Equity & Accountability Policy
Manitoba Music’s mission is to promote and amplify the success of Manitoba’s music industry and help all members of our province’s music community reach their fullest potential.
We believe that Manitoba Music must represent and reflect the diversity of our society and our industry. Through policy and action, we always strive to demonstrate integrity, transparency, inclusivity, foresight, accountability, excellence, and passion.
Definitions
This document refers to issues of equity, racism, discrimination, oppression, bias, harassment, and tokenism in broad terms that shall also encompass, but not be limited to: race (including colour, nationality, ethnicity, and ethnic origin), gender, sex, sexuality, mental health, ability, culture, religion or belief, size, age, and the experiences of Indigenous Peoples, Black People, People of Colour, and the people who exist at those intersections as they relate to the Manitoba Music, the music community, and its multiple constituencies.
Commitments
We are committed to:
- Equity and inclusivity in leadership, administration, and programming
- Recognizing and working to dismantle systemic racism and white supremacy in our organization
- Being actively anti-racist
- Seeking out and listening to the needs and lived experiences of Black People, Indigenous Peoples, People of Colour, LGBTQ2S, and the people who exist at those intersections
- Working in consultation with diverse music communities
- Working collaboratively with staff, board, members, volunteers, presenters, participants, partners, sponsors, stakeholders, spaces, visitors, contractors, and service providers
- Recognizing the privilege Manitoba Music has within the music community
- Accepting the responsibility to be leaders in advancing equity in the music community
- Ongoing training and learning opportunities to help us move forward as an organization
- Working to build a safer music industry
Manitoba Music will reflect these commitments in the ongoing evolution of our mission, vision, beliefs, guiding principles, policies, procedures, and strategic priorities; and in our programs and services.
We have a lot of work to do to achieve our commitments. This work will ongoing and progress will be communicated publicly.
Accountability
At Manitoba Music, people of all abilities, ages, cultures, backgrounds, ethnicities, gender expressions, sexualities, and sizes have the right to be and feel safe, respected, and welcome to participate in our programs, services, and activities. We will not tolerate any form of racism, discrimination, bullying, harassment, or violence.
If at any time someone engages in or is accused of any of these behaviours, Manitoba Music may end their involvement in an event or project immediately or remove them from the premises while taking steps to assess and review concerns and allegations.
Our first priority is to reduce harm and focus on the immediate needs of those who experienced harm.
We want all people to feel comfortable voicing their ideas and sharing their experiences and perspectives at our events, and strive to create that environment. We ask everyone in our space or participating in our projects, to please listen well and be respectful, thoughtful, and aware.
Practical Steps
Manitoba Music will:
- Provide training for all staff, board, and volunteers on our policy
- Provide ongoing safer spaces, anti-oppression, accessibility, and Truth and Reconciliation training for all staff
- Provide safer spaces and accessibility training for all event staff and volunteers
- Prioritize the use of accessible venues that effectively implement safer spaces policies and/or codes of conduct
- Require that all members, program participants, mentors and panelists, staff, board, and volunteers agree to this Equity & Accountability Policy
- Post Equity & Accountability Policy signage at all Manitoba Music events and identify trained staff/volunteers
- Provide a mechanism for feedback from Manitoba Music members and the community
- Review these policies and procedures annually and as needed
Disclosures
How to share a disclosure with Manitoba Music
If at any time you are made to feel uncomfortable or unsafe at one of our events, please let one of the Manitoba Music staff know immediately or, if it’s safest for you, contact us later via:
Email: info@manitobamusic.com
Online form: www.manitobamusic.com/feedback
If you are disclosing to us, please only share what details you think are necessary and that you are comfortable sharing. Please do not disclose on behalf of another person without their expressed permission.
Disclosures can be shared anonymously via the online form. Please know that in some cases, we can’t act on anonymous information as it may not allow us to focus on the needs of the individual who has experienced abuse, assault, harassment.
If you wish to make a disclosure that is not shared with Manitoba Music staff, please contact board@manitobamusic.com. Disclosures made to the board will be reviewed by the Manitoba Music Equity and Executive Committees of the board and will not be shared with employees without express permission. Disclosures made to the Board will not be accessible by Manitoba Music staff.
What Manitoba Music Will Do
Disclosures made through the channels above are sent directly to a manager on staff who has completed Sexual Assault Awareness training with Klinic. This staff member is not a trained crisis counselor.
If contact information is provided and follow-up is requested, the manager will contact the person disclosing to ask for any information they would like to share, what sort of action or resolution they are seeking, and continue to work with all people involved to resolve issues in a safe and timely manner that centres the needs of those who have been harmed within Manitoba Music’s capacity and authority
All disclosures made to other Manitoba Music staff will be redirected to or shared with the manager, and all disclosures are shared with Manitoba Music’s executive director. If deemed necessary, the Equity Committee of the board will review.
All disclosures are documented digitally and stored in a secure location on the Manitoba Music network accessible only by management.
When further action is requested, basic disclosure info will be shared with Equity Committee and, in some cases, the Executive Committee of the Manitoba Music Board of Directors.
Manitoba Music’s actions will centre on immediately reducing harm and focus on the needs of survivors and the overall public good.
Support Resources
Hope for Wellness Helpline
www.hopeforwellness.ca
1-855-242-3310
Ka Ni Kanichihk
www.kanikanichihk.com
Kids Help Phone
1-800-668-6868
Klinic Sexual Assault Crisis
204-786-8631 / 1-888-292-7565
Klinic Crisis Line
204-786-8686 / 1-888-322-3019
Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata Centre
www.mamawi.com
Rainbow Resource Centre
www.rainbowresourcecentre.org
Unison Benevolent Fund
www.unisonfund.ca
1-855-986-4766
Find more resources for health, wellness, and support at www.manitobamusic.com/links#category-107
Accessibility
Manitoba Music is committed to achieving accessibility and ensuring the participation for people of all abilities and treating all people with dignity and respect. We believe in inclusion, and value diversity, accountability, foresight, integrity, excellence, and passion. We recognize the importance of improving access and removing barriers and will do this by identifying, removing, and preventing barriers wherever possible. Please review our Accessible Customer Service Policy at www.manitobamusic.com/accessibility