Code of Conduct

Effective Date: July 28, 2025

Location: Toronto, Ontario

Introduction: Our Commitment to Community

Welcome to Furever Pawradise! Our mission is to create a safe, welcoming, and vibrant 18+ environment where all attendees can celebrate the creativity and community of the anthropomorphic fandom. This Code of Conduct is the cornerstone of that commitment. It outlines the standards of behaviour expected of all attendees, staff, and vendors. By attending our event, you agree to abide by these rules to ensure a respectful and enjoyable experience for everyone.

1.0 Registration & Event Access (18+ Event)

Furever Pawradise is a private event for attendees aged 18 and older.

1.1 Age Requirement: You must be 18 years of age or older by the first day of the event to attend. No exceptions will be made.

1.2 Photo Identification: A valid, government-issued photo ID (such as a driver's license, provincial Photo Card, or passport) is required at check-in to receive your event badge. Your ID must prove your identity and your age. Use of fraudulent or altered identification is illegal and will result in immediate removal, a permanent ban, and potential notification of law enforcement.

1.3 Badge Policy: Your event badge is your proof of admission. It must be worn and clearly visible at all times within event spaces. If you have forgotten your badge in your room, you will be asked to retrieve it.

1.4 Non-Transferable: Badges cannot be sold, loaned, or given to anyone else. Any individual found sharing a badge will have their admission revoked without a refund.

1.5 Counterfeiting & Forgery: The reproduction, sale, or use of counterfeit, forged, or altered Furever Pawradise badges is strictly forbidden. Any individual found creating, selling, or in possession of such a badge will be subject to immediate removal from the event, a permanent ban from all future events hosted by our organization, and will be reported to law enforcement.

2.0 Harassment & Community Standards

We have a zero-tolerance policy for harassment and discrimination of any kind.

2.1 Our Zero-Tolerance Harassment Policy: Furever Pawradise is committed to providing a safe and welcoming environment, free from harassment. Our "zero-tolerance" policy means we take all reports of harassment seriously and will investigate them promptly and with discretion. This policy applies to everyone at our event, including attendees, staff, vendors, and guests.
Harassment is defined as any behaviour that is unwelcome and causes harm, intimidation, or distress. This includes, but is not limited to:
- Stalking or deliberate intimidation.
- Unwelcome sexual attention, comments, or physical contact.
- Verbal or written threats.
- Advocating for or encouraging violence.
- Sustained unwelcome social engagement after being clearly asked to stop.
  If an individual is found to have violated this policy, we will take immediate and decisive action as outlined in our Enforcement policy (Section 11.0). "Zero tolerance" means we will not hesitate to act to protect our attendees. You have a right to feel safe at our event, and this policy is our commitment to upholding that right.

2.2 Anti-Discrimination: Our event is a space where everyone is welcome. Discrimination based on race, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, national origin, religion, or any other personal attribute will not be tolerated.

2.3 Consent is Mandatory: Consent must be enthusiastic, freely given, and can be revoked at any time. Costume does not equal consent. Always ask for permission before initiating physical contact (including hugs) or taking photos of another attendee.

2.4 Interpersonal Disputes: Furever Pawradise is not the place to resolve pre-existing personal disputes. Our staff cannot act as mediators. However, we will take action on any violation of this Code of Conduct that occurs at our event, regardless of prior history between the individuals involved.

3.0 Alcohol, Smoking & Substance Policy

All policies regarding alcohol and substances are strictly enforced in accordance with local, provincial, and national laws.

3.1 Legal Drinking Age (19+): The legal drinking age in Ontario is 19. All attendees wishing to purchase or consume alcohol must have valid photo ID to prove they are 19 or older.

3.2 Designated Areas Only: Alcohol may only be consumed in areas specifically licensed for it by our venue partner (e.g., event bars, restaurant lounges). Alcohol served by the venue must remain within these designated areas.

3.3 No Outside Alcohol: Bringing your own alcohol into the designated event spaces is strictly prohibited.

3.4 Smoking & Vaping: Smoking and vaping (including e-cigarettes) are only permitted in designated outdoor smoking areas as specified by our venue partner. Smoking or vaping is not allowed in hotel rooms, event spaces, or hallways. Violators may be subject to significant cleaning fees from the venue.

