On March 15, 2021, Policy #21-001 – Code of Conduct, Ground Rules, Values was approved by the Steering Committee who agreed to foster the following virtues in our work and relationships:

Collaboration is “a mutually beneficial and well- defined relationship entered into by two or more individuals and/or organizations to achieve common goals.” The relationship includes a commitment to a definition of mutual relationships and goals, a jointly developed structure and shared responsibility, mutual authority, and accountability for success, and sharing of resources and rewards.

By joining this national collaboration, you made a commitment of your time and energy to help accomplish FAC’s mission and shared vision. It will take ALL of us, working collaboratively together long-term, to accomplish our organization’s mandate.

1. THIS IS A NON-PARTISAN, SECULAR, INCLUSIVE NATIONAL ORGANIZATION representing all who live with FM across Canada, regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation, personal beliefs, or lifestyles.
   There is zero tolerance for inappropriate behaviour, discrimination, and abusive/derogatory/socially unacceptable language.
2. ALL OUR MEETINGS, SPECIAL EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES ARE CONDUCTED IN SAFE, INCLUSIVE, NON-JUDGEMENTAL SPACES. We do not encourage sharing personal opinions or making comments (positive or negative) on political, religious, or contentious hot topics at these occasions, whether it is in-person or virtually.
3. WE ARE EQUAL IN VALUE, VOICE AND RELEVANCE, regardless of individual professional expertise, work experiences, skills, gifts, and talents. We assign/appoint roles, not positions. Each of us has a role to perform and are expected to have the ability to compromise when needed.
4. OPEN AND FREQUENT COMMUNCIATIONS, AND TRANSPARENCY IN LEADERSHIP are standards of practice we embrace. Keep members in your Committee(s) informed, sharing the good and the bad, included in relevant discussions and communications. Welcome honest feedback (without allowing pride and ego to get the better of you) from leadership, volunteers, and the community at large.
5. BE RELIABLE. Honour obligations, responsibilities, or tasks you take on by completing them or seeing them through to the end (except for illness or unforeseen situations, of course).
6. STRIVE TO BE PROGRESSIVE AND PROFESSIONAL in your thinking, discussions, demeanour, and representation, both internally and externally. Educate yourself on common trauma “triggers” and current human resource rights and policies.
7. TREAT EACH OTHER WITH MUTUAL RESPECT, UNDERSTANDING AND TRUST. You share a stake in both process and outcome. All of us should feel “ownership” of both the way the group works and the results or products of its work.
8. PRACTICE GRATITUDE. Always appreciate our volunteers who are our primary resource and integral to FAC’s operation and success. As leaders, we should endeavour to identify and mentor potential leaders within the FM community. Empower and encourage volunteers to invest and give back to society in service to those in the FM community.
9. FOSTER A NURTURING, CARING, RESPECTFUL CULTURE AND ENVIRONMENT within FAC and with stakeholders. Get to know your peers. Take time to applaud and cheer on each other. Be willing to really hear members in the community and commit to respond to people and issues that are raised within reasonable limits.
10. BUILD STAKEHOLDER CONFIDENCE AND TRUST. Be clear, careful and as accurate as possible in communicating facts and information, so that we become a trusted channel for people contacting us and meetings with other groups, government individuals and agencies, etc.