Volunteer Training

All Festival employee and volunteer communications and social media should maintain a professional, positive, and enthusiastic image of the Festival and contribute to the betterment of the Festival.

All Fergus Scottish Festival Board of Director, volunteer, Member, and employee personal information will be protected such that information will be stored securely using Google documents accessible by the Executive Director and President only. and information will not be shared. Confidentiality of Information documents are also signed by all staff, volunteers, and Members of the Festival.

All communication for the Fergus Scottish Festival must ensure that sensitivity to the diversity of Canadians is maintained through print, mail, letters, articles, journals entries, print media, radio, television, email, web, social media and all other links associated with the Fergus Scottish Festival and Highland Games.

All communications will refrain from engaging in inappropriate/controversial topics (ie. communicating/liking/sharing/tagging/commenting/following any pornographic, defamatory, discriminatory, political or hateful content/people/accounts).

Only employees/volunteers responsible for managing communications and social media platforms should communicate publicly on behalf of the Festival.

Employees/ volunteers may not disclose personal, confidential or proprietary information in any personal or Festival communications or social media. The disclosure of personal, confidential or proprietary information without prior authorization may result in immediate termination.

- To act with respect and integrity when dealing with any individual associated with or the Festival. On the grounds, representatives of a business entity, band, or competition, are representing the Festival itself.
- To maintain ethical conduct by discussing items or issues with the appropriate Venue Chair or Festival representative, as opposed to a member of the paying public.
- To adhere to the policy of the Fergus Scottish Festival and Highland Games, which is committed to the well-being of volunteers and supports an environment free from discrimination, harassment and with a strong emphasis placed on providing a safe and secure setting.
- To treat all members, patrons, competitors, guests and volunteers with dignity and consideration
As a volunteer-run festival, safety, enjoyment and longevity of volunteer participation with this event are of utmost importance. For these reasons, when the above principles are violated, I understand that the Festival, through the contracted security company, will protect the integrity of this event through the following means;
- Immediate expulsion from the grounds
- Denial of entry for future years
- Revocation of invitations for future years
- In the case of competitors, withholding of prize money and expenses, where applicable. Where property damage is involved, the Fergus Scottish Festival and Highland Games will request coverage for such damages.

Members of the Festival Board, Chairpersons, staff and volunteers are responsible for managing conflict of interest situations in order to ensure that behaviours and decision-making throughout the Festival are not influenced by conflicting interests.

Responsibility for Prevention
The Festival supports an organizational culture in which people freely take responsibility for both “self declaring” possible conflicts of interest, and respectfully raising possible conflicts faced by others in the organization. This culture makes it possible to avoid many such situations from arising in the first place. Board members, Chairpersons, staff and volunteers have the responsibility to implement practical preventive measures, such as:
- Providing education about what to do when gifts and hospitality are offered
- Providing meeting agendas in advance to enable participants to foresee possible conflicts
- Ensuring that people are clearly told when information must be protected from improper use
- Declining involvement in an action (such as supporting a questionable outside activity)

Checking this field indicates you have read and watched all materials necessary to complete the training.

I acknowledge that volunteer activity may involve personal risk of damage or injury. I hereby release the Fergus Scottish Festival and Highland Games from all claims for damage or injury to myself resulting from my participation as a volunteer, unless such damage or injury is cause solely by the gross negligence of the Fergus Scottish Festival and Highland Games.