CRIMINAL RECORD CHECK

No. Only those who are 18 or older as of March 18, 2025 need to submit a CRC-VSC. Enjoy your GOV birthday!

Yes! Anyone 18 years of age or older as of March 18, 2025 needs to complete a CRC-VSC.

Yes! As part of our safety plan we require all people attending GOV who are 18 years or older to provide a clear CRC-VSC.  You can apply for the free CRC as you are considered a “volunteer”.

Yes! As part of our safety plan we require all people attending GOV who are 18 years or older to provide a clear CRC-VSC. If your employer has a copy of a CRC for you dated after January 1, 2024 you can provide us a copy. Otherwise you will need to complete the paid CRC request at your local police department.

All members of the GOV community are required to have a CRC. This helps ensure the highest degree of safety for our youth guests, and helps their caregivers feel confident that everyone in involved at GOV is putting their safety first. This market is different from most artisan markets and we appreciate everyone’s cooperation in following our safety plan.

We have a comprehensive safety plan that guides staff, volunteers, chaperones and all members of GOV in the event of major emergencies and incidents. We hire trained security and medical personnel, and all BCAAFC staff complete first aid and Naloxone training. Chaperones play a key role in ensuring delegate safety and we provide chaperone orientations in the lead up to GOV. GOV is a closed event, and registered participants can attend GOV events. Facilitators, volunteers, artisans, and exhibitors are not permitted to be alone with any youth delegates. GOV is a substance free event.

It is only available to those attending GOV in a volunteer capacity per the guidelines of the government.

You can request a letter by email for a support letter to have the CRC-VSC completed for free at your local police department.  Email your full legal name to request a letter to the Registration Coordinator, [email protected]. Contact  your local police station about the process for the application as it may vary from location.  Have your  letter with you when making application.

Please send an email to [email protected] with the full legal names of those applying for a CRC prior to applying for a CRC to avoid any unnecessary cost. Youth/Chaperones and Volunteers who have a BC Services Card should apply online from the GOV APP and will not need a letter. The letter is only needed for youth/chaperones/volunteers who do not have a BC Services Card.

It can take several months until the CRCs are received at the BCAAFC office.

If your legal name or pronouns are different from the name/pronouns you are registered under please email [email protected] to let us know.

Subject line: CRC Help

Hi,

I am registered to attend GOV as a delegate/chaperone/volunteer/exhibitor/artisan/facilitator. I have applied for my CRC under my legal name: _______ but I am registered as: ________. My date of birth is: ______.

Thank you,

If you already have a valid Criminal Record Check-that covers vulnerable sector checks, dated after January 1, 2024  you can email a copy to [email protected]. Please note whether you are attending as a youth/chaperone/volunteer/exhibitor/artisan/facilitator. If your legal name is different from the name you are registered for GOV with please include this information. We have 2000 people attending GOV in some capacity so the more information you include the better.

Please let us know so that we can make sure to properly match up the CRC we have with your GOV account info! You can email the GOV registration coordinator at [email protected].

All guests from outside of B.C. (including delegates, chaperones, volunteers, speakers, and exhibitors) are required to submit a clear and current Criminal Record Check-Vulnerable Sector check to BCAAFC prior to March 5, 2025. Please follow the guidelines for your home province/territory/state to complete it. A letter with contact information and a description of the event will be provided to you upon request to assist you in completing this requirement.

 – Yes, as long as it is dated after January 1^st, 2024.

 You will be asked to provide personal information, including your birth date and place of birth, and your home addresses for the past five years. You will be asked for a government issued piece of photo ID (Driver’s licence, Passport, BC Services Card). If you are applying online, you will need to upload a scan of this document.

A CRC-VSC is completed through the police department in the community where you live; this may be a local police department or RCMP depending on your community. There are some private online services but these do not provide the Vulnerable Sector Check (VSC) so they do not meet the requirement for GOV. Some police departments offer a way to do a CRC-VSC online so check out their website before heading there in person!

 The CRC-VSC must be received by the BCAAFC office no later than March 5, 2025.

Our information storage and security policy prevents us from being able to share copies of CRCs with individuals. CRCs are a highly confidential document and the best way we can ensure security of information is to not share these documents.

 No, unfortunately we do not keep CRCs for attendees at previous GOVs.

The CRCs received are kept on file until one month after Gathering Our Voices, at which time they will be permanently deleted. They are kept in a secure file maintained by the GOV registration coordinator. After the Registration Coordinator reviews a CRC they update the GOV  App and  file to note that it has been received.

In cases where the CRC received indicates that the individual may not have a clear/clean CRCs the Registration Coordinator will reach out to you directly to discuss.

Please reach out to the registration coordinator and let them know with your full legal name and what police department you went to.

You will not be able to attend GOV.

 No, you will need to apply for the paid version through your local police department. You can download and print these instructions.

Different police departments handle CRC requests in different ways. Check out their website or call their non-emergency number for more information.

No. In cases where you are attending as a representative of an organization/nation/employer, etc. this expense is most often is covered by the organization/nation/employer, etc.   For anyone attending as a consultant or business owner it is our view that doing the CRC is a reasonable business expense to participate in GOV.