3.5 Illegal Substances: The possession, use, or distribution of illegal drugs or any other controlled substances is strictly forbidden at our event.

3.6 Responsible Conduct: Please enjoy yourself responsibly. Attendees who are intoxicated to the point of being a danger to themselves or others will be removed from the event by staff or security.

4.0 Attire & Costume Code

Our goal is to foster an environment of creative expression while respecting our community and our venue partner. This Code of Conduct incorporates the full Furever Pawradise Attendee Conduct & Attire Guide by reference. Key highlights include:

4.1 Daytime Standard: During the day, attire should be appropriate for a public-facing, "PG-13" environment.

4.2 Nocturnal Policy (After 9 PM): After 9:00 PM, our attire policy becomes more relaxed to allow for greater personal expression, including specific types of gear as outlined in the Attire Guide. Coverage rules remain in effect at all times.

4.3 Full Details: For specific rules regarding fursuits, gear, leashes, and the photography opt-out system, please refer to the complete Attire Guide. Remember, at all times, costume does not equal consent.

5.0 Prop & Weapon Policy

To ensure the safety of all attendees, all props are subject to inspection by event staff at any time.

5.1 Prohibited Items: The following are strictly forbidden:
- Real weapons of any kind (including sharpened or metal blades).
- Realistic-looking firearms.
- Exposed lasers or laser pointers.
- Silly string, confetti cannons, or similar messy products.

5.2 Permitted Props: Props made of soft materials like foam, cardboard, or light plastic are generally permitted. Unloaded toy projectile weapons (e.g., NERF guns) are allowed but must not contain any ammunition.

5.3 Peace-Bonding: Any prop that resembles a weapon must be brought to our Safety Office to be inspected and "peace-bonded" (marked with a tag) by staff before it can be carried in event spaces.

5.4 Prop Size & Awareness: Please be mindful of the size of your props. Oversized items that block hallways or pose a hazard to other attendees may be disallowed at the discretion of event staff.

5.5 Prohibited Costumes: Costumes that impersonate local, provincial, or federal law enforcement or military personnel are not permitted.

6.0 Venue & Hotel Policy

We are guests in our venue. Please treat our venue partner, their staff, and their property with the utmost respect.

6.1 Respect Property & No Vandalism: Do not damage, deface, or alter any venue property. This includes affixing anything to walls, doors, or elevators. The act of "stickerbombing," or placing unauthorized stickers on any surface, is strictly forbidden.

6.2 Financial Responsibility for Damages: Any attendee found responsible for damaging venue or event property (including rental equipment or hotel room furnishings) will be held financially liable for the full cost of repairs or replacement, in addition to any penalties under this Code of Conduct.

6.3 Your Hotel Room: You are responsible for the condition of your hotel room. For safety, hotel staff may need to enter rooms daily, even if a "Do Not Disturb" sign is present. Keep noise in hotel room hallways to a minimum.

7.0 Vending, Promotion & Solicitation

To protect our official vendors and ensure a comfortable experience for all attendees, we have a strict policy on commercial activity.

7.1 Official Vendors: The sale of all goods and services is restricted to registered artists and dealers within designated areas (e.g., Dealers Den, Artist Alley). Official vendors must adhere to all rules outlined in their vendor agreement in addition to this Code of Conduct.

7.2 Unauthorized Sales & Business: Conducting commercial business from a hotel room is strictly forbidden. Actively soliciting business from other attendees or vendors ("suitcase-ing") in hallways, panel rooms, or other public spaces is also prohibited.

7.3 Advertising & Promotions: The distribution of flyers, business cards, or any other promotional material is not permitted without prior written approval from event management. Approved materials may only be placed in designated areas, if available.

7.4 Personal Art & Commissions: While informal art trades or taking personal commissions are part of our community's culture and are generally acceptable, you may not set up an unauthorized display or storefront in any public area. Transactions should be handled discreetly and not disrupt event flow or block pathways.

7.5 Fundraising & Solicitation: Soliciting money or donations ("panhandling") is not permitted. Performing or "busking" for tips is also forbidden. All fundraising activities at the event are for the benefit of our officially designated charity and must be pre-approved by event leadership.

8.0 Vendor & Exhibitor Policies

This section applies to all registered vendors, artists, and exhibitors in our designated vendor halls (e.g., Dealers Den, Artist Alley).

