Sexual Violence Policy

Cestar College of Business, Health & Technology

Revised March 1, 2022

1. Sexual Violence Policy
(a) Cestar College is committed to providing its students with an educational environment free from sexual violence and treating its students who report incidents of sexual violence with dignity and respect.

(b) Cestar College has adopted this Sexual Violence Policy, which defines sexual violence and outlines its training, reporting, investigative and disciplinary responses to complaints of sexual violence made by its students that have occurred on its campus, or at one of its events and involve its students.

(c) If students, in good faith, report an incident of, or make a complaint about, sexual violence, they will not be subject to discipline or sanctions for violations of Cestar College’s policies relating to drug or alcohol use at the time the alleged sexual violence occurred.

2. Definition of Sexual Violence
Sexual violence means any sexual act or act targeting a person’s sexuality, gender identity or gender expression, whether the act is physical or psychological in nature, that is committed, threatened or attempted against a person without the person’s consent, and includes sexual assault, sexual harassment, stalking, indecent exposure, voyeurism and sexual exploitation. The person accused of engaging in sexual violence will be referred to as the “Respondent” and the person making the allegation as the “Complainant”.

3. Training, Reporting and Responding to Sexual Violence
(a) Cestar College shall include a copy of the Sexual Violence Policy in every contract made between it and its students, and provide a copy of the Sexual Violence Policy to career college management (corporate directors, controlling shareholders, owners, partners, other persons who manage or direct the career college’s affairs, and their agents), instructors, staff, other employees and contractors and train them about the policy and its processes of reporting, investigating and responding to complaints of sexual violence involving its students.

(b) The Sexual Violence Policy shall be published on its website (or where the Career College does not have a website in a conspicuous location on each of its campuses).

(c) Career college management, instructors, staff, other employees and contractors of Cestar College will report incidents of or complaints of sexual violence to hr@cestarcollege.com, HR Department, upon becoming aware of them. Human Resources can be contacted directly by:

Phone: 416-485-8588 ext. 8002
Email: Adrian.sharma@cestarcollege.com

(d) Students who have been affected by sexual violence or who need information about support services should contact Adrian Sharma.

(e) Subject to Section 4 below, to the extent it is possible, Cestar College will attempt to keep all personal information of persons involved in the investigation confidential except in those circumstances where it believes an individual is at imminent risk of self-harm, or of harming another, or there are reasonable grounds to believe that others on its campus or the broader community are at risk. This will be done by:

(i) ensuring that all complaints/reports and information gathered as a result of the complaint/reports will be only available to those who need to know for purposes of investigation, implementing safety measures and other circumstances that arise from any given case; and

(ii) ensuring that the documentation is kept in a separate file from that of the Complainant/student or the Respondent.

(f) Cestar College recognizes the right of the Complainant not to report an incident of or make a complaint about sexual violence or not request an investigation and not to participate in any investigation that may occur.

(g) Notwithstanding (f), in certain circumstances, Cestar College may be required by law or its internal policies to initiate an internal investigation and/or inform police without the complainant’s consent if it believes the safety of members of its campus or the broader community is at risk.

(h) In all cases, including (f) above, Cestar College will appropriately accommodate the needs of its students who are affected by sexual violence. Students seeking accommodation should contact Human Resources.

4. Investigating Reports of Sexual Violence
(a) Under this Sexual Violence Policy, any student of Cestar College may file a report of an incident or a complaint to Human Resources in writing. The other officials, offices or departments that will be involved in the investigation are Samantha Desroches, Assistant Director, and Adrian Sharma, Director.

(b) Upon receipt of a report of an incident or a complaint of alleged sexual violence being made, Human Resources will respond promptly and:

(i) determine whether an investigation should proceed and if the Complainant wishes to participate in an investigation;

(ii) determine who should conduct the investigation having regard to the seriousness of the allegation and the parties involved;

(iii) determine whether the incident should be referred immediately to the police; In such cases or where civil proceedings are commenced in respect of allegations of sexual violence, Cestar College may conduct its own independent investigation and make its own determination in accordance with its own policies and procedures; and

(iv) determine what interim measures ought to be put in place pending the investigation process such as removal of the Respondent or seeking alternate methods of providing necessary course studies.

