Code of Conduct & Ethics

FOR VOLUNTEERS AND INDIVIDUAL GNN MEMBERS

CODE OF CONDUCT

Green Neighbours Network (GNN) is committed to creating a welcoming, inclusive and respectful community that is free from discrimination and harassment. All GNN volunteers, members, staff, and event participants are expected to do their part to achieve this goal.

If you have questions about GNN’s code of conduct, please email gnn@gnntoronto.ca.

GNN seeks to promote:

  1. Collaboration. We work collaboratively, valuing teamwork and shared goals to create meaningful environmental impact.
  2. Kindness. We listen to each other with kindness, respect, and empathy. We
    encourage each other in our search for a more sustainable path.
  3. Inclusion. We foster inclusive and supportive relationships within GNN, and welcome diverse perspectives.
  4. Fun. We believe in building community through joyful and engaging experiences.

We will at all times:

  1. Be respectful. Treat everyone with respect. Act in a way that does not discriminate against or exclude anyone.
  2. Be welcoming. Treat others in a welcoming way. Be kind and considerate.
  3. Be supportive. Be positive, encouraging and supportive. We are all passionate people doing our best at the place we are at on our sustainable journey.
  4. Listen. We may have different, possibly conflicting, views. Listen. Be polite. Healthy debates can be educational but kindness is required. Do not try to impose your view on others. Be respectful of differences.
  5. Respect privacy. Respect people’s privacy. If you take pictures or make recordings, ask anyone being photographed or recorded for their permission. Treat as confidential personal information including names, phone numbers, email addresses, and postal codes. Do not share without permission.
  6. Be non-partisan. While acting as a representative of GNN, you must act in a non-partisan way. This behaviour is necessary to ensure that all GNN’s communications, activities, and materials remain non-partisan. Non-partisan means that no particular political group, political candidate, or politician is singled out (favourably or unfavourably).
  7. Be an ally. Help everyone feel safe. We don’t accept bullying of any kind nor disparaging comments about personal attributes like race, religion, culture, sexual orientation, gender, or disability, etc.
  8. Report inappropriate behavior that makes you or others feel uncomfortable to Green Neighbours Network Steering Committee Members or responsible
FOR MEMBER GROUPS

CODE OF CONDUCT

Green Neighbours Network is committed to creating a welcoming, inclusive and respectful community that is free from discrimination and harassment. All volunteers, staff, network members, and event participants are expected to do their part to achieve this goal.

If you have questions about GNN’s code of conduct, please email gnn@gnntoronto.ca.

Expected behaviours include:

  1. Treat everyone with respect. Act in a way that does not discriminate against or exclude anyone.
  2. Be kind, considerate and respectful to others. Treat others in a welcoming way.
  3. Be positive, encouraging and supportive. We are all passionate people doing our best at the place we are at on our sustainable journey.
  4. We may have different, possibly conflicting, views. Listen. Be polite and respectful. Healthy debates can be educational but kindness is required. Do not try to impose your view on others. Be respectful of differences.
  5. Ensure everyone feels safe. We don’t accept bullying of any kind nor disparaging comments about personal attributes like race, religion, culture, sexual orientation, gender, or disability, etc.
  6. Report inappropriate behavior that makes you or others feel uncomfortable to Green Neighbours Network Steering Committee Members or responsible volunteers.

 

CODE OF ETHICS

We will at all times:

  1. Seek to minimize the environmental impact of our activities including minimizing waste.
  2. Actively promote heightened purpose, sustainability, reconciliation, equity and collaboration among our individual members, and member groups and partners.
  3. Remain non-partisan when engaging with or representing GNN. Non-partisan means that no particular political group, political candidate, or politician is singled out (favourably or unfavourably).
  4. Work as a team recognizing the strengths in our differences, and support each other to achieve our shared goals.
  5. Be sensitive and kind but also open and honest in our dealings with others.
  6. Actively promote diversity in recruitment and participation.
  7. Actively avoid all forms of discrimination, harassment or victimization.
CODE OF ETHICS VS. CODE OF CONDUCT – WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?

Key Differences Between Code of Ethics and Code of Conduct

Code of Ethics is an aspirational document, issued by the board of directors containing core ethical
values, principles and ideals of the organization. Code of Conduct is a directional document containing
specific practices and behaviours, that are followed or restricted under the organization.

  • Code of Ethics is general in nature, whereas code of conduct is specific.
  • Code of Conduct are originated from the code of ethics, and it converts the rules into specific
    guidelines, that must be followed by the members of the organization.
  • Lengthwise, code of ethics is a shorter document than a code of conduct.
  • Code of Ethics regulates the judgment of the organization while a code of conduct regulates the actions.
  • Code of Ethics is publicly available, i.e. anyone can access it. Conversely, Code of Conduct is addressed to employees only.
  • Code of Ethics focuses on values or principles. On the other hand, Code of Conduct is focused on compliance and rules.

FROM: https://keydifferences.com/difference-between-code-of-ethics-and-code-of-conduct.html

LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

We respectfully acknowledge this land and the history of the many Indigenous peoples who have lived here for millennia. The meeting place of Toronto - from the Kanienʼkéha (Mohawk) word Tkaronto - remains the home of many Indigenous people from across Turtle Island. We are grateful to be here together to share and to care for the land – Chi Miigwetch.

©2026 Green Neighbours Network (GNN) of Toronto

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