8.1 General Compliance: All vendors and their staff must have a valid event badge and adhere to this full Code of Conduct in addition to the rules outlined in their vendor agreement. For more detailed information on setup times, specific hall regulations, and operational procedures, please refer to your official Vendor Welcome Package.

8.2 Prohibited for Sale: The following items are strictly prohibited from being sold at Furever Pawradise:
- Illegal Items: Anything that is illegal to sell or possess in Ontario or Canada.
- Unlicensed/Bootleg Merchandise: All merchandise must be original work or officially licensed. The sale of counterfeit or "bootleg" items that infringe on copyright or trademark is forbidden.
- Weapons: Items covered in our Prohibited Items list (Section 5.1), including real firearms and sharpened metal blades.
- Food & Beverages: The sale of food or beverages is not permitted, per our venue partner's catering agreements.
- AI-Generated Art: The sale of art where the core subject and composition were created using generative AI image models is strictly prohibited in order to support our community of human artists. This applies to both standalone art and merchandise featuring such art. If an item is suspected of violating this policy, a committee of senior event leadership will make the final determination. If the work is found to be in violation, the vendor will be expelled from the vendor hall for the remainder of the event, with no refund of table or registration fees.

8.3 Policy on Adult Material (18+): The sale of merchandise depicting explicit sexual acts or extreme violence ("adult material") is permitted but is strictly controlled through zoning.
- Designated 18+ Section: All vendors wishing to sell adult material must do so from a table located within a designated, clearly marked, and access-controlled 18+ section of the vendor hall. Vendors must apply specifically for this section during registration.
- Access Control: All attendees must present a valid, government-issued photo ID proving they are 18 years of age or older to our staff to enter this designated section.
- Vendor Responsibility: While materials may be displayed more openly within the 18+ section, vendors are still responsible for the professional presentation of their space. Event staff reserve the right to require any display deemed inappropriate, even within this section, to be censored or removed.
- General Vendor Hall: The display or sale of any adult material is strictly prohibited in the main, general access area of the vendor hall.

8.4 Business & Tax Compliance: All vendors operate as independent entities and are responsible for obtaining any necessary business permits and for collecting and remitting all applicable taxes (e.g., HST).

9.0 Service Animal Policy

Furever Pawradise is committed to being an accessible event and welcomes attendees with disabilities and their trained service animals. Our policy is designed to comply with and exceed the standards of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA).

9.1 Definitions:
- Service Animal: A service animal is highly trained to perform specific tasks to assist a person with a disability. Under the AODA, if an animal is not obviously a service animal (e.g., a guide dog), the person may be asked to provide documentation from a regulated health professional.
- Pets & Emotional Support Animals (ESAs): Pets, therapy animals, and emotional support animals are not classified as service animals under the AODA for public access and are therefore not permitted in event spaces.

9.2 Staff Inquiries: If it is not immediately obvious that an animal is a service animal, our staff may ask two questions: 1) Is this animal required because of a disability? and 2) What work or task has this animal been trained to perform? We will never ask about the nature of a person's disability.

9.3 Handler Responsibilities: The handler is fully responsible for their service animal at all times. This includes:
- Control: The service animal must be leashed, harnessed, or tethered and under the handler's direct control at all times.
- Behaviour: A service animal must be well-behaved and not disruptive. A service animal may be asked to leave if it is out of control and the handler does not take effective action to control it (e.g., uncontrolled barking, jumping on other people), or if it is not housebroken.
- Cleanup: The handler is responsible for cleaning up after their service animal and for any damages caused by the animal.

9.4 Attendee Conduct: Please do not touch, pet, feed, or otherwise distract a service animal without the express permission of its handler. They are working animals, and your distraction could put their handler at risk.

9.5 Event Support: We will make reasonable efforts to provide information on nearby designated animal relief areas. Please ask at our Operations office for directions.

10.0 Photography & Media Policy

To protect the privacy of our attendees and the intellectual property of our presenters, we have a detailed policy on recording and media.

10.1 Personal Photography & Video:
- Consent is Key: Always ask for permission before taking photos or videos of other attendees, their costumes, or their property. A "No" means no.
- Non-Commercial Use: Photos and videos taken by general attendees are for personal, non-commercial use only (e.g., social media, personal albums). Commercial use, including selling photos or using footage for monetized channels, is forbidden without prior written consent from Furever Pawradise management.

