Human Rights Support Durham College is committed to creating an equitable and inclusive learning and work environment, free of discrimination, harassment, workplace sexual harassment, and hate. This is based in a human rights framework as outlined by Ontario Human Rights Code. The Office of Equity, Diversity & Inclusion offers a range of services to: educate persons about our human rights and individual legally-based responsibilities to uphold those rights; equip us all with the skills to accomplish this in our spheres of influence; ensure all our rights are maintained; and support you to hold accountable persons found to have violated those rights. Information & Resources Search Information & Resources: DC Resources Access OEDI Resources Equity & Belonging at DC. This recording provides students with: an understanding of the concepts which guide our work in the Office of Equity, Diversity & Inclusion; programs & services we offer to help create a sense of belonging for everyone at DC, and foster an environment free of discrimination, harassment, workplace sexual harassment, and hate; and strategies they can use, within their sphere of influence, to help cultivate such an environment. Accessing Human Rights Support at Durham College Infographic Access Academic Support Access & Support Centre (ASC) Student Academic Learning Services (SALS) Student Advisors Test Centre Access Student Support Campus Health & Wellness Centre Change of Name/Gender Identity Update Form Conflict Resolution Services Office of Campus Safety Durham College Student Association First Peoples Indigenous Centre Financial Aid Student Development Office Your Rights & Responsibilities Harassment, Workplace Sexual Harassment and Discrimination Policy As a requirement of The Ontario Human Rights Code (and other related legislation), as an employer and an entity that delivers educational services, Durham College, created, implements and maintains its Harrassment-Workplace-Sexual-Harrassment-and-Discrimination Policy This policy provides guidance to the Durham College community (employees, students, board members, contractors and visitors) about their rights and responsibilities towards cultivating a learning and work environment that is free of any form of discrimination, harassment, workplace sexual harassment, and hate based on the prohibited grounds under the The Ontario Human Rights Code, and as required under the Occupational Health and Safety Act; and the steps which could be followed to determine and address a violation of this policy. All Gender Washroom Policy The All-Gender-Washroom policy ensures all members of our campus community have safe, appropriate washroom facilities available to them that are free of judgment or harassment; and allow individuals to have the option of using a washroom without identifying their gender identity and/or gender expression (ADMIN 246, Sec. 2.1). This policy is guided by the Ontario Human Rights Code. Wearing of a Kirpan Policy The Wearing of a Kirpan Policy is designed to ensure accommodation for persons who observe the Sikh religious practice to wear a kirpan on DC’s campuses and at all DC sanctioned activities. It is a reflection of DC’s commitment to provide a safe, inclusive and respectful learning and working environment, free of discrimination, harassment, and hate based on the protected ground, creed, under the Ontario Human Rights Code , and as required by the Occupational Health and Safety Act. The Ontario Human Rights Code Enacted in 1962, The Ontario Human Rights Code (the Code), legally prohibits actions that discriminate against people: Based on the protected grounds of: Age; Ancestry, Colour, Race; Citizenship; Ethnic origin; Place of origin; Creed; Disability; Family status; Marital status (including single status); Gender Identity, Gender expression; Receipt of Public assistance (in housing only); Record of offences (in employment only); Sex (including pregnancy and breastfeeding); Sexual orientation. And in five social areas: 1) Accommodation (housing), 2) Contracts, 3) Employment, 4) Goods, services and facilities (e.g. delivery of educational services) and 5) Membership in unions, trade or professional associations. Learn more about your rights and responsibilities according to the Ontario Human Rights Code: Definition of Discrimination Definition of Harassment The Duty to Accommodate based on Family Status The Duty to Accommodate based on Religion/Creed How Can we Help You? Request a Human Rights Consultation DC is committed to creating an inclusive learning and working environment, free from harassment, discrimination and hate. If you have experienced ableism, anti-Black racism, antisemitism, a violation of your accommodation, homophobia, islamophobia, sexism, workplace sexual harassment, or any other form of hate, harassment or discrimination as outlined in the Ontario Human Rights Code while on campus, or during a DC sanctioned activity, we are here to support you. If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, please call 911 or contact Campus Security at 905.721.8668 ext. 2400 or 905.721.3211. Step 1 Request a Human Rights Consultation Email humanrightssupport@durhamcollege.ca to request a Human Rights Consultation with the Human Rights Advisor (Students). Requesting a consultation means sharing your experience in a confidential, trauma-informed, anti-oppressive space. Our team will listen and help guide you to the right resources, whether you’re seeking to understand your options for resolution as outlined in our Harassment, Workplace Sexual Harassment/Misconduct and Discrimination; access academic accommodation; or help connecting to on and off campus support services. Step 2 Connect with an Advisor The Human Rights Advisor (Students) will contact you via your Durham College email to set up an intake meeting, within one week. This will be virtual via Microsoft Teams and can last up to 1.5 hours. The purpose of the intake is to: give you the opportunity to share what your experience has been in a confidential, trauma-informed, anti-oppressive space. assess if what you have shared