(c) Once an investigation is initiated, the following will occur:

(i) the Complainant and the Respondent will be advised that they may ask another person to be present throughout the investigation;

(ii) interviewing the Complainant to ensure a complete understanding of the allegation and gathering additional information that may not have been included in the written complaint such as the date and time of the incident, the persons involved, the names of any person who witnessed the incident and a complete description of what occurred;

(iii) informing and interviewing the Respondent of the complaint, providing details of the allegations and giving the Respondent an opportunity to respond to those allegations and to provide any witnesses the Respondent feels are essential to the investigation;

(iv) interviewing any person involved or who has, or may have, knowledge of the incident and any identified witnesses;

(v) providing reasonable updates to the Complainant and the Respondent about the status of the investigation; and

(vi) following the investigation, Adrian Sharma will:

(A) review all of the evidence collected during the investigation;

(B) determine whether sexual violence occurred; and if so

(C) determine what disciplinary action, if any, should be taken as set out in Section 5 below.

(d) Students who disclose their experience of sexual violence through reporting an incident of, making a complaint about, or accessing supports and services for sexual violence, will not be asked irrelevant questions during the investigation process by college staff or investigators, including irrelevant questions relating to the student’s sexual expression or past sexual history.

5. Disciplinary Measures
(a) If it is determined by Cestar College that the Respondent did engage in sexual violence, immediate disciplinary or corrective action will be taken. This may include:

(i) disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment of instructors or staff; or expulsion of a student; and /or
(ii) the placement of certain restrictions on the Respondent’s ability to access certain premises or facilities; and/or
(iii) any other actions that may be appropriate in the circumstances.

6. Appeal
(a) Should the Complainant or the Respondent not agree with the decision resulting from the investigation, he or she may appeal the decision to Adrian Sharma within 10 days by submitting a letter addressed to Adrian Sharma (please see below) advising of the person’s intent to appeal the decision.

Adrian Sharma
265 Yorkland Blvd.
Suite 400
Toronto, ON
M2J1S5

7. Making False Statements
(a) It is a violation of this Sexual Violence Policy for anyone to knowingly make a false complaint of sexual violence or to provide false information about a complaint.

(b) Individuals who violate this Sexual Violence Policy are subject to disciplinary and/or corrective action up to and including termination of employment of instructors or staff or expulsion of a student.

8. Reprisal
(a) It is a violation of this Sexual Violence Policy to retaliate or threaten to retaliate against a complainant who has brought forward a complaint of sexual violence, provided information related to a complaint, or otherwise been involved in the complaint investigation process.

(b) Individuals who violate the Sexual Violence Policy are subject to disciplinary and /or corrective action, up to and including termination of employment of instructors or staff or expulsion of a student.

9. Review
(a) Cestar College shall ensure that student input is considered in the development of its Sexual Violence Policy and every time it is reviewed or amended.

(b) Cestar College shall review its Sexual Violence Policy 3 years after it is first implemented and again every 3 years following, amending where appropriate. The next review date is March 2025.

10. Collection of Student Data
(a) Cestar College shall collect and be prepared to provide upon request by the Superintendent of Private Career Colleges such data and information as required according to Subsections 32. 3 (8), (9) and (10) of Schedule 5 of the Private Career Colleges Act, 2005 as amended.

Resources
The College can provide referral services to any of the community services below and can provide a safe space upon request. This referral service does NOT require an incident to have been reported.

Resources are available to anyone regardless of whether or not they have reported an incident to the College. All discussion of referral services will remain confidential unless otherwise requested by the individual requesting referral. For example, the College can, if requested, contact these community resources on behalf of the individual making the request.

