The beginning of this academic year is when you arrived at or started school as far back as last August or September (including orientation or pre-term activities, if applicable), depending on your program.

A formal report or complaint may be considered to occur when (1) a student who has been affected by sexual violence (including students directly affected by sexual violence and bystanders) informs the postsecondary institution about that experience for the purposes of initiating the institution's investigation and adjudication procedures; or (2) the institution, upon being informed of an incident of sexual violence, initiates an investigation.

This could include situations in which someone:

• Treated you differently because of your gender identity or sexual orientation.
• Displayed, used, or distributed materials that were offensive to you based on gender identity or sexual orientation.
• Made negative remarks about someone based on their gender identity or sexual orientation.
• Put you down or was condescending to you because of your gender identity or sexual orientation.
• Repeatedly told sexual stories or jokes that were offensive to you.
• Tried to talk to you about sexual matters when you didn't want to.
• Made remarks or gestures or used body language of a sexual nature which embarrassed or offended you.
• Continued to ask you for dates, drinks, dinner, etc., even though you said "No".
• Touched you in a way that made you feel uncomfortable.
• Made you feel like you were being bribed, or implied better treatment, if you were to engage in sexual behaviour.
• Made you feel threatened or treated you badly for refusing to have sex.
• Sent or posted unwelcome sexual comments, rumours, jokes, or pictures of you by text, email, social media, or other electronic means.
• Mocked or harassed you on the internet using slurs or name-calling related to your gender identity or sexual orientation.

This could include situations in which someone:

• Watched or followed you from a distance, or spied on you with a listening device, camera, or GPS (global positioning system).
• Approached you or showed up in places, such as your home, workplace, or school when you didn't want them to be there.
• Left gifts or other items for you to find that made you feel uncomfortable.
• Sneaked into your home or car and did something to let you know they had been there.
• Cyber-stalked you through social media, letters, phone calls, messages, emails, or other means that were unwanted.

This could include situations in which:

• Someone fondled, kissed, or rubbed up against your body or removed some of your clothes without your consent (but did not attempt sexual penetration).
• Someone had oral sex with you or made you have oral sex with them without your consent.
• Someone put their penis, fingers, or other object into your vagina or your butt/anus without your consent.
• Even though it didn't happen, someone TRIED to have oral, anal, or vaginal sex with you without your consent.

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.

Sexual Assault: Non-consensual sexual contact or activity, including the threat of such activity, done by one person or a group of persons to another. Sexual assault can range from unwanted sexual touching, kissing, or fondling to forced sexual intercourse. Sexual assault can involve the use of physical force, intimidation, coercion, or the abuse of a position of trust or authority.

Sexual Harassment: A course of vexatious comment, conduct and/or communication based on sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or gender expression that is known or should have been known to be unwelcome. Sexual harassment includes making unwelcome sexual solicitations, attentions, or advances; the implied or expressed promise of benefits or advancement in return for sexual favours; threats of reprisals for rejecting unwelcome solicitations or advances; engaging in comment or conduct that creates a hostile or poisoned environment to persons of a specific sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression; and incidents that occur through electronic means.

Stalking: Behaviours that occur on more than one occasion and which collectively instill fear in the person or threaten the person's safety or mental health, or that of their family or friends. Stalking includes non-consensual communications (e.g., face to face, phone, electronic); threatening or obscene conduct or gestures; surveillance and pursuit; and sending unsolicited gifts.

Indecent Exposure: The exposure of the private or intimate parts of the body in a lewd or sexual manner, in a public place when the perpetrator may be readily observed. Indecent exposure includes exhibitionism.

Voyeurism: The surreptitious observing of a person without their consent and in circumstances where they could reasonably expect privacy. Voyeurism may include direct observation, observation by mechanical or electronic means, or visual recordings.

Sexual Exploitation: Taking advantage of another person through non-consensual or abusive sexual control. This may include the digital or electronic broadcasting, distributing, recording and or photographing of people involved in sexual acts without their consent.

Academic accommodations - examples include extension on assignments, rescheduling exams, excused absence, changing classes.