Welcome to C-ACE! As Operations Director, I have had the privilege of assisting the Staff in creating this convention. We have spent countless hours bringing this convention to fruition for your enjoyment. Our main goal at C-ACE is to have fun and to ensure that the greatest number of people achieve this objective. With this in mind, we must establish some standards of conduct. We seek only to ensure that the behaviour of a small group does not disturb the membership as a whole, nor does it detract from the relaxed and comfortable atmosphere of the convention.

If you are aware of a breach of the Policies, please get in touch with a Staff or Volunteer person immediately.

For complete details, please review the following policies:

C-ACE Standards of Conduct

C-ACE has a ZERO TOLERANCE rule in effect regarding breaches of the Standards of Conduct. A warning may be given at the sole discretion of the Operations Director or Convention Chairperson. Anyone found committing a Criminal offense (one contained in the Criminal Code of Canada - including possession, consumption, and trade in illicit pharmaceuticals) while attending the convention, will be detained and/or turned over to authorities.

Smoking is not permitted as per local laws. Smoking is only permitted outdoors. Smoking will not be permitted in any convention function or area, or in the halls, bars, and restaurant areas of the Hotel. C-ACE respectfully requests that those people who step outside to smoke kindly refrain from standing directly in front of any of the hotel's doors and entrances, as the smoke is simply carried inside. This is a city-wide bylaw.

General Rating of the Convention

C-ACE prides itself on presenting an atmosphere that is comfortable for fans of all ages and from all walks of life, and C-ACE members are expected to act accordingly. C-ACE is rated 14A (PG13 equivalent). Please refer to the Art Show or Dealers Room policies for details. In public spaces open to any hotel patrons, the Rating will be G at all times.

Those of age 17 and under are not permitted to attend without the express permission of a parent or legal guardian. Anyone under age 14 MUST be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian to be admitted. The best course of action for anyone between 15 and 17 is to come to the event with a parent or legal guardian so they can give consent and we can verify the identification papers.

Anyone found to be violating the public rating, such as by publicly displaying inappropriate artwork, wearing unacceptably revealing clothing, acting in a lewd or lascivious manner (see PDAs below), etc. will be issued a polite warning and will have his or her con badge marked. A second offence will result in confiscation of the badge and denial of entry to all further con events. Blatant and obviously intentional breaches of the rules may result in immediate revocation of membership. Remember that the rules are in place to ensure the comfort of all C-ACE members, a responsibility which C-ACE staff takes very seriously.

Regardless of any posted or understood rating of convention events, no actions may be taken or items displayed or used in convention events (or in the Hotel) that are illegal in Canada.

Public Displays of Affection (PDAs)

We are a friendly and close-knit community. Kissing, holding hands, and similar activities among consenting adults are certainly allowed in all con-sponsored areas. We ask that common sense be used, however, when displaying affection for your special other. Two good general rules to follow at C-ACE are:

"If you have to ask or think twice about whether or not you should do it in public, then don't do it".

and

"NO means NO."

Please be courteous and understanding. If you feel that you must display deep affection for another in a physical fashion, please do so in the privacy of your hotel room. Hotel rooms reserved by the Convention are not available for such use. C-ACE staff will not hesitate to ask a party to desist if that party's behaviour is considered inappropriate for a public area or is blatantly annoying to other parties. Such admonishments are difficult for us and are an embarrassment to the party in question, so kindly do not make us take such action.

Public Exposure - Indecent and Other

At the request of C-ACE and hotel management, we must ask that shirts, pants/shorts, and footwear be worn when in the lobby of the hotel, in any restaurant, or when traveling to and from the pool area or gym. Bathing suits in the lobby are not considered to be appropriate attire, even if you are only passing through. Please use the changing rooms in the pool area or gym. Costumes (including fursuits and cosplay) are considered "appropriate attire" in all area of the hotel except for the restaurants and the pool area, provided the costumes are not unacceptably revealing. Costumes are not permitted in the restaurants or the pool/gym area, due to safety concerns.