Appendix 1 lists provincial sexual violence and harassment centers that provide resources.

Appendix 1

SEXUAL ASSAULT CENTRES (ONTARIO)

Region in Ontario
Sexual Assault Centre
24-hr Crisis Line
Office Phone Number

Algoma (Sault Ste. Marie)

Women In Crisis Algoma 1-877-759-1230 705-759-1230

Belleville-Quinte

Sexual Assault Centre for Quinte & District 1-877-544-6424 613-967-6300

Brant

Sexual Assault Centre of Brant 519-751-3471 519-751-1164

Bruce County

Women’s House Serving Bruce and Grey: Sexual Assault Services 1-866-578-5566 519-372-1113

Chatham-Kent

Chatham–Kent Sexual Assault Crisis Centre 519-354-8688 519-354-8908
Cornwall Sexual Assault Support Services for Women, Cornwall English: 613-932-1603
French: 613-932-1705 613-932-1755

Durham

Durham Rape Crisis Centre 905-668-9200 905-444.9672
East Algoma (Elloit Lake) Counselling Centre of East Algoma 1-800-721-0077 705-848-2585

Guelph-Wellington

Guelph–Wellington Women in Crisis

519-836-5710

1-800-265-7233

519-836-1110

Halton (Oakville)

Sexual Assault & Violence Intervention
Services of Halton

905-875-1555 906-825-3622

Hamilton

Sexual Assault Centre Hamilton & Area
(SACHA)

905-525-4162 905-525-4573

Kawartha (Peterborough & Area)

Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre 705-741-0260 705-748-5901

Kenora

Kenora Sexual Assault Centre 807-468-7233
1-800-565-6161

807-468-7958

Kingston

Sexual Assault Centre Kingston

613-544-6424

1-877-544-6424

613-545-0762

Waterloo

Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region 519-741-8633 519-571-0121

London-Middlesex

Sexual Assault Centre London

519-438-227

1-877-529-2272

519-439-0844

Muskoka Parry Sound

Muskoka Parry Sound Sexual Assault Services 1-800-461-2929 Parry Sound: 705-774-9083
Toll free: 1-877-851-6662

Muskoka: 1 877 406-1268

Niagara

Niagara Region Sexual Assault Centre 905-682-4584 905-682-7258

Nipissing

Amelia Rising Sexual Assault
Centre of Nipissing

705-476-3355 705-840-2403

Oshawa-Durham

Oshawa–Durham Rape Crisis Centre 905-668-9200 905-444-9672

Ottawa

Ottawa RCC Ottawa Rape Crisis Centre 613-562-2333 613-562-2334

Ottawa SASC Sexual Assault Support Centre of 613-234-2266 613-725-2160

Peel Hope 24/7: Sexual Assault Centre of 1-800-810-0180 905-792-0821
Peel

Renfrew

Women’s Sexual Assault Centre of Renfrew County 1-800-663-3060 613-735 – 5551

Sarnia-Lambton

Sexual Assault Survivors’ Centre Sarnia– Lambton 519-337-3320 519-337-3154

Simcoe

Athena’s Sexual Assault Services

705-737-2008
1-800-987-0799

705-737-2884

Sudbury

Voices for Women Sudbury 705-523-7100
ext. 2647

Thunder Bay

Thunder Bay Sexual Abuse & Sexual Assault Counselling & Crisis Centre 807-344-4502 807-345-0894
Timmins Timmins and Area Women in Crisis 1-877-268-8380 705-268-8381
Toronto Toronto Rape Crisis Centre (416) 597-8808 416-597-1171

Windsor-Essex

Sexual Assault Crisis Centre of Essex County 519-253-9667 519-253-3100

York

Women’s Support Network of York Region 1-800-263-6734 905-895-7313 905-895-3646

Other Resources and Supports Available to You

Good to Talk
Post-Secondary Student Helpline– Free 24/7/365 professional, anonymous support for students

