For nearly three decades, Sunfest has been celebrating cultural diversity and showcasing a range of local, domestic, and international talent to audiences across London, Ontario, as well as in partnership nationally and internationally.

Our vision goes beyond simply presenting culturally-diverse artists to include finding ways of working with, showcasing, and supporting under-represented, marginalized, equity-deserving, and newcomer professionals onstage and behind the scenes to encourage sustainable careers in the music industry.

Sunfest is committed to a work environment in which all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, free of explicit bias, prejudice and harassment.

Each individual has the right to work in a professional atmosphere that promotes equal employment opportunities and prohibits unlawful discriminatory practices, including harassment. Therefore, Sunfest will not tolerate, ignore, or condone any form of discrimination or harassment and is committed to promoting appropriate standards of conduct at all times.

All employees, artists, volunteers vendors, exhibitors, and stakeholders accessing services or participating in any of Sunfest’s events and activities are responsible for respecting the dignity and rights of their colleagues, fellow artists, exhibitors and the public in general. Discrimination and harassment are serious forms of misconduct which may result in termination of employment, cancellation of contract, dismissal from events, etc.

Any member of the public, including events participants, festival participants or individuals conducting business with Sunfest, are expected to adhere to this policy, including refraining from harassment of employees, artists, speakers, volunteers and festival participants, and persons acting on behalf of Sunfest. If such harassment occurs, Sunfest will take any steps available to ensure a harassment-free workplace and programming, including barring the harasser from its events, cancelling or withdrawing participation where appropriate, or discontinuing business with contractors or consultants.

Sunfest has developed this policy to ensure that all its employees, contractors and event participants can work in an environment free from unlawful harassment, discrimination, and retaliation.

Sunfest will make every reasonable effort to ensure that all concerned are familiar with these policies and are aware that any complaint in violation of such policies will be investigated and resolved appropriately.

Any employee/contractor who has questions or concerns about these policies should talk with the Executive Director or Sunfest Board Chair.

These policies should not, and may not, be used as a basis for excluding or separating individuals of a particular gender, or any other protected grounds, from participating in business or work-related social activities or discussions. In other words, no one should make the mistake of engaging in discrimination or exclusion to avoid allegations of harassment. Ontario Human Rights Code and the policies of Sunfest prohibit disparate treatment on the basis of sex or any other grounds of protection, with regard to terms, conditions and employment prerequisites. The prohibitions against harassment, discrimination and retaliation are intended to complement and further those policies, not to form the basis of an exception to them.

Equal employment opportunity
It is the policy of Sunfest to ensure equal employment opportunity without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, colour, ancestry, religion, place of origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, marital status, citizenship, or any other protected ground by The Ontario Human Rights Code. Sunfest prohibits any such discrimination or harassment.

Retaliation
Sunfest encourages reporting of all perceived incidents of discrimination or harassment. It is the policy of Sunfest to promptly and thoroughly investigate such reports. Sunfest prohibits retaliation against any individual who reports discrimination or harassment or participates in an investigation of such reports.

Sexual harassment
Sexual harassment constitutes discrimination and is illegal. For the purposes of this policy, “sexual harassment” is defined as unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favours and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature when, for example: a) submission to such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of an individual’s employment, b) submission to or rejection of such conduct by an individual is used as the basis for employment decisions affecting such individual, or c) such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual’s work performance or creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive working environment.

Sexual harassment may include a range of subtle and not-so-subtle behaviours and may involve individuals of the same or different gender identity and expression. Depending on the circumstances, these behaviours may include unwanted sexual advances or requests for sexual favours; sexual jokes and innuendo; verbal abuse of a sexual nature; commentary about an individual’s body, sexual prowess or sexual deficiencies; leering, whistling or touching; insulting or obscene comments or gestures; display in the workplace of sexually suggestive objects or pictures; and other physical, verbal or visual conduct of a sexual nature.

Harassment
Harassment on the basis of any other protected characteristic is also strictly prohibited. Under this policy, harassment is verbal, written or physical conduct that denigrates or shows hostility or aversion toward an individual because of their race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, marital status, citizenship, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law, or that of his or her relatives, friends or associates, and that: a) has the purpose or effect of creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, b) has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual’s work performance, or c) otherwise adversely affects an individual’s employment opportunities.
Harassing conduct includes epithets, slurs or negative stereotyping; threatening, intimidating or hostile acts; denigrating jokes; and written or graphic material that denigrates or shows hostility or aversion toward an individual or group that is placed on walls or elsewhere on the employer’s premises or circulated in the workplace, on company time or using company equipment by e-mail, phone (including voice messages), text messages, social networking sites or other means.

