Producing a music and arts festival with children attending demands an extra level of care—not just from us as producers, but from every volunteer, staff member, and attendee. We want The Wind Down to remain a family-friendly festival. Keeping our children safe is a shared responsibility of the whole community.
Our Core Values
At The Wind Down, we stand for the protection and full human dignity of all children. Following the principles of proactive harm reduction, we offer:
Education on safety and consent
Supplies to support child safety
Spaces where children and caregivers can get help
Support for families to thrive and enjoy the festival together
Peak Harm Reduction Tent: Your Safety Hub
The Peak Harm Reduction Tent is your go-to resource for child and family safety.
Staffing: A trained volunteer in a yellow safety vest will be present 24 hours per day.
Location: This is THE designated muster point for all lost children or child safety concerns.
Family Check-In: We invite all families to visit the Peak Harm Reduction Tent early in the event to familiarize yourselves with the location and meet our team.
At the Tent You’ll Find:
A brief orientation by a trained volunteer
The Wind Down Safety Cards outlining festival-wide child protection standards
A Fillable Family Communication Plan to support communication within your group
Child Emergency Response Wristbands (different from admission wristbands). Each will include:
Child’s name
Primary caregiver’s name and phone number
Emergency medical information
Wristbands will be taped for waterproofing
A chance to ask questions and chat about harm reduction for families
Gate Orientation: How We All Keep Children Safe
All attendees will receive a child safety orientation at admissions, whether or not they are directly caregiving minors.
Orientation A: For Everyone
Every member of our community plays a role in child protection. This is part of our festival’s proactive harm reduction culture.
You will receive:
The location of the Peak Harm Reduction Tent and a reminder of its services
A Wind Down Safety Card summarizing behavioral expectations
A review of our substance use policy
The Wind Down Safety Card
If you are older than a child, you must have caregiver consent before:
Touching a child.
Offering a child any food, drink, or product (skin, hair, nails, etc.).
Taking a child anywhere (except directly to the Peak Harm Reduction Tent if necessary).
Exposing a child to inappropriate adult behavior or language.
Additional Family Camping Guidelines:
No adult nudity in family camping areas. Use discretion in Lakeside camping before the 11 PM curfew.
Every child must have at least one sober, available, and responsive adult caregiver from their Family Safety Plan at all times.
Curfew for all minors is 11:00 PM.
Substance Use Policy
We expect responsible and respectful consumption of substances, with special attention to the safety of children and families.
Zero-Tolerance Behaviors:
Open, visible consumption, exchange, or sale of illegal substances in shared spaces. Private consumption must occur inside your own campsite (tent, camper, or car) and out of view of children.
Unconcealed alcohol use in shared spaces. Alcohol is permitted on-site, but must be discreet and concealed, or it will be confiscated.
Visible or audible use of whip cream canisters (nitrous) outside your private campsite in the Lakeside adult-only camping area, or it will be confiscated.
Smoking cannabis in non-designated areas and smoking tobacco in shared spaces like stages. Please use the designated smoking areas, where butt bins will be provided.
Excessive inebriation that requires multiple or prolonged interventions from volunteers or staff.
How We Respond:
Minor issues: Confiscation of substances and a verbal warning.
Major or repeated issues: Reviewed by leadership on a case-by-case basis. May result in removal from the festival.
Orientation B: For Caregivers & Children
If you are caregiving any minors, you will receive Orientation B, which includes all of orientation A and:
Fillable Family Plan
Each child will have their own plan to increase communication and preparedness.
Plan Prompts Include:
Who are your caregivers?
Who are other safe adults you can be with?
Who can give you consent for activities or interactions?
Where are your safe spaces and when?
If you’re an independent minor, what’s your check-in schedule?
If something goes wrong: Come to the Peak Harm Reduction Tent and we’ll help you make a new plan.
Emergency Response Wristbands
Each minor will receive a fillable wristband to be completed with:
Child’s name
Primary caregiver’s name and contact info
Emergency medical information
Wristbands will be taped for waterproofing
Child Protection & Mandatory Reporting
At The Wind Down, we take child safety seriously and follow the laws of Alberta, where everyone is a mandatory reporter under the Child, Youth and Family Enhancement Act (Section 4).
What This Means:
If any staff member, volunteer, security contractor, or attendee has reasonable grounds to believe a child is being abused, neglected, or endangered, we are legally required to report it immediately to:
Alberta Child Abuse Hotline: 1-800-387-5437
RCMP or local police if there is immediate danger
Our Internal Process:
Ensure the child’s immediate safety.
Contact the Peak Harm Reduction Tent or festival leadership to coordinate support.
Make the required external report directly to Child and Family Services or law enforcement.
This cannot be delegated or delayed—it is a legal duty.
Document the incident internally for festival records while respecting confidentiality.
All attendees are encouraged to bring concerns to the Peak Harm Reduction Tent or festival volunteers and staff. We are here to help, and will assist in taking appropriate action.
Final Notes: Our Shared Responsibility
The Wind Down is committed to creating a safe, respectful, and supportive environment for families, children, and all community members. We are a harm reduction festival, not a punitive one—but child safety is non-negotiable.
Together, we can keep The Wind Down safe, kind, and welcoming for everyone.