might constitute a violation of the Harassment, Workplace Sexual Harassment/Misconduct & Discrimination policy. provide you with resources and service navigation support. If your experience might constitute a violation of the Harassment, Workplace Sexual Harassment/Misconduct & Discrimination policy, we will discuss options available to you for informal and formal resolution to hold the person accountable as outlined in the Complaints Resolution Process section of the policy. If what you shared does not constitute a violation of the policy, we will refer you to other departments, and on and off campus resources as appropriate. Request Family Status and Creed-based Accommodations Under the Ontario Human Rights Code, DC has a duty to accommodate based on: Family Status, only in cases where the organization’s rules, policies, practices or institutional structures, assumptions or culture are either imposing burdens on you as a caregiver that are not placed on others, or withholding or limiting your access to opportunity, benefits or advantages available to others. Creed such that you do not have to choose between observing your sincerely held creed-based beliefs and practices and pursuing your education. In both cases, the duty to accommodate is limited to the steps that may be required to accommodate, short of undue hardship. The factors to consider when determining undue hardship are cost, health and/or safety requirements. The burden for proving undue hardship lies with the person responsible for providing the accommodation, that is Durham College. If you are a student who believes that this is your experience, we can help you work with your department to process these requests for accommodation, if needed. Please contact us at humanrightssupport@durhamcollege.ca to speak to the Human Rights Advisor (Students) today. Creed-based accommodations The Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion has made every effort to confirm the following creed-based accommodation dates below with an authoritative representative from each faith listed. We wish to express our gratitude to those who have extended their kind assistance. Individual students and employees may require accommodation in addition to the dates set out in the Creed-based Accommodation Calendar as a result of their personal religious beliefs. For further information, please contact the Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion by email at equity@durhamcollege.ca. Baha’i Faith dates: During the Baha’i 19-day Fast, Baha’i’s are required to abstain from eating and drinking from sunrise until sundown. Baha’i holy days begin and end at sundown. Christian dates: Sunday is the weekly Christian holy day. Creed-based accommodation may be required, if requested, for the days over the Great Triduum (Christian) or Triduum (Eastern Orthodox) periods. Orthodox Churches are autocephalic, meaning that each church is independently headed by a bishop. Each bishop is free to set their own feast days depending on the calendar they use (Gregorian or Julian). As such, there may be some legitimate deviation from the dates provided. Hindu dates: Hindu dates are based on a lunar calendar guided by a solar constraint and, thus, may vary depending on the sighting of the moon. Islamic dates: Islamic holy days are based on the Islamic lunar calendar. Therefore, the dates shown on the calendar are tentative and may change depending on the sighting of the moon. Islam requires five obligatory prayers daily (dawn, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset and evening). These prayers may be performed individually or in congregation at home, work, school, outdoors etc. Friday is the Muslim holy day. An obligatory weekly Friday noon congregational prayer is held at a mosque. During Ramadan, Muslims are required to abstain from eating and drinking from the break of dawn until sunset daily. Judaism dates: The Jewish Sabbath is held weekly from sunset on Friday until sunset on Saturday. Jews may not work, travel, etc. on the Sabbath. Jewish holy days start the previous evening at sundown and continue through the following day(s). During Sukkot, religious accommodation may be required, if requested, particularly on the first and second days of Sukkot. The holy days of Shimini Atzeret and Simchat Torah may require accommodation, if requested. During Pesah (Passover), creed-based accommodation may be required, if requested, particularly on the first, second, seventh and eighth day of Pesah. Individual students may require accommodation in addition to the dates set out above because of their personal creed-based beliefs. For further information, please contact the Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion equity@durhamcollege.ca. Access the Multi-Faith and Quiet Space The Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion celebrates the rich creed-based diversity on our campuses. We provide Multi-Faith and Quiet Spaces where all of DC’s community members, despite our different beliefs and practices, can feel comfortable observing them-through worship, or quiet activities/ practices such as prayer and meditation. Our campus Multi-Faith and Quiet Space is a place where everyone, regardless of their beliefs and practices, can find comfort and connection. Submit Feedback Creed-based groups on campus Get to know some of your Durham College Student Association creed-based student networks and get connected today! Locations There is a dedicated Multi-Faith and Quiet space on each campus. Oshawa Campus Gordon Willey Building, Justice Wing - Room 101 (JW 101) Open Hours: 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Additional Information: Elevator access to the lower level is available on the 2nd floor in the G- Wing near Justice Wing. Adjacent washrooms provide a place for ablutions. The individual quiet prayer space within JW101 at the Oshawa campus is drop-in only, on a first come basis, even when the communal Multi-Faith and Quiet Space may be booked and in use. Whitby Campus Don Lovisa Building, Room 1208 Open Hours: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Guidelines