Safety and Security Protocol
Ettiquette
The Inner Arts Collective strives to be a welcoming place where everyone who enters is met with respect and hospitality. We are committed to creating and maintaining a place of community that is fair, safe, and free from harassment, prejudice and discrimination for its members and clients.
It is the RIGHT of every person who enters this building to be treated with respect and it is the RESPONSIBILITY of every person who enters this building to contribute to an atmosphere of welcome and safety.
Due to the nature of our work, there may often be people with mental health or substance use issues, or are dealing with homelessness or poverty. For the most part, our clients are harmless, yet there are things we can do collectively to make the Inner Arts Collective less appealing to theft, and to ensure the safety and security of everybody.
Making the Inner Arts Collective Less Appealing to Theft
Locking
If The Plant Mystic is closed, please remember to lock the front door every time you enter the IAC. The building should remain locked at all times, including while you are in session, with exception if the store is open. All visitors at the IAC should be there by appointment only, please do not bring friends to socialize.
Managing Potential Safety Issues
Inappropriate Behaviour
If you are concerned with the behaviour of someone in the Inner Arts Collective, please try to find out who they are there to see. If they cannot name a member in the building, politely ask him or her to leave. If you are not comfortable doing this yourself then:
If you observe someone in the IAC who is behaving inappropriately you should ask him or her to leave right away. If you are not comfortable doing this yourself then:
This is very important:
Every time there is an incident like this we will send an email to everyone so that we will all know who/what to be aware of. If someone is being a serious or consistent problem, we will contact the police so that they can inform that person that they are not welcome at the Inner Arts Collective.
Here are some extra steps you can take if you are still concerned about yours and your clients’ safety
Harassment
People who make the choice to harass* (defined below) other users of the Inner Arts Collective will be dealt with in the following manner:
3. If after being asked to leave the building, the person refuses to leave, go to step 4.
4. The police will be called by dialing 911.**
*Harassment is defined here as behaviour having the intent or effect of offending, humiliating, degrading, excluding, or intimidating another person. It also can include name-calling, jokes and slurs, insults, rude behaviour, threats, and unwanted physical contact. Harassment can be verbal, written, non-verbal or physical; it could be intentional, unintentional or just thoughtless.
**The Toronto Police Service responds to all 911 calls, and where the initial responding officers assess that the incident is related to a mental health crisis, they will call in the Mobile Crisis Intervention Team. Using the words "Emotionally Disturbed Person" in the 911 call may help facilitate that assessment.
Our local Police station is 55 Division
Located at;
101 Coxwell Ave
Phone: 416-808-5500
Our local Fire Station is Station 324
Located at;
840 Gerrard St E
Toronto, M4M 1Y7
The Inner Arts Collective strives to be a welcoming place where everyone who enters is met with respect and hospitality. We are committed to creating and maintaining a place of community that is fair, safe, and free from harassment, prejudice and discrimination for its members and clients.
It is the RIGHT of every person who enters this building to be treated with respect and it is the RESPONSIBILITY of every person who enters this building to contribute to an atmosphere of welcome and safety.
Due to the nature of our work, there may often be people with mental health or substance use issues, or are dealing with homelessness or poverty. For the most part, our clients are harmless, yet there are things we can do collectively to make the Inner Arts Collective less appealing to theft, and to ensure the safety and security of everybody.
Making the Inner Arts Collective Less Appealing to Theft
- Valuables (purses, cash, car key, etc...) should not be left in the lobby / waiting areas, including in the pockets of coats hanging on the coat hooks. This includes your clients as well as yourselves.
- Do not keep anything valuable (computer, cash, etc.) in your storage containers.
- Lockers in second floor bathrooms can be used to store your clients personal items while they are in the space.
Locking
If The Plant Mystic is closed, please remember to lock the front door every time you enter the IAC. The building should remain locked at all times, including while you are in session, with exception if the store is open. All visitors at the IAC should be there by appointment only, please do not bring friends to socialize.
Managing Potential Safety Issues
Inappropriate Behaviour
If you are concerned with the behaviour of someone in the Inner Arts Collective, please try to find out who they are there to see. If they cannot name a member in the building, politely ask him or her to leave. If you are not comfortable doing this yourself then:
- Call 911 and the police will arrive quickly and ensure the personal safety of everyone at the Inner Arts Collective.
If you observe someone in the IAC who is behaving inappropriately you should ask him or her to leave right away. If you are not comfortable doing this yourself then:
- Call 911 and the police will arrive quickly.
This is very important:
Every time there is an incident like this we will send an email to everyone so that we will all know who/what to be aware of. If someone is being a serious or consistent problem, we will contact the police so that they can inform that person that they are not welcome at the Inner Arts Collective.
Here are some extra steps you can take if you are still concerned about yours and your clients’ safety
- Carry a personal alarm or whistle.
- Accompany your clients to and from the front door.
- Coordinate your schedule with other practitioners so you are not alone during your session.
Harassment
People who make the choice to harass* (defined below) other users of the Inner Arts Collective will be dealt with in the following manner:
- Verbal warning: when a behaviour is becoming problematic, the person witnessing the behaviour will, if they feel safe in doing so, invite the person exhibiting the behaviour to stop that behaviour.
- a) If the behaviour does not change after the verbal warning, or if the person witnessing the behaviour does not feel safe in asking the person to stop, the assistance of another member of the Inner Arts Collective, if present, will be sought. The person will be given the choice of either stopping the behaviour or leaving the building.
3. If after being asked to leave the building, the person refuses to leave, go to step 4.
4. The police will be called by dialing 911.**
*Harassment is defined here as behaviour having the intent or effect of offending, humiliating, degrading, excluding, or intimidating another person. It also can include name-calling, jokes and slurs, insults, rude behaviour, threats, and unwanted physical contact. Harassment can be verbal, written, non-verbal or physical; it could be intentional, unintentional or just thoughtless.
**The Toronto Police Service responds to all 911 calls, and where the initial responding officers assess that the incident is related to a mental health crisis, they will call in the Mobile Crisis Intervention Team. Using the words "Emotionally Disturbed Person" in the 911 call may help facilitate that assessment.
Our local Police station is 55 Division
Located at;
101 Coxwell Ave
Phone: 416-808-5500
Our local Fire Station is Station 324
Located at;
840 Gerrard St E
Toronto, M4M 1Y7
257 Danforth Ave Toronto |
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