Creating a Safe and Welcoming Environment


The BC Small Water Systems Community Network is dedicated to creating an environment where diverse individuals from within the small water systems ecosystem can collaborate and interact in a positive, productive and safe way.


Key to achieving this goal is providing a friendly, safe and welcoming environment for all, regardless of level of experience, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, personal appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, age, religion, nationality, or other similar characteristic.


We also believe that this applies to characteristics related to the water sector specifically, such as job type, region, size and type of community, skill set, education and certifications, and area of expertise in the water industry.


We know that a community where people feel uncomfortable or threatened is not a productive one. We also know that excluding members of the community from participating, either directly or indirectly based on the above stated criteria or similar prevents the rich level of interaction that makes a thriving community.


To ensure we align with the goal of this community, we do not tolerate harassment of community members in any form.



Community Safety Strategies


To achieve this goal, the Community Network employs a variety of strategies:


Community Network Code of Conduct


The Community Network Code of Conduct outlines expectations of all participants when they use the platform and any activities that are associated with the Community Network. These include:


    • Harrassing and Inappropriate Behaviours

    • Supporter Expectations

    • Enforcement Process

    • Conflicts of Interest

    • Confidentiality

    • Reporting


View the Community Code of Conduct

 

Supporter Expectations


Community Network Supporters are individuals representing themselves or an organization, and who provide expertise, programs, services or products that serve the small water systems community. Supporters are an important part of the Community Network because of the wealth of resources that they provide to small water systems Owners.


In order to make the Community Network a safe and inviting place for everyone, it is important that Supporters behave in such a way that Owners do not feel harassed or vulnerable to marketing efforts from network Supporters.


The Community Code of Conduct outlines inappropriate behaviours, such as direct solicitation of site participants or advertising on discussion forums.


View the full Supporter Expectations

 

Moderation


In order to ensure that the Community Network maintains an environment that is safe and productive for everyone, the site is being moderated.

 

BC Water & Waste Association Staff


The Community Network site is solely owned by the BCWWA. As such, BCWWA staff, as administrators of this site retain the right to manage all aspects of the site, including content and site users, either independently or to support Network volunteers.

 

Community Network Code of Conduct Committee


This group is used as an escalation for users who would like to appeal a decision made about their content (ie/removing a post). The Community Network Appeals Committee is comprised of Forum Moderators and BCWWA staff.


This group also reviews actions taken by moderators and BCWWA to provide feedback regarding consistency and continuous improvement.

 

Community Network Forum Moderators


All discussion boards and forums, including the Owners Lounge will be moderated by volunteer moderator hosts who monitor the discussion forums to ensure that conversations are on topic and meeting established standards of conduct. They work in conjunction with BCWWA staff, who administer the Community Network.


Moderators who volunteer for these roles are first and foremost interested in great discussions and encouraging people to participate on the network. Importantly, they are committed to creating a safe, inclusive and productive Community Network.


Moderators do not want their role to “police” - rather they want to ensure the guide rails are used as part of nurturing a welcoming environment for all participants. To support this objective, moderators can:


    • Determine that a post needs to be removed from a discussion thread

    • Reach out to Community Network participants about inappropriate behaviour/posts

    • Escalate repeat or egregious behaviour to BCWWA staff and/or the Code of Conduct committee

    • Recommend a “cooling off” or banning a user to BCWWA staff and/or the Code of Conduct Committee


Moderators are held to a higher standard than other community members. If a moderator creates an inappropriate situation, they should expect less leeway than others.


Important: If a moderator removes a post and you think it was unjustified, please take it up with that moderator, or with the Appeals Committee,  in private. Complaints about bans in-channel are not allowed.