Expectations for Volunteer Crew Members

and Statement of Ethics

(the “policy”)

 

Application

If you’ve sailed with SALTS before, you know that the most transformative aspect of the experience isn’t about boats or beautiful scenery, it’s the relationships and the community that forms on board. You can help create this intentional culture and community by:

  • being ready for the start of the voyage: well-rested, healthy;
  • making efforts to connect with individual trainees from the moment they step on board, learning their names, asking questions, and listening well;
  • avoiding judging others based on their appearance, beliefs, or lifestyles;
  • leading by example in terms of behavior, transparency, and authenticity. As a leader working with young people, particularly those under age 19, all volunteer crew members will have some important responsibilities. This policy sets out some of the basic obligations that apply to volunteer crew members while participating in SALTS programming, on and off ship. These are minimum obligations only, and all volunteer crew are encouraged to use their good judgment in reporting and addressing any safety issues, harassment concerns or other risky behaviors that may be encountered while participating in SALTS programming.

Definitions

In this policy, the following words have the meanings set out below:

  • “captain” means the master of the ship on which volunteer crew members participate.
  • “professional crew” means individuals who are employed by SALTS and who are working on the same ship as volunteer crew, including the ship’s captain and all other regular employed crew, and “professional crew member” means any one of them.
  • “trainee” means all participants who apply to and are registered as trainees in sailing programs operated by SALTS.
  • “volunteer crew” means individuals who apply to and are selected by the Captain’s Committee to participate in SALTS voyages, including Watch Leaders, Assistant Cook and Bosun’s Mate, and “volunteer crew member” means any one of them.


Expectations for Volunteer Crew Members


Safety

Volunteer crew members who observe trainees engaging in any activity that is reasonably likely to cause injury to the trainee or any other person, or damage to the ship or its equipment, are required to promptly alert a professional crew member of the risky activity. If no professional crew member is readily available and/or the danger is imminent, the volunteer crew member will warn the individual(s) involved in the risky behavior of the danger and direct them to stop immediately. If a volunteer crew member becomes aware that a trainee has been injured or witnesses a close call that could have resulted in a serious injury or accident, the volunteer crew member will take the following steps:

  1. Promptly notify a professional crew member of the incident and the circumstances leading up to the incident.
  2. The volunteer crew member will, at the direction of the professional crew member, complete an incident report, if the professional crew member considers it necessary in the circumstances.
  3. SALTS is required to report certain injuries, incidents, and near misses, and the professional crew member will determine, in their discretion, whether a particular incident warrants an incident report.

Anti-Harassment

SALTS is committed to protecting all trainees, volunteer crew members and professional crew members from harassment on the basis of Indigenous identity, race, colour, ancestry, place of origin, religion, marital status, family status, physical or mental disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or age of that person or that group or class of persons (the “prohibited grounds”).
This includes harassment on the basis of the prohibited grounds, and bullying, ostracism, and hazing. Examples of specific behaviors may include, but are not limited to:
  • verbal conduct, including remarks, epithets, derogatory comments, slurs, jokes, gossip, innuendo, abusive comments, racist speech, ridicule, or yelling;
  • displaying or distributing derogatory or offensive pictures, graffiti or other materials, including, posters, cartoons, drawings, ethnic caricatures/costumes, gestures, or displays of offensive, derogatory, or sexually explicit material;
  • unwelcome physical contact, including touching, patting, blocking movement, violence, or gestures, or suggestive physical contact;
  • threats or demands, including suggestions or statements that unreasonable conduct must be accepted or engaged in, or threats of violence;
  • bullying, including stone-walling, refusing to interact with or communicate with persons on the basis of any of the prohibited grounds;
  • unwelcome or offensive communications, including by email, text or other means of electronic transmission;
  • unwelcome or offensive comments that are of a sexual nature, and that create or could reasonably be expected to create an intimidating, unwelcome, hostile or offensive environment, including offensive or humiliating behavior related to a person’s sex, and unwanted behavior of a sexual nature; and
  • retaliation, including any suggestion of negative repercussions as the result of making a complaint about any of the foregoing.
Harassment does not necessarily include every incident of conflict or interaction that a person finds unpleasant. This policy should not be used to address minor discontent or general dissatisfaction or disagreements among trainees, volunteer crew or professional crew.

Volunteer crew members are encouraged to use their best judgment and err on the side of caution in determining whether the anti-harassment provisions of this policy apply in a particular situation.

