Pacific BookWorld News Society / ABCBookworld, BCBooklook and BC BookWorld / Indigenous Literary Map of B.C. (“Publisher”)
Code of Ethics
To all current, prospective and future employees and organizational partners of the Publisher, directors of the Publisher, volunteers and contributors:
The Publisher produces several print and online publications including BC BookWorld, BC BookLook, ABCBookWorld and various affiliated websites.
The objects of the Publisher are:
- To educate and increase the public’s understanding and appreciation of BC literature;
- To promote the writing, sale and reading of books written by BC writers; and
- To do such things which are incidental to, and in furtherance of, the undertakings of the Publisher.
The Publisher is proud of its publications both print and online, its various charitable projects such as the George Ryga Award for Social Awareness in Literature, the George Woodcock Lifetime Achievement Award, HelpLuhombero.org and its comprehensive data base for BC literature, ABCBookWorld, and other activities which promote writers and writing in BC.
The Publisher seeks news, stories and reviews about BC Books and writers and has always been willing to consider coverage, since 1987, of all BC writers regardless of:
- Age
- Geography
- Ancestry, colour, race
- Citizenship
- Ethnic origin
- Place of origin
- Creed, Religion
- Disability
- Family status
- Marital status
- Gender identity, gender expression
- Sex; and
- Sexual orientation
- Level of intelligence
- Weight
Anyone who bothers to look at the back issues of BC BookWorld from 1987 onward can see for themselves this is true. We have been generating original content that subscribes to these principles long before it became necessary to make such decencies public. We are not newly subservient to a new code of ethics required to use morality as a form of advertising and self-aggrandizement. In fact, we would welcome any objective scrutiny of our work, since 1987, that has steadfastly and continuously highlighted and even statistically favoured works pertaining to First Nations of British Columbia, women and visible minorities in relation to the amount of books published by white males, whether they can be correctly identified as privileged or not.
The Publisher values equality, diversity and inclusion generally, and is committed to maintaining public trust and confidence in the publications. We hereby state:
All allegations of discrimination and/or harassment against employees of the Publisher, volunteers performing services for the publisher, and writers on assignment for the Publisher will be investigated and appropriate action will be taken. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, employees, freelance contractors or volunteers may be asked to resign, may be placed on temporary leave pending further investigation and/or may be dismissed from their positions. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, contributors may have their submissions placed in abeyance pending further investigation and/or withdrawn. The dignity of all individuals is important to us. We will not tolerate or condone any form of discrimination and/or harassment, and we will not ignore any allegations of discrimination and/or harassment brought to our attention. We also trust in the ethical sensibilities of the general public in Canada as a barometer of fairness and common sense. The policing of fair comment and good taste is such an important social undertaking that it cannot adequately be overseen and undertaken solely by government-employed bureaucrats and special interest groups. One size does not fit all unless we are living within a totalitarian regime. Therefore, we will likewise be considerate of dissent—of all kinds—to protect freedom of speech, as we steadfastly continue our support for, and enhancement of, unprivileged and disadvantaged members of society.