Code of Conduct

Policy

The City’s Parks, Recreation and Culture Services Department exists to provide residents with opportunities to participate in recreational activities in a safe and positive atmosphere. Each visitor to Park, Recreation and Culture Services facilities is expected to behave or act in a manner that respects the right of others, so that everyone may use and enjoy these facilities, programs and services.

It is understood that organizations utilizing City facilities must take primary responsibility for the behaviour and actions of all persons associated with their program or event.

For further reference, please view the downloadable version of our Code of Conduct Policy (PDF).

Reasons for the Policy

  1. To provide safe Parks, Recreation and Culture programs and services
  2. To decrease unsafe behaviours among participants, volunteers, staff, coaches, officials and spectators
  3. To increase the level of understanding of the importance of creating positive and supportive environments in Parks, Recreation and Culture Services facilities
  4. To provide code of conduct guidelines for community organizations, participants, spectators, volunteers and officials
  5. To increase lifelong participation in Parks, Recreation and Culture Services activities

Guiding Principals

  1. Participation in Parks, Recreation and Culture Services programs are an important element in the human development process and contribute to a better quality of life.
  2. A safe and positive environment provides maximum enjoyment and benefits from participation in Parks, Recreation and Culture Services activities.
  3. The rules of fair play exist to protect all participants, staff, volunteers, officials, coaches and spectators. Everyone has a responsibility in ensuring fair play exists through adherence to Coquitlam Parks, Recreation and Culture Facilities Code of Conduct.
  4. Violent or abusive behaviours such as verbal threats and insults, attempts to intimidate as well as physical assault and battery have no place in Parks, Recreation and Culture Services facilities.
  5. Education and training to raise awareness of unsafe behaviours will promote positive and safe environments for all participants, staff, volunteers, officials, coaches and spectators Parks, Recreation and Culture Services facilities.

Inappropriate Behaviour

These behaviours can be intentional or unintentional and can be between but are not limited to coach to participant, participant to participant, participant to volunteer, spectator to participant, participant to staff. Any inappropriate behaviour is a breach of the Code of Conduct.

  • Inappropriate behaviours  include but are not limited to the following:
  • Aggressive approaches to other individuals
  • Attempts to goad or incite violence in others
  • Blocking corridors/thoroughfares/stairways/exits
  • Displaying of abusive or offensive materials, words, images
  • Engagement in a course of annoying comment or conduct
  • Engaging in horseplay, causing unsafe conditions
  • In-line skating/skateboarding/bicycling, except where permitted at specific facilities
  • Physical striking of other individuals
  • Threats and attempts to intimidate
  • Throwing of articles in a deliberate or aggressive manner
  • Verbal assaults/put downs/name calling

Enforcement

Individual(s) and/or organizations that breach the Code of Conduct will be subject to immediate expulsion from the facility at which the breach occurs. In the case of a breach by an organization, staff my take steps to shut down or otherwise make the Parks, Recreation and Culture Services facilities unusable by that organization.

Depending on the severity of the breach, a further suspension from all City facilities for a period of time to be determined by the General Manager Parks, Recreation and Culture Services, or designate, may be imposed in accordance with the Suspension Procedures herein.

Enforcement Procedures

Staff who witness a break of the Code of Conduct or to whom a breach is reported shall:

  1. Assess the situation
  2. Issue verbal request to participant to refrain from the prohibited activity
  3. Issue verbal warning to participant to refrain from the prohibited activity
  4. Issue verbal direction to participant to leave the property, citing the reason as failure to refrain from the named prohibited activity
  5. Upon refusal by participant to leave, call City Security or Police
  6. Advise Supervisor/On Call staff responsible for facility of breach and action taken
  7. Prepare a report including:
    • Action taken
    • Activity
    • Address
    • Identification or offender including name
    • Phone number

Suspension Procedure

Staff to meet with participant and where participant is under the age of nineteen to include parent(s), and explain Code of Conduct and breach. Ensure that expectations of the Code of Conduct are clear to participant and/or parents(s).

Situations

  1. If participant is involved in a second breach of the Code of Conduct, Supervisor or Manager will meet with participant and/or parent(s) to discuss the breach, and where suspension is imposed, issue written notice to the participant and/or parent(s), with copy to the City’s Legal Department.
  2. If participant is involved in a third breach of the Code of Conduct, staff will impose a suspension from City facilities ranging from a suspension of 7 days to an indefinite suspension.
  3. If the breach is committed by a student and takes place during school hours, staff will meet with the school Principal in accordance with School District 43’s "Zero Tolerance Policy".
  4. If the breach is committed by a student and takes place after hours, staff will advise the school Principal of the breach and the action being taken by the City.
  5. If the breach is committed by a Douglas College student and takes place during school hours, staff will meet with the VP of David Lam Campus to discuss the implementation of  "Standard of Conduct Policy". If the breach is committed by a student and takes place after hours, staff will advise the VP of David Lam Campus of the breach and the action being taken by the City.

Appeals

Where a suspension is imposed, the City will advise the participant or organization in writing that the individual or group has the right to appeal the suspension. Having been so advised, the participant my appeal the suspension in writing to the General Manager Parks, Recreation and Culture Services. Upon receiving a written request, staff will arrange a meeting at which the appeal will take place.

Attendees

The appeal meeting should be attended by:

  1. The General Manager Parks, Recreation and Culture Services
  2. Another City staff member
  3. The participant
  4. Up to 2 representatives of the group

Where the participant is under nineteen years of age, his or her parent(s), and may be attended by one other person of the participant’s choosing.

Decision

A decision on the appeal will not be made during the meeting but will be communicated by staff to the participant in writing within 5 days of the meeting. Where a decision to suspend is reversed by the appeal process, the General Manager Parks, Recreation and Culture Services will ensure that all City facilities are made aware that the suspension has been lifted.

Reference

City of Coquitlam Bylaw 3617, 2004 is a bylaw to establish regulations governing the use of Parks and Community Facilities on property owned or held by the City of Coquitlam for recreation or community users.