Volunteer crew are required to be alert to the possibility of any behaviour that may constitute harassment. If a volunteer crew member becomes aware of any incident of harassment involving trainees, volunteer crew or professional crew, the volunteer crew member will take the following steps:
  1. Promptly notify the captain of the incident and the circumstances leading up to the incident.
  2. The volunteer crew member will complete a detailed incident report summarizing all of the relevant details they can recall and provide it to the captain to confidentially retain with the voyage records.
  3. Where repeated incidents of harassment are witnessed by a volunteer crewmember, the volunteer crew member will report each such incident to the captain.
  4. The captain is authorized to resolve all incidences of harassment occurring aboard SALTS ships, up to and including removal from the ship of any volunteer crew member, professional crew member or trainee who has been involved in either repeated harassment infractions, or any single harassment infraction which, in the captain’s sole discretion, is of such severity as to warrant penalty.

Volunteer crew members may be approached by trainees on board the ship concerning harassment complaints. Volunteer crew members will exercise discretion and use their best efforts to keep harassment complaints confidential. Volunteer crew members will urge complainants to personally report their harassment complaint to the captain as soon as possible after any incident has occurred so that an investigation can be conducted into the incident of harassment before evidence grows cold and it becomes difficult to investigate the matter. If a complainant is unwilling to personally report a complaint to the captain, and the volunteer crew member considers the incident complained of to be serious enough to warrant further investigation, the volunteer crew member will promptly report each such incident to the captain.

If at any time an incident of harassment or complaint concerning harassment arises which implicates the captain in the complaint, the volunteer crew member will (1) confidentially notify two professional crew members of the incident; (2) prepare a written summary of the incident recording all the details of the incident or complaint; and (3) notify the Executive Director of SALTS at their earliest opportunity of the incident.
 

Non-Retaliation

SALTS is committed to doing all that it can to protect complainants from retaliation if they make a complaint in good faith about harassment, bullying, or any other prohibited conduct.

Incidents of retaliation will be reported to the captain as soon as possible and may result in removal from the ship of any trainee, volunteer crew member or professional crew member who has been involved in retaliation.
 

Age of Consent

All sexual or romantic conduct between volunteer crew members and trainees or professional crew members is expressly prohibited during SALTS voyages.

Given the wide age range of SALTS program participants and the close relationships that form aboard ship, it is important that all volunteer crew members are aware of and understand the “age of consent” laws in Canada, which criminalize certain types of relationships. The age of consent is the age at which a young person can legally agree to sexual activity, including kissing or other physical touching of a sexual or romantic nature.

The general rule is that the age of consent in Canada is 16 years; however, if there is a relationship of trust, authority, or dependency, including but not limited to the relationship of trust and authority a volunteer crew member may have with a trainee, the age of consent is 18 years.

Volunteer crew must be alerted to emerging romantic relationships involving trainees under age 18, and in particular where there is a significant age gap or a power differential exists because one is in a position of trust or authority or provides care for the other. As a starting principle, it is important to understand that it is a criminal offence for an individual to engage in sexual touching involving a person under the age of 16. There are “close in age” exceptions, as follows:

  1. a) A person who is 12 or 13 years old may consent to a sexual/romantic relationship with a person who is not more than 2 years older than them, provided there is no position of trust or authority between them.
  2. A person who is 14 or 15 years old may consent to a sexual/romantic relationship with an individual who is not more than 5 years older than them, provided there is no position of trust or authority between them.
  3. A person who is 16 or 17 years of age may consent to a sexual/romantic relationship with an individual who is not in a position of trust or authority over them. A 16 or 17 year old cannot consent to a sexual/romantic relationship with a person who is in a position of trust or authority – including the relationship between volunteer crew/ professional crew and trainees on SALTS ships.
  4. A person who is 18 years of age may consent to a sexual/romantic relationship.
Volunteer crew members who observe any form of inappropriate sexual or romantic relationship developing, involving professional crew, volunteer crew or trainees, will take the following steps:
  1. Promptly notify the captain of the incident or relationship and any relevant details.
  2. The volunteer crew member will complete a detailed incident report summarizing all of the relevant details they can recall and provide it to the captain to confidentially retain with the voyage records.
If the volunteer crew member has observed or been informed of a serious sexual relationship involving a trainee under the age of 16 and otherwise contrary to the law as described above, the volunteer crew member will notify Child Protection Services (1-800-663-9122) at their earliest opportunity.

All sexual or romantic conduct between volunteer crew members and trainees or professional crew members is expressly prohibited during SALTS voyages.

