The Manitoba Queer Chamber of Commerce (“MQCC”) seeks to create a barrier-free, respectful, and inclusive environment for 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals and allies to engage fully with other entrepreneurs and professionals across the Manitoba business community. The health and safety of everyone who participates in MQCC’s events, programs, and activities is therefore paramount to MQCC, and diversity, equity, and inclusion are at the forefront of all that MQCC does.  

This Policy applies to all in-person and virtual events, programs, and activities where MQCC has both authority and reasonable means to implement the provisions of this Policy. It applies to MQCC employees, volunteers, members, and participants at all levels, including contractors and/or sponsors who deliver MQCC’s activities and/or represent MQCC in a public or forward-facing role, regardless of age, race, religion/creed, ethnicity/place of origin, ancestry, citizenship, gender identity or gender expression, sexual orientation, disability (whether visible or not), marital status, family status, record of offences, or any other characteristics protected by the Manitoba Human Rights Code.

MQCC commits to providing a welcoming, safe, and healthy environment free from violence, threats of violence, harassment, intimidation, and disruptive behaviour for all individuals who participate in MQCC’s programs, events, and activities, whether in-person or online. MQCC has a zero-tolerance policy for unwelcome behaviours in MQCC spaces. Unwelcome behaviors shall include, but not be limited to the following: 

• physically or psychologically aggressive comments, conduct, or actions; 

• violence or threat of violence; 

• unwelcome sexual attention, remarks, advances, or contact; 

• sexually suggestive comments, jokes, or gestures; 

• requests for sexual favours; 

• discriminatory, demeaning, or offensive comments, conduct or actions; 

• intimidation, threats, or stalking; 

• unwelcome following, photography, or recording; 

• bullying; 

• the display of graphic and/or sexual content and/or imagery; 

• deliberate disruption of MQCC programs, events, or activities; and 

• any other behaviours that MQCC reasonably determines would interfere with its events or the health and safety of participants

Any MQCC employee, volunteer, member, or participant who is observed exhibiting unwelcome behaviour in a MQCC space, whether in-person or virtual, shall be subject to corrective action, which shall be carried out verbally and/or in writing by MQCC’s Executive Director and/or a board member. Examples of corrective action include but are not limited to: 

• being asked to cease the unwelcome behaviour; 

• being asked to leave the space;  

• reporting unwelcome behaviour to security personnel and/or venue authorities; 

• banning individuals, in the case of severe or repeated violation of this Policy; 

• dismissal or termination of contract, in the case of employees, contractors, and sponsors; and 

• pursuit of legal action 

Corrective action may be taken in response to unwelcome behaviours in any circumstance where prohibited behavior has occurred, is occurring, or can reasonably be expected to occur, and regardless of the severity of such behavior; regardless of whether such behavior is isolated or repeated; and regardless of whether such behavior constitutes an illegal act under any applicable law or regulation.  

In cases where unwelcome behaviour is reported by a third party, the report shall be investigated and dealt with according to the procedures outlined above.