Reporting
a Complaint
Concerns and complaints pertaining to human rights can be raised with the Office of the Human Rights and Equity Advisor (HREA) either by referral from a member of the Board or directly with the Office by using the Complaint form. All communications with the Office of the HREA are confidential.
Anyone part of the YCDSB education community or community member at large is able to fill in an official Human Rights & Equity Advisor Complaint form and submit it to the Office of the HREA for review through the YCDSB website.
Process
You will be guided through the HREA Complaint Form process and will be asked to provide specific information related to your Complaint. You will receive an email verifying that your HREA Complaint Form has been received and will be reviewed by the Human Rights & Equity Advisor who will make a determination if the HREA Complaint may be addressed through this Office. It is essential that each section is carefully and completely filled out as this will help determine the Threshold for Review.
All incidents/complaints should be raised immediately, but can be raised up to one (1) year from an incident, or one (1) year in a series of incidents.
Incidents that are not connected to Human Rights or a Code-protected ground will not be managed by the Human Rights Office and will be forwarded to the appropriate Board department. Contact your school’s Principal, Superintendent or another appropriate member of the Board for concerns that are not connected to a Code-protected ground. More information on Code-based harassment and reprisal, along with protected characteristics, can be found on the discrimination, Code-based harassment and reprisal page.
Instructions
Fill out the HREA Complaint Form, providing as much detail as you can. The information supplied will be used to determine whether or not the Complaint may be addressed by the Office of the HREA. Remember, your voice is important. After submitting, please wait for further instructions from our office regarding the status of your HREA Complaint.
Threshold for Review
Not every HREA Complaint received may fall under the jurisdiction of the Office of the HREA. Specific criteria, grounded in human rights laws and practices, is used to determine if a Complaint may be addressed by the Office of the HREA. Complaints which may not fall under the jurisdiction of the Office of the HREA may be dismissed or referred to other departments within the YCDSB for further investigation or response. More information on other departments or committees with the Board that may be able to handle your complaint can be found on the Roles of the Office page.
Confidentiality
The information contained in this form is of a highly confidential nature and will be protected in accordance with the provisions of the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. If the incident meets the Threshold for Review for a HREA Complaint, the Respondent will be notified in writing about the Complaint and the allegations in accordance with the Human Rights & Equity Office parameters.
The HREA does not provide legal advice, legal representation or act as legal counsel to the YCDSB or to the Complainant. To maintain appropriate independence and impartiality, the HREA will not provide advice or act in relation to a disputing party that places the HREA in an actual or perceived conflict of interest in relation to any other party to a dispute.
Procedural Fairness
We shall investigate and manage the fact-finding process for complaints in a consistent, timely and fair manner. A complainant’s right to pursue a complaint must be balanced with the respondent’s right to be heard in an impartial and open process. Procedural fairness therefore includes the opportunity to respond, right to receive notice of procedural steps and the right to receive reasons for decisions reached.