Prevention of Abuse and Neglect

SALTS and each of its volunteers and employees is required to be alert to and aware of signs or symptoms of child abuse or neglect. The legal duty to report the risk of child abuse or neglect includes young people up to age 19. If a volunteer crew member suspects that a young person has been, is being, or will be subjected to abuse (physical, emotional or sexual) or neglect, either on or off the ship, the volunteer crew member is legally obligated to report the concern to Child Protection Services (1-800- 663-9122). SALTS recommends that volunteer crew members consult the ship’s captain and then phone 1-800-663-9122 (unless the young person is in immediate danger, in which case it is necessary to call police first). This duty overrides any duty to protect personal privacy or to keep a secret.
For more information: The B.C. Handbook for Action on Child Abuse and Neglect: For Service Providers 
(https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/public-safety-and-emergency-services/public- safety/protecting-children/childabusepreventionhandbook_serviceprovider.pdf )

Prevention of Suicide

If a trainee, or other volunteer crew member or professional crew member discloses to a volunteer crew member that they are considering making a suicide attempt or if they appear to be at risk for suicide, professional help is needed. Risk signs of suicide may include statements of helplessness, hopelessness, or giving up. An individual may express that they have no joy or anything to look forward to, low self-worth, or a history of previous suicide attempts personally or in their family. Young people are at a higher risk of suicide when a friend has made a suicidal attempt.

If a volunteer crew member believes there is a risk of suicide, they are encouraged to deal with the matter head-on: there is no need to be subtle in your response. Volunteer crew members may ask: “I’m worried about some of the things I’m hearing. Are you thinking of hurting yourself or thinking about suicide?” As a volunteer crew member, part of your responsibility in such circumstances are to draw out how the individual is feeling by listening, and validating their feelings without trying to talk them out of feeling that way. Volunteer crew members should not argue or act shocked; do not attempt to lecture an individual who is at risk of suicide or tell them suicide is wrong.

The volunteer crew member is required to assess the immediate risk of a suicide attempt. Factors to consider include: how specific are the individual’s plans for suicide, are they considering using lethal/violent methods to carry out their plans, what is the availability of the method they have chosen, and has the individual engaged help or support. Each of these factors may put an individual at higher risk of immediate self-harm.

Where an individual reaches out to a volunteer crew member for help, the volunteer crew member has an ethical responsibility to seek out appropriate help. Volunteer crew members cannot keep a secret of the risk of suicide or self-harm disclosed by any person and should avoid promising that they will do so. If a trainee, volunteer crew member or professional crew member discloses that they are at risk of committing suicide, the volunteer crew member will take the following steps:
  1. Promptly notify the captain of the incident, concern or risk and the circumstances leading up to their concerns.
  2. The volunteer crew member will complete a detailed incident report summarizing all of the relevant details they can recall and provide it to the captain to confidentially retain with the voyage records.
  3. The captain will take such additional steps or precautions as the captain considers necessary or appropriate in the circumstances.
Other Adolescent Issues: Promptly and privately consult the captain if you become aware of other risky behaviours that a trainee, other volunteer crew member or professional crew member is engaged in, including, self-injury, disordered eating, anxiety disorders, depression, or other concerns about their welfare.

 

SALTS Volunteer Crew Statement of Ethics


The mission of SALTS Sail and Life Training Society is “to create a safe and inclusive environment where young people can be themselves and grow personally, spiritually, and relationally through sail training in a supportive Christian-based community.” SALTS aims to present and model a worldview that encourages serving others and living with integrity. For this reason, we expect all volunteer crew members to serve as suitable and consistent role models for our trainees.

By signing below, you indicate your agreement with the following:

I understand that SALTS volunteer crew members are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that represents SALTS well to trainees and the public and is consistent with SALTS’ mission. I have read and understand the SALTS Ethics and Anti-Harassment Policy for Volunteers, and I agree to be bound by the policy therein. During my voyage(s) as a volunteer crew member, I agree to voluntarily abstain from the following actions:

  1. physical aggression, physical control, or abusive behavior;
  2. sexual activity, sexual assault or harassment; this includes suggestive or flirtatious comments, touching of breasts, genitals, buttocks, thighs, or mouths; possession or use of pornography;
  3. profane, abusive, or blasphemous language; ‘put-downs’ or humiliation as control tactics;
  4. using illicit/illegal substances, alcohol, or cannabis; using prescribed medication in a way other than as prescribed;
  5. breach of trust, lying, or deceit;
  6. theft or fraud; and
  7. criminal activity.
I further confirm that under no circumstances will I be alone (out of sight of others) with any individual trainee.

I will promptly consult with the ship’s captain or the ship’s Master and report to BC Child Protection Services (via phone #1-800-663-9122) if I have reason to suspect that any past, present or future abuse or neglect of a person under the age of 19 is likely, whether or not I am certain such abuse has occurred or will occur.

I will promptly and privately consult the ship’s captain if I become aware, either by direct disclosure or observation, of any risk to a trainee, other volunteer crew member or professional crew member from self-injury, suicide, disordered eating, anxiety disorders, depression, or other concerns about their welfare.

[This document will be signed electronically during the booking process]

Revised January 2026 - edits require Executive Director approval