2026 Gathering Code of Conduct 

​

IDC/BCANDS is committed to providing safe and welcoming environments for all who participate in the 2026 Gathering.  IDC/BCANDS prohibits and will not tolerate any form of harassment, bullying, or discrimination. Our goal is to have the 2026 Gathering  as inclusive and enjoyable as possible for all of our attendees. 
 

PROHIBITED CONDUCT 

Violations of this Code include, but are not limited to, the following:

Discriminatory conduct based on race, gender, gender identity or expression, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability, national origin, ethnicity, political affiliation, religion, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law;

• Harassment, meaning unwelcome or offensive verbal comments, visual displays, or physical contact directed at any Gathering participant, including conduct, comments or images that a person would reasonably find offensive.

• Sexual harassment, meaning unwelcome, unsolicited, and unreciprocated sexual advances, requests for sexual favours, and other physical conduct, comments, or gestures of a sexual nature that has or that might reasonably be expected to be perceived to offend, humiliate, or intimidate another person;

• Deliberate intimidation, threatening, stalking, or following;

• Conducting oneself in a manner that is unruly, disruptive, or unprofessional, or that endangers the health or safety of yourself or others, including alcohol over-intoxication or overindulgence;

• Actual or threatened pushing, shoving, or use of any physical force or weapon of any kind against any person;

• Possession of prohibited items, including, but not limited to, weapons of any kind (including knives, firearms, or other items that may cause harm to others), illegal drugs, or alcohol not served by venue personnel, IDC/BCANDS staff, or officially designated IDC/BCANDS suppliers. 

• Destruction, theft, dismantlement, defacement, abuse or intentional misuse of IDC/BCANDS or IDC/BCANDS contracted venues, property, equipment, signage or supplies;

• Failure to comply with directions of IDC/BCANDS Gathering staff or Event venue personnel,

• Retaliation or threat of retaliation against participants for reporting activity that they reasonably believed to be in violation of this Code; and

• Knowingly and falsely reporting violations of this Code in bad faith.

This Code is not intended to be all inclusive, and it is likely there will be conduct issues that it does not specifically address. In that event, as in all others, participants are expected to follow the 2026 Gathering Coordinator directions who will take appropriate action to ensure the safety, security and well-being of participants.

IDC/BCANDS has a zero-tolerance policy regarding prohibited conduct. Participants asked to stop any inappropriate conduct are expected to comply immediately. IDC/BCANDS, in its sole discretion, will determine the nature of the participant’s conduct that warrants corrective action as well as the corrective action to be taken. Corrective action may take any of the following forms: verbal warning; expulsion from the 2026 Gathering without a refund or credit; bar from future IDC/BCANDS events; and/or notifying appropriate authorities, including participant’s employer. The decision(s) of IDC/BCANDS are final.​