Your registration for, and attendance at, this symposium indicates your acknowledgement of, and agreement to adhere to, the Symposium’s Code of Conduct below.

The Symposium organizers and hosts expect all participants to help create a welcoming and respectful environment that is safe, collaborative, supportive, and productive for all attendees, including speakers, moderators, facilitators, exhibitors, media, sponsors, volunteers, contractors, service providers, employees, and all others that may be involved.

To ensure everyone will have the opportunity to benefit from their attendance at the Symposium, we will provide a experience in which diverse participants may learn, network, and enjoy the company of colleagues in an environment of mutual human respect without discrimination and, in particular, as prescribed in the Canadian Human Rights Act, without discrimination based on: race, national, or ethnic origin, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, family status, genetic characteristics, disability, and conviction for an offence for which a pardon has been granted or in respect of which a record suspension has been ordered.

We recognize a shared responsibility to create and maintain this environment for the benefit of all, where everyone feels welcome to participate, speak up, ask questions, and engage in conversation. The expectation is for participants to be intentional and thoughtful in their interactions to ensure the event is a culturally safe environment for all, that is, to ensure someone’s culture is not discussed in ways that are harmful or is described through the lens and experience of another culture. To that end, we expect all participants to abide by the Code of Conduct at all conference venues whether in-person, virtual, on social media, and at all conference related social and extension events.

Expected Behavior

• Adhere fully to all Congress health and safety policies and procedures.
• Treat everyone with kindness, respect, and consideration.
• Communicate thoughtfully with others and be considerate of the multitude of cultures, views and opinions that may be different from your own, in all situations including but not limited to, while presenting, in one-on-one conversations, at exhibitor tables, and in group discussions.
• Be considerate and respectful in your critique of ideas.
• Be mindful of your surroundings and your fellow participants.
• Respect the rules and policies of all venues associated with the Congress.
• Be professional in your demeanor and appropriate in your attire.
• Be accountable.
• Refrain from demeaning, discriminatory or harassing and/or other unacceptable behavior, as outlined below.

Unacceptable Behavior
All participants must not engage in any inappropriate behavior, and in particular not in intimidation, harassment, abusive, or discriminatory actions, such as:

• Offensive verbal or written remarks, including those related to gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, or religion;
• Violence or threats of violence;
• Violent or sexual images in public spaces (including presentation slides);
• Deliberate intimidation;
• Stalking or following (online and in-person);
• Unwanted or unauthorized photography or recording;
• Sustained disruption of talks or other events;
• Unwelcome physical contact or other forms of assault;
• Unwelcome sexual attention;
• Sexist, racist, or other exclusionary jokes;
• Use of social or mainstream media to target individuals in a way that could harm their privacy and/or reputation;
• Deliberate misgendering such as deliberately not using a person’s preferred pronouns.

Non-Urgent Reporting
If you notice non-urgent inappropriate behavior that violates this Code of Conduct during the Symposium or have any other concerns, please report it by emailing [email protected].

Immediate or Urgent Matters
If the incident is of an immediate safety or security concern, please call the on-site security or dial 911.

Confidentiality
All reports will be handled in confidence except as otherwise required by law, and subject to due process and natural justice. Organizers will respond as promptly as we can.

Consequences
Participants asked to stop any behavior deemed inappropriate are expected to comply immediately. Explanations of “just joking” are not acceptable; behavior can be harassing without an intent to offend.

If a participant engages in harassing or other unacceptable behavior, including a failure to adhere abide by the above Code of Conduct, the Symposium organizers will take any action or actions they deem appropriate to keep the conference a safe and welcoming environment for all participants. Actions that may be taken include: warning the offender, expulsion from the conference with no refunds, reporting the incident to the offender’s local institution or agencies, and reporting the incident to local law enforcement agencies.

Public Health Statement: British Columbia’s Provincial Health Restrictions and Orders
British Columbia’s provincial health restrictions and orders are in place to help keep visitors and residents safe. Some restrictions are made by the Provincial Health Officer (PHO) under the Public Health Act and others are made under the Emergency Program Act (EPA). Public health orders can be enforced by police or other compliance and enforcement officials. Any applicable public health directives will be posted on the Symposium website prior to the conference and all Symposium organizers and participants are required to follow these measures while in British Columbia to help ensure a safe conference for all.

We look forward to seeing you in Vancouver in September 2026!