R Zone

Incidents of bullying, violence, vandalism and discriminatory behaviour have unfortunately risen over the past number of years. Prior to R Zone, no municipal by-law or policy existed that provided staff with clear direction and authority to deal with issues that were not clearly criminal behaviours requiring police involvement. R Zone contributes to safer, healthier and more respectful recreation environments.

The 'R' in R Zone stands for: 

Respect for yourself, Respect for others, and Responsibility for your actions

The R Zone logo serves as a reminder to staff and the public that the operating procedure is in effect and applies to everyone: participants, officials, spectators, visitors, parents and staff.

How do I report an incident?

Reporting an Incident – Staff/Council Witness:

• Ensure they are in a safe location, which may include leaving the workplace
• Without jeopardizing anyone’s safety, advise the individual to stop the activity immediately or they will be asked to leave. If at any time, staff feels that their safety could be in danger with issuing a verbal warning to the offending party, they may forego this step.
• If the individual does not co-operate, inform the individual that they are now trespassing and the OPP will be called.
• If the individual refuses to leave, do not engage in an argument or physical confrontation. Call the OPP and wait for them to arrive while ensuring you and any others in the area remain safe.
• If the situation warrants, contact the OPP by dialing 911. vi. As soon as possible after the incident, the staff witnessing or involved in the incident shall immediately report the issue to their Senior Manager and complete the appropriate form(s) found in the policy.

Reporting an Incident – where Staff/Council has not witnessed an incident being reported to them by others:

• Report immediately to Senior Manager and complete appropriate form(s).
• If danger to safety is perceived to be imminent, contact OPP.

R Zone Policy A09-C-09