Safer Spaces & Inclusion

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

Sled Island acknowledges Calgary as the traditional territory of the Blackfoot and the people of the Treaty 7 region in Southern Alberta, which includes the Siksika, the Piikani, the Kainai, the Tsuut’ina and the Ĩyãħé Nakoda First Nations, including the Chiniki, Bearspaw and Wesley First Nations. Calgary is also home to Métis Nation of Alberta, Region III.

This acknowledgement is proudly included on SledIsland.com, in the Sled Island program guide, as well as on venue signage whenever possible.

Everyone has the right to feel safe and included at Sled Island regardless of age, ancestry, colour, family status, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, mental disability, physical disability, place of origin, race, religious beliefs, sexual orientation or source of income (Alberta Human Rights Act).

To this end, Sled Island has developed a policy to help foster safer and more inclusive spaces at festival events. Copies of this document will be available at Sled Island pass pick-up, and included in all artist bags. Additionally, key safer spaces information including protocols and hotline numbers will be posted in all venue washrooms.

This document will be updated on an ongoing basis to ensure it meets the needs of our community. If you have questions or comments, please get in touch with us at contact@sledisland.com.

ATTENDEE CONDUCT

Sled Island does not tolerate abusive or discriminatory behaviour. Such behaviour is grounds for removal from a Sled Island venue and may result in cancellation of one’s passholder privileges or a permanent Sled Island ban.

If you witness abusive or discriminatory behaviour at Sled Island, please speak with a volunteer venue manager (ask any Sled Island volunteer for assistance finding the volunteer venue manager). All volunteer venue managers undergo mandatory annual Community Bystander Training provided by the Centre for Sexuality and are equipped to provide survivor-focused interventions.

Sled Island staff and venue staff have the authority to remove offenders from festival venues. Any decision to cancel an offender’s passholder privileges or permanently ban an offender is at the discretion of Sled Island staff. The safety of survivors is always our primary consideration, and any decision to cancel an offender’s passholder privileges or permanently ban an offender will be made on a case-by-case basis in consultation with survivors when possible.

Attendees who have had their passholder privileges cancelled or who have been permanently banned will be given contact information for the Centre for Sexuality, which they may approach for educational resources and guidance on next steps. As the safety and comfort of survivors is our primary concern, any steps taken with the Centre for Sexuality have no bearing on whether attendees who have had their passholder privileges cancelled or who have been permanently banned will be permitted to attend Sled Island in the future.

Second chances may be offered on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of Sled Island staff. The safety of survivors is always our primary consideration, and any decision to offer a second chance will be made in consultation with survivors when possible.

Please note: We are a very small staff and do not have the human resources to guarantee an immediate response to concerns about attendee history shared in the days directly before or during the festival. Regardless of timing, we believe survivors and will address all concerns as efficiently as possible.

We do not have the expertise or authority to mediate conflicts or provide advice on conflict or crisis resolution. If you require support, please contact Calgary Communities Against Sexual Abuse at 403–237–5888 (9am-9pm) or Alberta’s One Line For Sexual Violence at 1-866-403-8000 (9am-9pm). Calls made after 9pm will be forwarded to the Distress Centre Calgary’s 24-hour crisis line. Learn more in the How to Access Support section below.

ARTIST CONDUCT

Artists with a history of abusive or discriminatory behaviour, or behaviour that is otherwise deemed detrimental to the creation of safer spaces at Sled Island, are not welcome at Sled Island. All programming decisions are made in consideration of these concerns using the fullest extent of our knowledge.

Sled Island believes survivors. We reserve the right to cancel any artist, without payment or other compensation, who we believe to have a history of abusive or discriminatory behaviour, or behaviour that is otherwise deemed detrimental to the creation of safer spaces at Sled Island. The safety of survivors is always our primary consideration, and any decision to cancel an artist will be made on a case-by-case basis in consultation with survivors when possible.

Cancelled Calgary-based artists will be given contact information for the Centre for Sexuality, which they may approach for educational resources and guidance on next steps. As the safety and comfort of survivors is our primary concern, any steps taken with the Centre for Sexuality have no bearing on whether a cancelled artist will be invited to play Sled Island in the future.

Second chances may be offered on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of Sled Island staff. The safety of survivors is always our primary consideration, and any decision to offer a second chance will be made in consultation with survivors when possible.

Please note: We are a very small staff and do not have the human resources to guarantee an immediate response to concerns about artist history shared in the days directly before or during the festival. Regardless of timing, we believe survivors and will address all concerns as efficiently as possible.

We do not have the expertise or authority to mediate conflicts or provide advice on conflict or crisis resolution. If you require support, please contact Calgary Communities Against Sexual Abuse at 403–237–5888 (9am-9pm) or Alberta’s One Line For Sexual Violence at 1-866-403-8000 (9am-9pm). Calls made after 9pm will be forwarded to the Distress Centre Calgary’s 24-hour crisis line. Learn more in the How to Access Support section below.

VOLUNTEER CONDUCT

Individuals with a history of abusive or discriminatory behaviour, or behaviour that is otherwise deemed detrimental to the creation of safer spaces at Sled Island, are not welcome as Sled Island volunteers.

Sled Island believes survivors. We reserve the right to revoke volunteer privileges and/or permanently blacklist any individual who we believe to have a history of abusive or discriminatory behaviour, or behaviour that is otherwise deemed detrimental to the creation of safer spaces at Sled Island. The safety of survivors is always our primary consideration, and any decision to revoke volunteer privileges and/or permanently blacklist a volunteer will be made on a case-by-case basis in consultation with survivors when possible.

