Land Acknowledgment We gratefully acknowledge that Victoria, the community where we host this event, resides on the traditional territory of the Lekwungen peoples, the Songhees, and the Esquimalt Nations. We have made a point to support Indigenous artists throughout Canada within the context of our artistic mandate and connect our international festival performers with Indigenous artists in our programming whenever possible. Ska and Inclusivity Ska as a genre has been rooted in inclusivity from its early beginnings dating back to the two-tone movement in England in the 1960s. For example, did you know that one of Ska’s most iconic images is based on the first transgender ska musician? The Beat Girl Logo (bottom right) was based on trans pioneer Brigitte Bond who found the ska scene more welcoming than any others and the image was inspired by a photo of her dancing with Prince Buster (bottom left).    It makes sense that Ska has such diverse roots. After World War II, Jamaicans purchased radios in increasing numbers and were able to hear a wide breadth of American music. With no ability to distinguish race or class they followed their ears and combined American pop, jazz, and R&B with Mento and Calypso to form the genre we have celebrated for the past 25 years.Though VBCSRS has expanded to include ska, reggae, latin, soul, hip hop and various other genres connected to Jamaican music, inclusivity remains at the heart of our operations. We strive to include everyone - regardless of gender, sexuality, ethnicity, minority status, age, religion, or role. We also strive to make everyone feel comfortable and do not condone any form of bullying, harassment, or discrimination. This can include behavior that’s not intended to be harmful, including initiated unwanted affection or touching; making sexually suggestive or racially-charged comments, objectifying jokes or banter. intention and impact can be different, but both are worthy of consideration. This requires our entire community to be observant and open to signs of discomfort in others. Accessibility A key part of being inclusive is being accessible. We strive to provide a platform where people of all abilities and identities can connect and build relationships, and to inspire the creation of safe, inclusive, and equitable communities.This includes events that are:  Wheelchair Accessible Financially Accessible Accessible to service animal pets A few things to note: Our main venues will have accessible seating and washrooms and we will do our best to provide these whenever possible. Unfortunately, we are unable to provide parking for any volunteers or attendees on site, this includes accessible parking spots. For a map of accessible parking spots in downtown Victoria, please go to City of Victoria Accessible Parking Map There are pay parking lots next to our main venues, and street parking is also available.  We are striving to to make our festival a more inclusive experience. If at any point during the festival, you feel your accessibility needs are not being met, or if there is an issue regarding accessibility and inclusivity please come to the info tent so we can help. We want this festival to be a comfortable and enjoyable experience for all, we will do everything possbile to ensure that it is.  We understand one of the most important aspects of accessibility is the willingness to engage. Please reach out with questions or suggestions regarding accommodations for those with diverse needs such as Sensory-Processing Issues, Mobility issues, Visual Impairment, Hidden Disabilities, and more. Email us with your questions, comments and suggestions regarding accessibility and inclusion at [email protected] Photo by Colin Smith from 2019