As part of our effort to facilitate equitable use of the space for all campus community members (DC students and staff, 3rd party contractors, and visitors to Durham College), the Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion has established guidelines for the use of these Multi-Faith and Quiet Spaces at all Durham College campuses. Persons of any Creed can use the Multi-Faith and Quiet Space. The Space should only be used for quiet activities such as prayer and meditation. Studying is not permitted. Users are expected to be respectful towards others and their individual practices; some individuals' practices may differ from your own. Be mindful that not all religions have the same requirements nor should others be directed to adhere to your practices while sharing the space. Keep conversation in low tones (whispers), to a minimum. Users are encouraged to complete their practice and continue conversations outside of the Multi-Faith and Quiet Space to not disrupt others during their practices. Remove shoes prior to entering the space and store them in the shoe storage rack provided. Leave the Space in its original layout and in a clean and tidy condition. Please notify the OEDI at equity@durhamcollege.ca to make a request for cleaning or to report a maintenance and or cleanliness concern. Do not leave personal belongings unattended. Items that do not belong within the Multi-Faith and Quiet Space may be removed by Durham College staff. Return any items that have been provided by the College to their designated storage area within the room after each use. Do NOT place posters, leaflets, flyers, etc. in the Multi-Faith and Quiet Space without approval from the OEDI; please see Durham College’s Poster Policy (ADMIN- 273) prior to submitting your materials to the OEDI for approval. Materials posted without permission will be removed. The communal rooms within the Multi-Faith and Quiet Space at both campuses are to be booked; days/times that there are no bookings, these communal rooms remain a drop-in space. Please see the Booking section below to learn how to determine if these rooms are booked or available. The quiet individual room within the Multi-Faith and Quiet Space is always available for drop in. Book How to Book the Communal Room in the Multi-Faith and Quiet Space: Check-in with Durham College Student Association Clubs, Societies, and Associations to learn if a booking/ reservation has been made for the specific student community/ group you belong to/identify with before completing a booking for the communal room within the Multi-Faith and Quiet Space. For example, Has Campus Church booked the communal room for mass every Wednesday at a set time; Has the Muslim Association reserved 5 prayer times throughout each day for members of their community etc. Log on to self-service booking portal; follow the room booking instructions, selecting JW101 (Oshawa Campus) OR 1208 (Whitby Campus) as required; you will be able to see only available booking times. Check your DC email for a notification confirming your booking. Additional information: Bookings will not be made “public”; therefore, there may be individuals using the communal room at the start of your booking time; please be courteous and respectfully allow them to complete their practice while you prepare to begin yours. If other individuals that are not a part of your booking enter the communal room, please be courteous. Access All Gender Washrooms The Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at Durham College promotes respect and advocates for an inclusive campus for all employees and students regardless of race, gender, religion, age, gender identity or expressions, ethnic background, marital or family status, socio-economic class, ability or sexual orientation. As part of our effort to encourage inclusivity and respect for diversity, we have responded to the need for all gender washrooms on campus to meet the needs of all of our campus members including transgender students and employees and other individuals who do not identify with traditional gender stereotypes. Part of this commitment includes making all-gender washrooms accessible to individuals who need them, as outlined in our All-Gender-Washroom Policy. What are all gender washrooms? An all-gender washroom is simply a single-user facility that is not labelled male or female; rather, it is available to anyone regardless of gender identity or biological sex. At Durham College, all gender washrooms are also wheelchair accessible and are identified by the standard wheelchair icon. Why do we need all gender washrooms? In 2014, the Ontario Human Rights Commission launched its policy on preventing discrimination because of gender identity and gender expression. Human dignity involves many factors, including respect for transgender people and other gender non-conforming individuals, their self-worth, and their physical and psychological integrity and empowerment. Access to washrooms is a basic physical need at the core of human dignity for everyone. Yet washrooms cause significant barriers for transgender people and are one of the public spaces they avoid most. Transgender people have the right to access these facilities based on their lived gender identity. It is also about privacy, confidentiality, comfort, autonomy, individuality and self-esteem. Who can use all gender washrooms? Washrooms need to be inclusive, accessible and safe spaces for everyone including transgender people and other gender non-conforming individuals. All gender, single-user washrooms improve access for people whose gender identity or expressions do not fit into man or woman. To be truly inclusive, our facilities are accessible and usable by people with a disability or health needs, people of all genders, breastfeeding mothers and by people with young children. They also allow parents with children of opposite genders to enter a washroom together and provide accessibility for people with disabilities. We recognize inclusive design; barrier removal and individual accommodations benefit our campus