Code of Conduct

1. Why have a code of conduct?

WordCamp Canada is an open community — for everyone. 

That means every WordCamp, every year, and every associated event is a friendly, safe, and welcoming environment for everyone, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, disability, ethnicity, religion, age, caste, social class, preferred operating system, programming language, text editor, or any other identifying characteristic.

It also means everyone involved agrees to help make WordCamp and its associated events friendly, safe and welcoming — including, and especially, you. However you may be participating in WordCamp — as a sponsor, volunteer, speaker, or attendee — you have a responsibility to help ensure the event aligns with the WordPress community’s standards and values.

That’s why there’s a code of conduct—to help you understand what is and is not acceptable and expected behaviour, and what the consequences are for unacceptable behaviour.

2. What to do

• Have some fun! Learn some things! Teach some things! Make some friends! Or, reflect and observe. Participate in the way that makes sense for you, and make WordCamp Canada your own.
• Be considerate, respectful, and collaborative.
• Think before you speak: make sure that hilarious joke you just heard (or any other thing that pops into your head) is free of demeaning, discriminatory, or harassing content before you share it.
• Pay attention to your surroundings and the people around you. If you notice someone in distress, or a situation looks dangerous, go to the registration desk and ask for an organizer.

3. What not to do

Seriously. Don’t do anything in this section. Preferably ever, but certainly not at WordCamp Canada.

Do not intimidate, harass, abuse, discriminate against, disparage, insult, demean or ridicule anyone, for any reason. Do not tolerate anyone else doing any of those things. Every WordCamp Canada venue might well include members of the public; please be respectful to everyone in these places.

Harassment includes: offensive verbal comments related to gender, sexual orientation, race, religion, or disability; inappropriate use of nudity and/or sexual images in public spaces (including presentation slides); deliberate intimidation, stalking or following; harassing photography or recording; sustained disruption of talks or other events; inappropriate physical contact, and unwelcome sexual attention. 

4. Consequences Of Unacceptable Behaviour

Unacceptable behaviour will not be tolerated, no matter who it comes from. Not from other attendees, organizers, venue staff, sponsors, and not from other patrons of WordCamp Canada venues.

If someone asks you to stop doing something, whether you think your behaviour was unacceptable or not, stop. Immediately.

Otherwise, conference organizers may take any action they deem appropriate, up to and including expelling you from the conference without warning or refund.

5. If You Witness Or Are Subject To Unacceptable Behaviour

If you are subject to unacceptable behaviour, if you notice that someone else is being subject to unacceptable behaviour, or if you have any other concerns, please head to the registration desk immediately, or as soon as practical, and ask for an organizer.

Depending on the situation, organizers, and the rest of the WordCamp team will do what it takes to make the situation right, and to help you feel safe.

That could include helping you or the affected participant:

• Contact venue security or local law enforcement,
• Find escorts to get from place to place,
• Insulate the person from the problem.

Again, for help with any of the above, come to the registration desk in the lobby and ask for the organizers.

6. Scope

We expect every conference participant (sponsors, volunteers, speakers, attendees, and other guests) to abide by this code of conduct at every conference venue and conference-related social event. This means you.

7. Contact Information

Contact us using the form on our contact page.

If you are unable to physically meet an organizer while you’re at the conference, you are more than welcome to call Carleton’s campus safety services (at 613-520-4444) or call 911 (if this is a non-emergency please call Ottawa police at 613-236-1222, extension 7300).

8. License And Attribution

This Code of Conduct is based on the awesome work of Open Source Bridge, but with some edits for readability and clarity, and with our event information substituted. The original is Open Source Bridge 2018 [archived] and carries a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike license.

Statement about Socials or Supplemental Events (where applicable)

Socials and supplemental events outside the main WordCamp events and venue are supposed to give you a chance to meet people, network, ask questions, keep learning, and unwind after a full WordCamp. 

They should be fun. 

And they should be places where you and everybody else can feel safe and secure.

If you experience a Code of Conduct violation, see a violation, are concerned about the well-being, safety, or behaviour of another attendee, or you have a general question (violations are not always obvious!) you can get help immediately: notify a WordCamp organizer or email report@wordcamp.org.

At any in-person event, if you need help to comfortably or safely remove yourself from a situation you don’t want to be in, organizers will make it their priority to help you immediately and discreetly. 

Here are some situations you might want help with:

• You don’t feel well.
• Your transportation arrangements fall through.
• You or others you’re with are intoxicated.
• You are alone or with someone you don’t trust.
• You’re overwhelmed.
• You have experienced or witnessed a Code of Conduct violation.

Please ask any nearby event volunteer or organizer to help you if you find yourself in one of these situations.

Remember, everyone involved in WordCamp and its associated events is responsible to help ensure they are friendly, safe and welcoming — including, and especially, you.