotyping. Implicit biases are the product of learned associations and social conditioning.

Harassment is a form of discrimination. It may include abusive verbal comments and/or discriminatory images in public spaces, deliberate intimidation, stalking, harassing photography or recording, sustained disruption of talks or other events, inappropriate physical contact, and unwelcome sexual attention. Generally, harassment is a behaviour that persists over time. Serious one-time incidents, including bullying, can also sometimes be considered harassment.  

Anyone participating in an ACA conference, event, or meeting, in person or online, is expected to behave in a manner consistent with the ACA Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct. Participants who are asked to stop any harassing behaviour must comply immediately and may be expelled from the conference, event, or meeting at the discretion of the ACA Executive Director or organizers, or may be denied access to online spaces at the discretion of the administrator or the ACA Executive Director. Persons who have been expelled or denied access may appeal to the ACA Board of Directors.  

If you feel that you are in immediate danger at any time during an ACA event, contact law enforcement or the facility front desk without delay. 

If you are not in immediate danger but feel that you are being harassed or that someone else is being harassed, or if you have other concerns, please contact the ACA Executive Director immediately. 

At the ACA Annual Conference:  Go to the Onsite Registration Desk and ask the ACA staff member there to contact the Executive Director. You may be asked for a cell phone number at which the Executive Director can reach you. 

At Other ACA Events/Meetings: Discuss your concerns with the presiding officer or instructor and/or contact the ACA office and ask to speak with the Executive Director.

In ACA Online Spaces: Contact the administrator or the ACA Executive Director. Please note, Arcan-L is not administered by the association and any concerns about this online space should be directed to the Canadian Council of Archives. 

Content presented at ACA conferences or meetings or online may at times deal with sensitive subject matter, ranging from visually sensitive historical material (such as images related to acts of genocide) to sexually explicit language or images (such as in archival letters, nude photographs, or film or audio recordings). This policy is not intended to constrain scholarly or professional presentation, discourse, or debate, as long as these exchanges are conducted in a respectful manner. 

For more information about our response to reports of bias and harassment, please review our Bias and Harassment Protocol.

Notes 

This policy is based on the  US OpenGLAM Friendly Space Policy, which in turn is based on the Geek Feminism Wiki Sample Policy.