We are inviting all employers in British Columbia to participate in the "Essential Skills vs Essential Time Off" project, conducted by the Coastal Research, Education & Advocacy Network (CREAN).

Your insights as an employer will help us understand the potential challenges Indigenous employees face in accessing time off for cultural holidays and ceremonies. This information will be used to advocate for more inclusive workplace policies.

Your responses are confidential and will only be used for research purposes. The survey should take approximately 10–15 minutes to complete. After completing the survey, there is an option to be entered to win one of four $50 Amazon gift cards.


Eligibility Criteria for the Survey

To participate in this survey, you must meet the following criteria:
● You are an employer
● Within the last 12 months, you have worked in any sector (public, private, non-profit, trades, self-employed, etc.).
● Location – You work or have worked in British Columbia, with a focus on workplaces in Victoria and surrounding areas.
● Workplace Experience – You have experience navigating workplace policies related to taking time off for cultural holidays, ceremonies, or events.
● Age – You are 18 years or older.
● Consent to Participate – You voluntarily agree to participate and understand that all responses will remain confidential.


Your participation is voluntary, and your answers will be anonymous. Some survey questions may make you feel uncomfortable or bring up bad memories. You are free to skip questions, take a break, or stop the survey at any time without any consequences or explanation.


If you want or require additional support, you can contact:
● Hope for Wellness Help Line (24/7 Indigenous Support): 1-855-242-3310 | hopeforwellness.ca
● Indian Residential School Survivors Society (IRSSS): 1-800-721-0066 | irsss.ca
● KUU-US Indigenous Crisis Line: 1-800-588-8717
● Support Network for Indigenous Women; Women of Colour offers free counselling: 250-277-2545

For workplace-related concerns, you may also consider reaching out to:
● BC Human Rights Tribunal: 1-888-440-8844 | bchrt.bc.ca

Ethics Approval
This project has been reviewed and approved by the Community Research Ethics Board. If you feel you have not been treated according to the descriptions in our information, or your rights as a participant in research have been violated during the course of this project, you may contact the Chair, Community Research Ethics Board, at Community Research Ethics Office (Canada) Corp. c/o Centre for Community Based Research, 140 Westmount Road North, Waterloo ON N2L 3G5; Email: creoadmin@communityresearchethics.com

Information you provide in the survey may be included anonymously in reports, presentations, on social media, published on CREAN's website, or made public in other ways related to the project. If you wish to get involved further with the project or CREAN, there will be a space to leave your email address at the end. We will only use your email to contact you, it will not be attached to your survey results.

Once your survey is submitted, it cannot be withdrawn (since it is anonymous, we have no way to identify your individual response). Since internet submissions are not secure, we cannot guarantee the security of your survey responses until they reach our servers.


Please contact Suad Ahmed, CREAN Research Coordinator
(suad@creansociety.org / 250-721-9611) for more information. Thank you for your time!

For more information about the project, CREAN, or what your participation involves, please click

Question Title

* 1. Consent:
I have read and understood the information above, am 18 years of age or older, and agree to participate in the research study. I understand the purpose and nature of this study and I am participating voluntarily. I understand that I can withdraw entirely from the study at any time, or skip any questions, without any penalty or consequences.

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