Calgary-based volunteers whose privileges have been revoked because of safer spaces policy violations will be given contact information for the Centre for Sexuality, which they may approach for educational resources and guidance on next steps. As the safety and comfort of survivors is our primary concern, any steps taken with the Centre for Sexuality have no bearing on whether a volunteer whose privileges have been revoked will be permitted to volunteer with Sled Island in the future.

Second chances may be offered on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of Sled Island staff. The safety of survivors is always our primary consideration, and any decision to offer a second chance will be made in consultation with survivors when possible.

Please note: We are a very small staff and do not have the human resources to guarantee an immediate response to concerns about volunteer history shared in the days directly before or during the festival. Regardless of timing, we believe survivors and will address all concerns as efficiently as possible.

We do not have the expertise or authority to mediate conflicts or provide advice on conflict or crisis resolution. If you require support, please contact Calgary Communities Against Sexual Abuse at 403–237–5888 (9am-9pm) or Alberta’s One Line For Sexual Violence at 1-866-403-8000 (9am-9pm). Calls made after 9pm will be forwarded to the Distress Centre Calgary’s 24-hour crisis line. Learn more in the How to Access Support section below.

OFFENSIVE ATTIRE

Offensive attire, including (but not limited to) hate symbols or culturally appropriative attire, is not welcome at Sled Island. Such attire may be grounds for removal from a Sled Island venue and may result in cancellation of one’s passholder privileges or a permanent Sled Island ban.

If you have concerns about offensive attire at Sled Island, please speak with a volunteer venue manager (ask any Sled Island volunteer for assistance finding the volunteer venue manager). All incidents will be addressed on a case-by-case basis in consultation with Sled Island staff when appropriate. Sled Island staff and venue staff have the authority to remove offenders from festival venues. Any decision to cancel an offender’s passholder privileges or permanently ban an offender is at the discretion of Sled Island staff.

COMMUNITY BYSTANDER TRAINING

Sled Island’s core staff and volunteer venue managers undergo mandatory annual Community Bystander Training provided by the Centre for Sexuality. Community Bystander Training offers the practical skills needed to recognize when and how to help when witnessing power-based violence.

Sled Island actively encourages all of its venues to complete Community Bystander Training. All Sled Island venues are made aware of Sled Island’s safer spaces policies and agree to abide by them during the festival.

HOW TO ACCESS SUPPORT

Sled Island has partnered with Calgary Communities Against Sexual Abuse to provide 24-hour, toll-free support and information to festival attendees. Calgary Communities Against Sexual Abuse is the primary sexual abuse and sexual assault crisis and education service provider for Calgary and surrounding areas.

If you need support, please contact or ask a volunteer venue manager to contact Calgary Communities Against Sexual Abuse at 403-237-5888 (ask any Sled Island volunteer for assistance finding the volunteer venue manager). Their trained staff will respond to your needs, which could include dispatching experts or connecting you with other resources if desired. Thanks to the Centre for Sexuality for their assistance in developing this initiative.

For other support, please contact Alberta’s One Line For Sexual Violence at 1-866-403-8000 (9am-9pm). Calls made after 9pm will be forwarded to the Distress Centre Calgary’s 24-hour crisis line. 

These numbers will be posted in all venue washrooms.

SAFE ROOMS & SAFE WALKS

Whenever possible, Sled Island venues will offer safe room access upon request. To access a safe room, please speak with a Sled Island volunteer venue manager (ask any Sled Island volunteer for assistance finding the volunteer venue manager). Safe walks to a second festival location or support while waiting for public or other transportation are also available upon request.

For security reasons, the Sled Island volunteer venue manager will be present in the safe room until next steps (if any, and only if desired by the survivor) are discussed with trained staff at Calgary Communities Against Sexual Abuse. In the event that the volunteer venue manager is male, he will offer that a female or non-binary volunteer or venue staff member be present in his place if desired (no questions asked). Please note that we cannot guarantee whether non-venue manager volunteers and venue staff have completed Community Bystander Training.

BAG CHECKS

Bag checks are mandatory for all Sled Island shows at Dickens and The Palace Theatre. If you have questions or concerns about bag checks at Sled Island, please email contact@sledisland.com.

VENUE ACCESSIBILITY

Accessibility varies by venue. Detailed information on wheelchair access, seating and washrooms is available here.

FINANCIAL ACCESSIBILITY

Sled Island offers an assortment of free events each year at venues including the Ship & Anchor and the ground floor stage of the Palomino. For details, browse the Sled Island tickets page.

Those interested in purchasing a Sled Island pass can take advantage of Sled Island’s payment plan, which allows for the purchase of a Sled Island Discovery Pass or Discovery Plus Pass in a select number of installments. 

Additionally, Sled Island strives for all-ages inclusion and accessibility by offering a low-cost All-Ages Pass  exclusively for attendees under 18. The All-Ages Pass offers access to more than 50 all-ages events including music, comedy and art for the price of a single show ticket. 

HARM REDUCTION

Sled Island does not condone the use of illegal substances.

As part of Alberta’s opioid crisis response, Naloxone kits are available for free and without a prescription at more than 900 sites across Alberta. Naloxone can reverse an opioid overdose, including fentanyl. For more information and additional Naloxone kit distribution locations, visit Health.Alberta.ca.