COMPLAINT FORM DEFINITIONS

The following definitions are provided to assist in completion of the complaint form and will be used to determine the grounds on which the complaint is made and the process to address it.

Abuse

Neglect

Neglect is chronic inattention to the necessities of life such as clothing, shelter, nutritious diets, education, good hygiene, supervision, medical and dental care, adequate rest, safe environment, moral guidance and discipline, exercise, and fresh air. An example of this may be when injuries are not adequately treated or where individuals are made to participate with injuries, equipment is inadequate or unsafe, no one intervenes when members are persistently harassing another member, or where travel or on snow activities are not properly supervised.

Physical or Psychological Abuse

Physical or psychological abuse is when a person in a position of power or trust purposefully injures or threatens to injure children, youth and/or vulnerable members of society. This may take the form of unwelcome remarks, jokes, intimidating remarks, bullying, name calling, slapping, hitting, shaking, kicking, pulling hair or ears, throwing, shoving, grabbing, hazing or excessive exercise as a form of punishment.

Sexual Abuse

Sexual abuse is when a young person is used by an older child, adolescent, or adult for his or her own sexual stimulation or gratification.

Harassment

Harassment is improper behaviour by any person towards another which a person knows or ought to know would be unwelcome.

This behaviour includes comments, conduct or gestures which are insulting, intimidating, humiliating, hurtful, malicious, degrading, or otherwise offensive to an individual or group of individuals or which creates an uncomfortable environment, or which might reasonably be expected to cause embarrassment, insecurity, discomfort, offense, or humiliation to another person or group, including, but not limited to:

• Written or verbal abuse or threats.
• Physical assault.
• Unwelcome remarks, jokes, innuendos, or taunting about a person’s body, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, ability, attire, age, marital status, ethnic or racial origin, religion, etc.
• Displaying of sexually explicit, racist, or other offensive or derogatory material, or sexual, racial, ethnic, or religious graffiti.
• Practical jokes which directly or indirectly cause awkwardness or embarrassment, endangering a person’s safety or negatively affecting performance.
• Hazing or initiation rites.
• Leering or other suggestive or obscene gestures.
• Intimidation, through the suggestion or offer of a reward or privilege or through threats of retaliation related to speaking out about harassment.
• Condescension, paternalism, or patronizing behaviour which undermines self-respect or adversely affects performance or working conditions.
• Conduct, comments, gestures or contact of a sexual nature that is likely to cause offence or humiliation or that might, on reasonable grounds, be perceived as placing a condition of a sexual nature on employment or any opportunity for selection, training, or advancement.
• False accusations of harassment motivated by malice or mischief and meant to cause other harm.
• Sexual harassment, which is one or a series of incidents involving unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favours, or other verbal conduct of a sexual nature when
  • such conduct might reasonably be expected to cause embarrassment, insecurity, discomfort, offense, or humiliation to another person or group;
  • submission to such conduct is made either implicitly or explicitly a condition of employment/sport-related activity;
  • submission to or rejection of such conduct is used as a basis for any employment/sport decision (including, but not limited to, matters of promotion, raise in salary, job security, benefits affecting the employee, program activity or team selection); and
  • such conduct has the purpose or the effect of interfering with a person’s work/sport performance/experience or creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive work/sport environment.
• Sexual assault, which is an assault of a sexual nature that violates the sexual integrity of the victim.
• Sexual abuse.

Misconduct

Misconduct includes any behaviour that is not abuse or harassment as defined above but is contrary to CADS policies or the UCCMS.