Not in Our Space!
Announced in early 2017 with full roll-out in the fall of 2017, Not in Our Space! is a national anti-harassment and respectful workplace collaboration campaign between Equity and PACT which seeks to ensure healthy and productive working conditions for all professionals working in live performance across the country.
PACT and Equity are committed to the pursuit of safe and respectful workspaces by promoting zero-tolerance for bullying and harassment in professional Canadian theatre. This collaboration fosters awareness of the issues through education and dialogue, providing support for those who have experienced or witnessed toxic behaviours in the workplace and providing the tools necessary to prevent bullying and harassment.
As PACT and Equity continue to work on this important issue, we ask that all live performance professionals stand together to speak out against harassment and champion positive change.
We are working together, dedicating energy to cultivating and supporting harassment-free live performance workspaces throughout Canada.
The Not in Our Space! initiative’s key objectives include:
- Defining what harassment is (and is not) and aiding in the identification of different forms of harassment
- Stopping harassment before it starts
- Providing key educational and information materials to theatres and artists
- Emphasizing collective responsibility by encouraging subjects as well as witnesses to come forward when they experience or observe harassment and bullying
- Empowering action by individuals (see Equity Support Spectrum) through multiple reporting options, including easy access to and Equity support networks
- Supporting theatres and management in fostering a culture of zero-teolerance as well and investigation support for company management
- Delivering ongoing education and training by both PACT and Equity
Not in Our Space! National Campaign
PACT member theatres will jointly present an anti-harassment statement on the first day of rehearsal called the First Day Talk program in conjunction with an Equity representative.
PACT, Equity and the theatres will all offer ways to support artists and theatres when there is a question about harassment in the workspace or when steps need to be taken to resolve an incident. Equity will provide materials (brochures, bookmarks and posters) to support the theatres and their members for distribution and display. PACT will provide additional resources in the form of policy templates, information on Provincial and Federal legislative expectations, documentation needs, and training for theatres and their staff.
PACT and Equity are committed to providing avenues where advice, guidance and reporting are easily accessible to artists and theatres. We are working together, dedicating energy to cultivating and supporting the community in creating harassment-free theatre environments. We thank you in advance for your commitment in spreading the movement across the country to all PACT theatres.
Developing Respectful Workplace Policies and Procedures
It is important to review your Theatre’s policies on an annual basis to keep up with changing language, social expectations and provincial compliance.
Each province has different legislation around safe and respectful workplaces and anti-harassment/anti-bullying regulations. These statements and policies often accompany or are found within Occupational Health and Safety policies. Please consult your provincial Human Rights Code and Occupational Health and Safety websites for the latest information.
For an overview of how to build a Respectful Workplace Policy, please consult The Canadian Human Rights Commission Policy Template resource and the Canada Safety Training website:
For additional materials, visit the Not in Our Space! page on Equity’s website.