1-866-925-5454

http://www.good2talk.ca/

Student Lifeline
Professional support for maintaining a healthy balance between school, work and everyday lift. Confidential consultations, counselling, community referrals, resources (articles, CD’s, booklets), and online tools (blogs, podcasts, Depression and Stop Smoking Centres)

1-877-418-1537 OR Tty/tdd 1-877-371-9978

LifeWorks.com

 

Pour le support francophone aux femmes victimes d’agression sexuelle:

CALACS (Francophone Sexual Assault Centres) in Ontario Centre
Passerelle pour femmes: CALACS du Nord de l’Ontario www.centrepasserelle.ca

C.P. 849 Timmins (Ontario) P4N 7G7

705 360-5657

CALACS (Francophone Sexual Assault Centres) in Ontario Centre
Passerelle pour femmes: CALACS du Nord de l’Ontario www.centrepasserelle.ca

C.P. 849 Timmins (Ontario) P4N 7G7 705 360-5657

Centre francophone d’aide et de lutte contre les agressions à caractère sexuel d’Ottawa
www.calacs.ca 40, rue Cobourg

Ottawa (Ontario) K1N 8Z6 613 789-8096

calacs@calacs.ca

Centre Novas : Centre francophone d’aide et de lutte contre les agressions à caractère sexuel de Prescott-Russell
www.centrenovas.ca

C.P. 410 Casselman (ON) K0A 1M0
613 764-5700 OR 1 866 772-9922 poste 221

administration@centrenovas.ca

Carrefour des femmes du Sud-Ouest de l’Ontario: CALACS de la région du Sud- Ouest
www.carrefourfemmes.on.ca

Casier Postal 774, London (ON) N6A 4Y8 519 858-0954 1 888 858-0954

bienvenue@carrefourfemmes.on.ca

Centre Victoria pour femmes
www.centrevictoria.ca C.P. 308 Sudbury (ON) P3E 4P2 705 670-2517

info@centrevictoria.ca

Centr’Elles, centre des Femmes Francophones du Nord-Ouest de l’Ontario
www.centrelles.com

P.O. Box 26058 Thunder Bay, Ontario, P7B 0B2

807 684-1955 1 OR 888 415-4156

admin@centrelles.c om

Oasis Centre des femmes
www.oasisfemmes.org

465 Yonge Street PO Box 73022

Wood Street PO Toronto ON M4Y 2W5

Toronto 416 591-6565 services@oasisfemmes.org

Colibri – Centre des femmes francophones du comté de Simcoe
www.centrecolibri.ca 80, rue Bradford, bureau 340

Barrie (ON) L4N 6S7 Barrie

705 797-2060 1 877 797-2050 admin@centrecolibri.ca

Centre de santé Communautaire Hamilton/Niagara – Espace entre Elles
www.centredesantecommunautaire.com

1320 rue Barton Est, Hamilton (Ontario) L8H 2W1

905 528-0163 1 866 437-7606 cschn@cschn.ca

Pour le support francophone aux femmes victimes d’agression sexuelle, se il vous plaît visitez (for French-language support to women victims of sexual assault, please also visit): Action ontarienne contre la violence faite aux femmes.

In the Toronto Region: The Toronto Rape Crisis Center

The Toronto Rape Crisis Centre/Multicultural Women Against Rape (TRCC/MWAR) is a non- profit feminist organization committed to fighting violence against women and children.

Services they provide include:

  • 24hour crisis line service
  • Individual face to face counseling
  • Court support and Accompaniment
  • Advocacy
  • Support Groups
  • Public Education and workshops
  • Activism
  • Information and Referrals
  • Prison Support
  • Latin American Women’s Program

Contact:

General inquiries: info@trcmwar.ca

If you are in crisis and would like to speak to a counselor please call our 24-hour crisis line at 416-597-8808 or email: crisis@trccmwar.ca

Revised March 1, 2022

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