10.2 Rules for Panels & Main Events:
- Presenter's Discretion: Recording (audio or video) during panels and workshops is subject to the rules set by the individual presenter. Many panels may be designated as "No Photography" or "No Recording" zones. Please respect these signs and announcements.
- Flash Prohibited: The use of flash photography is strictly prohibited during all main stage events, panels, and performances, as it can be distracting and dangerous to performers.

10.3 Official & Professional Media:
- Media Passes: All professional media representatives must apply for a media pass in advance of the event. On-site applications will not be accepted. Media passes are granted at our sole discretion and can be revoked at any time.
- "No Media" Opt-Out System: We have an official media team. If you do not wish to be a primary subject in our official photos or videos, you may select the "No Media" option during registration to receive a specially marked badge. Our official and registered professional media are instructed to make every reasonable effort to respect this marker.
- Disclaimer: Please be aware that this marker does not guarantee you will never appear in the background of a wide shot, especially in crowded areas. This opt-out applies only to official/professional media, not to photos taken by other attendees.

10.4 Drones: The use of drones or any other unmanned aerial recording devices is strictly prohibited in all event spaces and on venue property.

11.0 Reporting Violations & Getting Help

Your safety is our top priority. If you see something, say something.

11.1 How to Make a Report: If you witness or experience a violation of this Code of Conduct, please find any member of our Event Staff. They are trained to assist you and will escort you to our Operations Office or Public Safety Office for a private and confidential discussion.

11.2 Contact Methods:
- For Urgent Help: Call our On-Site Emergency Line: 123-456-7890 or Text our Quick Code: 123456.
- For Non-Urgent Issues: Email us at publicsafety@fureverpawradise.ca.

11.3 Confidentiality: We are committed to handling all reports with confidentiality and sensitivity. Retaliation against any individual for making a good-faith report is a serious violation of this Code of Conduct and will be handled accordingly.

11.4 Medical or Life-Threatening Emergencies: In a true medical or life-threatening emergency, please call 911 first, and then notify event staff immediately so we can assist first responders.

12.0 Enforcement: Our Actions & Process

Our enforcement policy is designed to be a corrective process that ensures the safety and integrity of our community. All actions are taken with the goal of protecting our attendees.

12.1 The Investigation Process: When a report is received, our Public Safety team will conduct an investigation. This may involve interviewing the reporting party, the accused party, and any relevant witnesses. All parties will be treated with respect and discretion during this process.

12.2 Range of Consequences: Failure to comply with this Code of Conduct may result in one or more of the following consequences, depending on the severity and nature of the violation:
- A formal verbal warning.
- Revocation of specific event privileges (e.g., access to evening events).
- Immediate removal (ejection) from the event without refund.

12.3 Banning Policy:
- A temporary or permanent ban from all future Furever Pawradise events may be issued for severe violations. This includes, but is not limited to, credible threats, patterns of harassment, forgery, theft, or any action that significantly endangers the safety of our attendees or the viability of the event.
- Decisions regarding bans are made by a committee of senior event leadership after a thorough review of the incident report and investigation. The length and terms of a ban are at the sole discretion of this committee.

12.4 Law Enforcement Involvement:
- Furever Pawradise will not hesitate to contact local law enforcement (Toronto Police Service) in any situation where an individual's safety is at immediate risk, if a criminal offense has been committed, or if required by law.
- This includes, but is not limited to, situations involving assault, battery, theft, possession or distribution of illegal substances, credible threats of violence, or any other illegal activity. We are committed to cooperating fully with all law enforcement agencies.

12.5 Final Discretion: Event staff have the final say on all interpretations and enforcement of these rules.

13.0 Limitation of Liability

By registering for and attending Furever Pawradise, you agree to release Furever Pawradise, its parent organization, directors, staff, and volunteers from any liability or claims arising from loss, damage, or injury, including death, that may be sustained by you or your property at our event. You agree to attend at your own risk and take responsibility for your own well-being.

This Code of Conduct is a living document and may be updated as needed. The version posted on our official website is considered the most current. Thank you for reading and for helping us make Furever Pawradise a safe, respectful, and incredibly fun event for everyone.