Discrimination
The act of treating a person unequally by imposing unequal burdens or denying benefits, rather than treating a person fairly on the basis of individual merit.

Discrimination is usually based upon personal prejudices and stereotypical assumptions related to at least one of the grounds set out in this Policy.

Workplace rules, policies, procedures, requirements, qualifications or other factors may not be directly or intentionally discriminatory but may nonetheless have an adverse effect. This may create barriers to achievement and opportunity and must be addressed.

Individuals and Conduct Covered
These policies apply to all applicants, board members, volunteers, contractors, vendors and employees, whether related to conduct engaged in by fellow employees or by someone not directly connected to Sunfest (e.g., an outside vendor, consultant or program participant).

Conduct prohibited by these policies is unacceptable in the workplace/event space and in any work-related setting outside the workplace, such as during business trips, performances, conferences and business meetings and business-related social events.

Reporting an Incident of Harassment, Discrimination or Retaliation
Sunfest encourages reporting of all perceived incidents of discrimination, harassment or retaliation, regardless of the offender’s identity or position. Individuals who believe that they have been the victim of such conduct should discuss their concerns with their immediate supervisor and bring them to the attention of the Executive Director and their representative dealing with these types of complaints. When the complaint is against the Executive Director, this report should go to the Chair of the Board of Directors.

In addition, Sunfest encourages individuals who believe they are being subjected to such conduct to promptly advise the offender that his or her behaviour is unwelcome and to request that it be discontinued. Often this action alone will resolve the problem. Sunfest recognizes, however, that an individual may prefer to pursue the matter through complaint procedures.

Complaint Procedure
Individuals who believe they have been the victims of conduct prohibited by this policy or believe they have witnessed such conduct should discuss their concerns with their immediate supervisor, Executive Director or the person assigned to deal with these types of complaints.

Sunfest encourages the prompt reporting of complaints or concerns so that rapid and constructive action can be taken before relationships become irreparably strained. Therefore, while no fixed reporting period has been established, early reporting and intervention have proven to be the most effective method of resolving actual or perceived incidents of harassment.

Any reported allegations of harassment, discrimination or retaliation will be investigated promptly. The investigation may include individual interviews with the parties involved and, where necessary, with individuals who may have observed the alleged conduct or may have other relevant knowledge.

Sunfest will maintain confidentiality throughout the investigatory process to the extent consistent with adequate investigation and appropriate corrective action.

Retaliation against an individual for reporting harassment or discrimination or for participating in an investigation of a claim of harassment or discrimination is a serious violation of this policy and, like harassment or discrimination itself, will be subject to disciplinary action. Acts of retaliation should be reported immediately and will be promptly investigated and addressed.

Misconduct constituting harassment, discrimination or retaliation will be dealt with appropriately. Responsive action may include, for employees a disciplinary action such as a warning, reassignment, temporary suspension without pay, or termination, for a program participant or performers scheduled at any of the Sunfest Programs (Festivals, Conferences, etc) cancellation of participation or engagement, as Sunfest believes appropriate under the circumstances.

False and malicious complaints of harassment, discrimination or retaliation (as opposed to complaints that, even if erroneous, are made in good faith) may be the subject of appropriate actions as Sunfest see them fit.

Health and Safety

The health and safety of every artist, professional, and member of the wider Sunfest family is our highest priority, and requires the participation of every member of this community. We are extremely excited to reunite at in-person live events, but we are also wary that we do so in an environment in which COVID-19 may threaten the health and well-being of all of us.

Attendees recognize that, regardless of guidelines and/or precautions in place, the risk of COVID-19 transmission exists at Sunfest events. Attendees agree to follow guidelines in place, and should evaluate their risk in determining whether to attend the event. By joining us, attendees voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to COVID-19 and confirm that they will adhere to local mandates and requirements, available at the Ontario government website.

Ontario provincial authorities have removed vaccine and mask requirements in most public settings. As such, there will be no general requirement for attendees to mask or show proof of COVID-19 vaccination at Sunfest events. But we respect the choices of the members of our community who choose to wear masks, and expect the rest of the community to follow suit.
We reserve the right to add or modify the precautions in place as we continue to monitor the situation.

We thank you in advance for your cooperation in creating a healthy experience for all.