The Conflict Resolution Advisor strives to provide a safe and confidential environment for students, staff, and faculty of Northern Lights College to discuss and access information regarding conflicts, complaints, or disputes.
The British Columbia Human Rights Code and Northern Lights College Policy are in place to help protect our Human Rights. On this page are links to Human Rights sites in British Columbia, followed by the Harassment Policy for Northern Lights College.
If you have questions or need clarification about any information you find, please call the Conflict Resolution Advisor. All discussions are confidential. No information is shared and no action is taken without your consent.
Contact Jim Zacharias
• phone the direct confidential line at 250-784-7538
• call toll free at 1-866-463-6652 and ask for local 7538
• call your Campus switchboard and ask for local 7538, or
• e-mail jimzach@nlc.bc.ca
Northern Lights College’s Human Rights Policy defines discrimination, harassment, and sexual harassment as:
A. Definitions
Discrimination
As it applies to College students, discrimination is defined as the denial of any service, facility or opportunity that is customarily available to the public on the grounds of: race, colour, ancestry, place of origin, political belief, religion, marital status, family status, physical or mental disability, sex, sexual orientation, age of that person, or criminal or summary convictions unrelated to the educational program except where there is a bona fide and reasonable justification.
Harassment
Harassment is defined as any remarks, behaviour or communication which are known or ought reasonably to be known, to be unwelcome based on race, colour, ancestry, place of origin, political belief, religion, marital status, family status, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, gender, or age, which cause offence or humiliation to any person and:
- submission to the conduct is made explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of employment or the learning environment; or
- submission to or rejection of the conduct is used as a basis for employment or educational decisions; or
- the conduct has the purpose or effect of interfering with work or educational performance; or;
- the conduct creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive educational or working environment.
Single acts of sufficient severity may constitute harassment.
Sexual Harassment
Sexual harassment is defined as one or a series of comments or conduct of a sexual nature that is known or ought to be reasonably known to be unwelcome, offensive, intimidating, hostile, or inappropriate. Sexual harassment includes, but is not limited to:
- unwelcome sexual remarks, jokes, including innuendo or taunting about a person’s body, attire, gender, or sexual orientation;
- unwelcome or inappropriate physical contact such as touching, kissing, patting, hugging, or pinching;
- unwelcome inquiries or comments about a person’s personal life of a sexual nature or sexual preference, or persistent requests for a date;
- leering, whistling, or other suggestive or insulting sounds;
- posting or displaying sexually oriented materials;
- requests or demands for sexual favours which include, or strongly imply, promises of rewards for complying and/or threats of punishment for refusal.
Single acts of sufficient severity may constitute harassment.
Northern Lights College, Human Rights Policy
The British Columbia Human Rights Code makes discrimination and harassment on the basis of the following personal characteristics unlawful:
- Race
- Colour
- Ancestry
- Place of Origin
- Religion
- Marital status
- Family status
- Age (19 years and over)
- Sex (which includes pregnancy, breastfeeding, and sexual harassment)
- Physical or mental disability (which includes HIV/AIDS and drug or alcohol addiction)
- Sexual orientation (being gay, lesbian, straight or bi-sexual)
- Criminal conviction (employment only)
- Political belief (employment only)
- Lawful source of income (tenancy only)
For information about Human Rights in British Columbia and the British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal go to:
- www.bchrt.bc.ca, here you’ll find the BC Human Rights Code, forms, decisions and information concerning the complaint process.
The following site is posted by the Attorney General of BC www.ag.gov.bc.ca/human-rights-protection
Within this site there is information on:
- Human Rights Code
- Harassment [463KB]
- Information for Employers [463KB]
- Protection from Discrimination [484KB]
- Recruitment and Selection: Information for Employers [467KB]
- Disability Discrimination [478KB]
- Race Discrimination and Racism [480KB]
- Sexual Orientation Discrimination and Homophobia [476KB]
Another very helpful site for more detailed information concerning Human Rights in Canada is http://www.cdn-hr-reporter.ca
Sources of Help
Human Rights Tribunal
Suite 1170 – 605 Robson St.
Vancouver, BC V6B 5J3
Phone: 604-775-2000
Toll Free (in B.C.): 1-888-440-8844
TTY: 604-775-2021
Fax: 604-775-2020
BC Human Rights Coalition
1202 - 510 W. Hastings
Vancouver, BC V6B 1L8
Toll Free: 1-877-689-8474
Phone: 604-689-8474
Web: www.bchrcoalition.org
The Law Centre
E-mail: reception@thelawcentre.ca
UBC Law Student’s Legal Advice
Faculty of Law
University of British Columbia
Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z1
Phone: 604-822-5791
Fax: 604-822-1661
E-mail: ubc_lslap@hotmail.com