community. What are the benefits of all gender washrooms? Achieving integration and full participation requires a barrier-free, inclusive design up front, with the removal of existing barriers. Inclusive design minimizes the need for people to ask for individual accommodation. The Supreme Court of Canada notes that standards should be designed to reflect all members of society to the extent that is reasonably possible. As a community, we will uphold our organizational values of promoting a culture of respect, equal access and diversity. All gender washrooms promote dignity, ensure accessibility and offer a safe environment for everyone. Where are all gender washrooms located? List of room numbers by building: Oshawa Campus Centre for Collaborative Education (CFCE): Rooms CFCE 103 and CFCE 219 Gordon Willey building: Rooms SW 210A and C114 Student Services building: Rooms SSB 216A and 216B South Village residence: First floor (two) Simcoe Village residence: South Hall (two) South Hall: basement (three) Main lobby Whitby Campus Centre for Food: Rooms CFF 108 and 109 DC Map Access a Breastfeeding Space The OHRC Policy on Preventing Discrimination Based on Pregnancy and Breastfeeding prohibits discrimination and harssment on the basis of sex, including women who are breast-feeding in in employment, housing, goods, services and facilities, contracts and membership in unions, trade or professional associations. This means that women have the right to breastfeed undisturbed in spaces on our campuses meeting Durham College's health and saftey requirements. As an employer and service provider, DC is committed to our obligation to address any discrimination or harassment related to breastfeeding that may arise within our organization. Through our partnership with the DCSA, we offer the following breastfeeding space to our DC community at the Oshawa campus: Student Centre Building: Room 214 A, second Floor Contact the DCSA Support Hub Student Services to coordinate access. DC Map Please do not hesitate to reach out to the Human Rights Advisor (Students) at humanrightssupport@durhamcollege.ca should you require alternate private spaces for breastfeeding or need help working with your department to obtain a family status accommodation. FAQs What are Human Rights? Human rights are the fundamental freedoms and protections that every person is entitled to. You don’t have to “ask” for them, you don’t go anywhere specifically to obtain these rights, they are granted to each person for simply being a human being. Does everyone have the same Human Rights? Yes, our Human Rights are universal and apply to everyone. We also share an equal moral responsibility to uphold each other's shared rights. Can my Human Rights be taken away from me? While your human rights are protected by Canada’s constitution and by Federal, provincial and Territorial legislation, some people may act in a way that infringes upon your rights or takes them away unlawfully (acts of harassment, discrimination or violence); and/or lawfully by law enforcement (detained and or incarcerated for breaking the law). What is Harassment? Harassment as defined by the Ontario Human Rights Commission (the Code) is, “engaging in a course of vexatious [annoying or provoking] comment or conduct which is known or ought reasonably to be known to be unwelcome.” What is Discrimination? Discrimination according to the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) is, “treating someone unfairly by either imposing a burden on them, or denying them a privilege, benefit or opportunity enjoyed by others, because of their race, citizenship, family status, disability, sex or other personal characteristics (note: this is not a legal definition).” Thus, the Code, explicitly expresses that every person has a right to freedom from discrimination, based on the above five social areas. What Does Equity Mean? Equity is the promotion of full access, opportunity and advancement for each individual, especially those who have been disadvantaged due to their social identities- races, genders, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, visible and invisible disabilities, age, class, status etc. How Do I Make a Human Rights Complaint? To discuss a human rights concern; determine if it meets the criteria for violation of our Harrassment-Workplace-Sexual-Harrassment-and-Discrimination Policy; and understand the complaints resolution process, email Humanrightsupport@durhamcollege.ca to set up a Human Rights Consultation Intake with the Human Rights Advisor (Students). Where do I go for issues that are not Human Rights? Our team will point you in the right direction if your concerns can be better addressed by another department (e.g. Financial Aid and Awards, Access and Support Centre, Registrar's Office). Contact us Oshawa campus Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Equity For work study and placement opportunities, general inquiries, and recommendations. Inquire or Set up an Appointment today! Whitby campus Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. HUMAN RIGHTS SUPPORT To discuss concerns about potential violations of the DC Harassment, Workplace Sexual Harassment/ Misconduct and Discrimination policy; consultation and training requests. Inquire or Set up an Appointment today! Phone 905.721.2000 ext. 2855 R.I.S.E For access to identity-based wellbeing programs; community and DC-based service navigation & referrals; and mentorship and networking opportunities. Inquire or Set up an Appointment today! Instagram Follow us @EquityATDC SEXUAL VIOLENCE SUPPORT For support with disclosures and reporting options; training and information requests. Inquire or Set up an Appointment today! Confidentiality statement The OEDI will make every effort to reasonably protect the confidentiality of those affected in the DC community by human rights violations and those affected by Sexual Violence while balancing legal and risk management responsibilities to provide a campus environment that is safe for the entire campus community. *See relevant policies for limitations of Confidentiality. Safe exit