Any person who publicly exposes a part of the body whose exposure constitutes "indecent exposure" under Criminal Code of Canada (and you know what they are) will be asked to correct the situation immediately. Upon further violation or failure to correct the matter, the authorities will be summoned immediately.

Weapons Policy

To ensure the safety of all those attending the con, C-ACE maintains a very strict weapons policy. These policies are enforced at all times. Anyone who would like to question this policy should speak directly to the Operations Director.

NO WEAPONS, or anything that can be mistaken for one, may be carried either openly or concealed at any time in convention space. If you have anything you would like to carry with you that you feel may come into conflict with these rules, it probably is. If you are uncertain, contact the Operations Director in advance.

NOTE: Items such as switchblades, handguns, brass knuckles, and Bali-song (butterfly) knives which may be legal to own and carry in some States, are illegal in Canada. Kindly leave them home.

No firearms, real or replica, are to be carried, openly or concealed. This includes BB or pellet guns, cap guns, airsoft weapons, water guns, or any other item, which bears any resemblance to any firearm, modern or antique. Squirt guns may NOT be employed within the interior of the hotel. Legally owned replicas and props can be used during photo-shoots. Please consult the Operations Director in advance.

For reasons of public safety, no laser-pointers, laser-aiming device or similar device may be used in public, save for legitimate purpose such as a seminar, display, or other convention sanctioned event in which a laser aid will be needed.

The designation "security-approved" will be given to individual items at the sole discretion of the Operations Director or a chosen senior Staff member. This designation may be revoked at any time at the discretion of the Operations Director if the item is being used or brandished in an inappropriate fashion or if complaints are received regarding its display. If any item has not been pre-approved by either Operations Director prior to convention, it will not be allowed.

The weapons listed above are not meant to constitute an exhaustive list of those items which are not to be carried at C-ACE. Brandishing any weapon, real or replica, is not permissible. Brandishing is defined as the display of an item for the purpose of real or implied threat, or any act that may cause anyone to believe that the intent was there, real or implied. The intent is irrelevant under the law, and the brandishing of any weapon will be treated as an assault upon another person.

Anyone found to be carrying, brandishing, or to have in their possession, any weapon/firearm at any location associated with the con, without previous arrangements, will be immediately expelled and the offender will be reported to the local authorities.

Disorderly Conduct

Please remember that you are a guest of the hotel, and that there are other guests staying at the hotel. It is only common courtesy to maintain a level of noise appropriate to the time and place. We expect everyone to cooperate fully with C-ACE and hotel security personnel. If you are requested to quiet down or to cease a certain behaviour, please do so immediately. It will make the convention much more pleasant for all parties involved. Please refrain from constant swearing and other rude language. Any form of disrespect towards other guests, hotel staff or convention staff will result in immediate loss of privileges and expulsion from the event.

Hotel security personnel are empowered by C-ACE to confiscate your con badge if you do not comply with hotel rules or directions. If this occurs you must take up the issue with the Operations Director. This standard includes any and all fighting, any inappropriate horseplay, or any actions that directly or recklessly cause undue disturbance to, or impair the safety of, any convention or hotel function, restaurant, public area, or patron.

C-ACE asks all of its members and guests to conform to a few house rules and we thank everyone for following them.
These rules are as follows:

• No loitering on the stairways or in the stairwells. This means keep moving, do not plan on chatting in the stairways. This is an Ottawa Fire Department safety issue.
• No horseplay or goofing off on stairways. This, too, is a safety issue.
• No horseplay near, on or around any of the railings.
• No offensive language or related behaviour.

Harassment (All types, including sexual)

This includes but is not limited to: striking, shoving, kicking, any unwanted physical contact, threatening to do any of the above or following someone around a public place without a legitimate reason or in a threatening or intimidating manner, and threatening to cause harm. Please remember, if someone tells you "no" or to leave them alone, your business with them is done. Leave them alone. Do not follow them or make them uneasy in any way. Any complaint in regards to harassment shall be dealt with in accordance with Con policy.

