Port Dover Baseball Association is committed to providing a sport and a work environment in which all individuals are treated with respect and dignity. Everyone has the right to participate and work in an environment which promotes equal opportunities and prohibits discriminatory practices. Port Dover Baseball will not tolerate discrimination, bullying, harassment, sexual harassment, vilification or victimisation among its Members (Members include - Players, Coaches, Umpires, Participants, Parents/Guardians, Executive and Board members and any other interested parties).
Harassment takes many forms, but can generally be defined as a comment, conduct or gesture directed toward an individual or group of individuals, which is insulting, intimidating, humiliating, malicious, degrading or offensive. Sexual harassment refers to any sexual advances, requests, suggestions or activity of a sexual nature that is unwelcome by the recipient. Harassment is discriminatory, degrading and threatening. In its most extreme forms, harassment can be an offence under Canada's Criminal Code.
Port Dover Baseball Association strives to provide the safest possible environment for all of our Members. We encourage all of our Members to do whatever is required in their circumstances to eliminate and protect against all forms of harassment. The objective is to make baseball, a sport in which children can feel safe playing and in which parents can feel safe having their children play.
Port Dover Baseball Association strongly encourages all of its Members to learn to recognise and understand what constitutes harassment. An individual, who perceives any activity as a form of harassment, should be encouraged to tell the offending party that the activity is not appreciated. If the offending behaviour continues, the complainant should be encouraged and supported in notifying our Executive by completing the Feedback Form.
If someone in authority uses their power or position to harm another, whether emotionally, physically or sexually, this is abuse. If a person is threatened, intimidated, taunted or subjected to racial, homophobic or sexist slurs, this is harassment. Emotional and physical abuses are attacks on a child's self-esteem and can be psychologically damaging. Name calling, threatening, ridiculing, intimidating, isolating, hazing or ignoring a player's needs are examples of emotional abuse and should not be tolerated at any level. Any purposeful attack on a player, coach or umpire, such as slapping, kicking, hair pulling, shaking, shoving, grabbing, etc. can be physical abuse and is both offensive and unacceptable.
Port Dover Baseball Association encourages all of its Members to report situations that are deemed to be harassment or abuse immediately to the Executive by completing the Feedback Form.