Section 600 - Child Protection & Abuse Policy

600.1 - Policy Statement and Definition

The Mount Royal Choral Association is committed to providing a safe, secure environment for all its Members, Representatives and Employees.

The Mount Royal Choral Association is referred to below as ‘MRCA’

Choristers within the Mount Royal Choral Association programs are referred to below as ‘Members’.

Employees, potential employees, consultants, directors, officers, volunteers, and members of the Mount Royal Choral Association are referred to below as ‘Representatives’.

MRCA Executive Board Members and/or MRCA General Manager are referred to below as ‘The Officers’.

600.2 - Application

All Representatives of MRCA that are expected to spend significant individual time with Members of the choirs, shall, prior to commencing their position with the MRCA, complete all such documents and consents necessary for completion of a Police Information Check through the Calgary Police Services. The Police Information Check must be returned clear for the prospective Representative to commence a position with MRCA. MRCA may, from time to time during the Representative’s involvement with MRCA, request that an updated Police Information Check be done. At a minimum, a valid Police Information Check must be on record for each year/choral season that the Representative will be working or volunteering with MRCA. MRCA defines ‘valid’ as having been obtained on a date no earlier than 3 years prior to June 1st of the current choral season.

600.3 - Implementation

This Policy will be implemented and re-affirmed periodically by the following means:

● This Policy will be provided to all MRCA families at the time of registration, online through the Chorister Information Form.

● Orientation and review of this policy will be provided to all MRCA families at the Parent Orientation meeting.

● All Representatives of MRCA shall, prior to working/volunteering with any Members of the MRCA, be verbally informed that MRCA forbids abuse of any form.

● This Policy will be provided to all other Representatives that the Board of Directors deems necessary, which may include, but is not limited to Rehearsal and Concert Monitors, Wardrobe Volunteers, Camp Chaperones, Camp Counsellor, Tour Chaperones.

● All Representatives will sign an online Chorister Information form which acknowledges that they have reviewed, understand and will abide by this policy. MRCA will retain the online form acknowledgement and information.

600.4 - Minimizing Opportunities

Whenever possible, Representatives should ensure that they are never alone with any Member other than a Member that is their child; this includes bathroom trips. Representatives will make every reasonable effort to ensure that Members are not left alone in the company of any adult who is not the Member’s parent or legal guardian, without the express consent of the Member’s parent or legal guardian.

If individual one on one coaching or vocal testing/placement is required, the Representative providing such session must ensure that the Member being coached is free to leave any private teaching room at any time. All Members who attend such a session provided by Representatives should be instructed by their parents or legal guardians that they may leave such sessions at any time, if they feel uncomfortable in the presence of the Representative.

600.5 - Prohibition

Abuse or inappropriate behavior in any form including, but not limited to “abuse” as defined in this Policy, is strictly forbidden by all Representatives and Members of MRCA.

600.6 - Definitions of Abuse

Abuse by a MRCA Representative or Member includes the following:

Physical Abuse: any injury to a Representative or Member in the MRCA program caused by a MRCA Representative or Member, for any reason, including injury resulting from a reaction to an unwanted behaviour; a substantial and observable injury to any part of a Member or Representative’s body as a result of non-accidental application of force;

Sexual Abuse: inappropriate exposure to or subjection of a MRCA Member or Representative to sexual contact, activity or behaviour;
Sexual Harassment: any unwanted sexual advances toward a MRCA Member or Representative. Such advances may take verbal, physical or written form. Inappropriate jokes, touching and written material may each be included in this category;
Emotional Abuse: inappropriate rejection, deprivation of affection or cognitive stimulation, criticism, threats, humiliation, accusations or expectations of or towards a MRCA Member or Representative;
Discrimination: inappropriate actions or comments related to race, religion, physical handicap or any other attribute of social diversity.

Common expressions of affection or affirmation are acceptable.

600.7 - Enforcement Procedure

Any MRCA Representative or Choir Member who has any knowledge, concern or suspicion that any other MRCA Representative or Member has committed an act of abuse (Categories 1-3, as defined in section 600.6) shall report immediately to the Child Abuse Hotline: 1-800-387-5437. The Child Abuse Hotline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and accessible in multiple languages.
After the report is made to the Child Abuse Hotline, The Representative or Member may wish to inform a member of The Officers. All reports to the Child Abuse Hotline are confidential.
The parties involved in the alleged act of abuse will be removed from contact with children until resolved.
The Officers receiving information a report has been made, will complete an incident report form. Incident report forms will be kept on file in the MRCA Society office.
The Officers receiving information a report has been made, will inform the MRCA insurance representative.
The Officers receiving information a report has been made, will inform Mount Royal Conservatory.
The Representative or Member in question shall immediately be suspended without pay (if a paid employee) and prohibited from entering any premises occupied by MRCA or the MRCA Program until an official investigation of the alleged incident is complete. Upon completion of the investigation of the alleged incident, the Representative or Member may be subject to disciplinary action based on recommendations by The Officers and at the discretion of the RCMP or Calgary Police Service. Such disciplinary action may include a letter of discipline, suspension, termination or criminal charges.
Any MRCA Representative or Member who fails to report abuse or alleged abuse committed by by another Representative or Member as soon as they become aware of it, shall be subject to disciplinary action in the form recommended by The Officers. Disciplinary action may include, but not be limited to, a letter of reprimand placed in their employment record, suspension or termination.
Reporting of acts that fall into Categories 4 & 5, as defined in section 600.6, will report directly to the Officers.

600.8 - Confidentiality

It is the policy of MRCA that all information, whether verbal or written that is reported to an Officers pursuant to the Child Protection and Abuse Policy shall at all times, be kept confidential and MRCA will take all reasonable steps necessary to protect the identity of all Representatives or Members who report allegations of abuse or against whom allegations of abuse have been made. (except to the extent that disclosure is required by law or otherwise in accordance with this Policy)

600.9 - Approval

The Board of Directors of the Mount Royal Choral Association has approved this Child Protection and Abuse Policy on March 13, 2023.