Safe Disclosure Office

We recognize this is a vulnerable time in your educational or career journey, and above all else, the Safe Disclosure Office creates a safe environment where you can confidentially express concerns. Each disclosure brought to us is handled with discretion and care.

NorQuest College is committed to creating a place of belonging for everyone. Through our safe disclosure services, employees, learners, volunteers, and community members can confidentially seek advice and/or disclose an alleged improper activity or wrongdoing without the fear of retaliation.

The Office of Safe Disclosure is not a replacement for our formal services. We help guide people to the resources and processes offered by the college.

Upholding the highest standards of care, we create a safe space where individuals can freely express worries without fear of retribution. Each concern entrusted to us is handled with the utmost discretion, safeguarding identities and personal stories.

Our vision is to foster empowerment within the NorQuest community where trauma-informed care integrates with transparency and confidentiality to effectively address concerns. We strive for a community where empowerment is nurtured, concerns find their rightful place, and collective progress is achieved.

We encourage all individuals wishing to make a disclosure to begin by emailing disclosure@norquest.ca.

An advisor will reach out to you to book an appointment via:

• Virtual meeting
• In-person
• Over the phone

All learners, employees and other members of the NorQuest community are welcome to access these services.

Confidentiality and privacy will still be maintained to the extent possible, as the Safe Disclosure Office recognizes the importance of protecting your identity and the information you share.

However, the Safe Disclosure Office may be required to take action when there is a legal obligation to report, such as the exploitation of minors, acting on reports of imminent harm, or where disclosure of an incident of harassment or violence triggers a legally required investigation of the matter. 

We do not accommodate walk-ins to safeguard your privacy. To ensure that we can thoroughly address your concerns and provide a comprehensive consultation, we kindly request all individuals schedule an appointment with a Safe Disclosure Advisor.

You can choose to submit a matter anonymously; however, please know that we cannot guarantee follow-up or action on anonymous submissions.

The Safe Disclosure Office will make every effort to contact you within two business days to arrange a time to discuss your matter.  No action is taken on your matter until the Safe Disclosure Office speaks with you.

The Disclosure should include the following information:

• the nature of the activity giving rise to the improper activity or wrongdoing;
• a description of all parties involved;
• possible violations of law or college policy; and
• any other information useful in evaluating the Disclosure.

After disclosure is made to a Safe Disclosure Office, the office will carefully review the information provided. The Safe Disclosure Office will focus on providing appropriate options and support to the individual who made the disclosure. They will prioritize listening to your concerns and ensuring that you are heard. You will be given the opportunity to discuss your situation, receive guidance, and explore potential courses of action.

The office will respect your agency and provide you with choices on how you want to proceed. This may include actions such as mediation, conflict resolution, seeking advice from relevant parties, or implementing changes to organizational policies and procedures.

Referrals will consider:

• The desired outcome of the person making the disclosure
• Applicable College policies, procedure and agreements
• Applicable Acts and legislation
• Health and Safety (including cultural and emotional safety)

To empower those making a disclosure, multiple options will be provided, including the option to “do nothing” (when possible).

It's important to note that the specific steps taken after a disclosure, including the decision to initiate an investigation or not, will depend on NorQuest’s policies and the nature of the disclosure.

Yes, reports concerning improper activity or wrongdoing(s) by employees within the Safe Disclosure Office that can’t otherwise be reasonably resolved can be made in confidence to the Director of Equity.

The College is fostering a culture where employees can confidently raise concerns related to a respectful workplace environment. If you believe you are facing retaliation due to a harassment or discrimination complaint you've filed, please promptly report it to the Safe Disclosure Office for prompt resolution. The College treats retaliation issues with the utmost seriousness.