Assault / Menacing / Trapping

Assault is defined as: any physical contact done with the intent to cause physical injury, or actions of a reckless nature (i.e., rough horseplay, etc.) that cause physical injury to another person. These are legally punishable by fines and/or imprisonment.

Menacing is defined as when, by physical or verbal means, a person intentionally places or attempts to place another person in fear of death, or imminent physical injury, or harm, or distress. Menacing is also punishable by fines and/or imprisonment.

Trapping is exactly the same as unlawful imprisonment. It is an indictable offence to stop someone from leaving an area or confining someone against their will. This means that if someone says "let me out", you let them out or you may find yourself locked up instead.

Any person engaging in the above activities will be removed from the convention and most likely barred from attending in the future as well. If any person or persons assaults, menaces or traps any convention staff member, C-ACE will press charges to the fullest extent of the law and the police will be involved. Anyone found guilty by a court of law of any of the above actions will be barred from future C-ACE events, and this information will be shared with other convention coordinators upon request.

The standards of conduct will be strictly enforced by the Operations staff and by volunteers, who will be clearly identified as such on site (volunteer or Staff badges). Enforcement will be very simple; your first offense will result in a mark on your badge and a warning. The second offense will result in the confiscation of your badge and the revocation of all con privileges without a refund. In cases of malicious intent or direct infraction of the above guidelines, or an infraction of the law, a warning may be bypassed.

Please remember that your con badges are property of C-ACE for the duration of the convention, and must be presented and/or surrendered to any Staff or volunteer member requesting it. If you have any problem with any action taken by a Staff member, or volunteer, you may take the matter up with the Operations Director. We shall make every attempt to be fair and lenient in the case of infractions, but we cannot tolerate behaviour which threatens the peace and well-being of our members.

C-ACE accepts no liability for events or actions by individuals in the confines of private hotel rooms. Anyone intending to host a party is strongly advised to check for C-ACE badges on partygoers, and to deny entrance to any person who is not a member of the convention. Responsibility for incidents occurring in hotel guest rooms rests solely upon the individual in whose name the room is rented. Please note that it is illegal by both hotel and local rules to sell merchandise or services in any area of the hotel or grounds not so designated. Such activities constitute "illegal solicitation," and may result in the perpetrator being removed from hotel grounds. If you host a party in your room; the door must remain closed, the noise level must be low enough to not bother the people in the next room or in the corridor. The corridors are not to be used as meeting places or overflow party space. Hotel staff and security personnel have final say about the use of a room.

Causes leading to an attendance ban

A person can be banned from attending C-ACE events if:

• They threatened to kill, maim, injure, or otherwise harass (see appropriate Policies) any attendee or staff of C-ACE at the convention before it even starts, and we have original documents or electronic signature to confirm this.
• They were found in breach of C-ACE Policies while attending C-ACE or any C-ACE sponsored sites, events, or functions.
• They have directly or indirectly threatened the livelihood of C-ACE.

Such decisions are taken by the Operations Director, then brought to the immediate attention of the Chairperson.

If there is a disagreement with any decision from the operations or volunteer staff, or the Operations Director, this decision may be appealed to the other Directors. However in a situation where the resulting decision conflicts with the Operations Director, the Operations Director’s decision will be final.

Please be reminded that these rules are, of course, worst-case scenarios. We anticipate no difficulties and have not had any in the past, as our members as a whole are rational and responsible adults. C-ACE is prepared to deal with any or all of the above scenarios in as rapid and efficient a manner as possible should they occur. If you witness any situation that breaches the Policies, please contact a Staff or Volunteer member as soon as possible. We thank our members for their cooperation, and for their assistance in making this a fun and safe experience for everyone. Have fun - just please remember to be courteous to those around you!

C-ACE Operations Director

Please email any questions to operations@c-ace.org