Lesson 1: Youth and the law
The Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA) sets the rules for young people who break the law. A young person is someone aged 12 to 17. A child is someone under 12. Under section 13 of the Criminal Code, no one can be convicted of an offence for something done while under 12.
The youth system is kept separate from the adult system. The law says young people have diminished moral blameworthiness. It focuses on rehabilitation, fair and quick consequences, strong procedural protections, and including families. Parents should be informed and encouraged to support their children.
Privacy
Section 110 of the YCJA bans publishing a young person's name or any information that would identify them as someone dealt with under the Act. As a guard:
- Never post photos or videos of incidents involving youth.
- Share incident details only with people who need them: your supervisor, the school and police.
- Keep notes and footage secure and follow your site's privacy rules.
Lesson 2: Working on school grounds
Schools have their own rules, set by the school board. Learn them before your first shift.
- Visitors usually sign in at the office. Greet anyone without a pass and direct them there.
- Learn the school's emergency terms, such as lockdown or hold and secure. Terms and steps differ by board.
- In an emergency, follow the school's procedure and directions from school staff and police.
- Know who the principal and designated staff are, and who to call for each type of problem.
- Never share student information on social media.
Before your first shift
- Read the post orders and the school's safety plan.
- Learn the layout: entrances, office, gym, washrooms and the evacuation meeting place.
- Find out bell times, when students arrive and leave, and where buses load.
- Learn how to reach the principal or designated staff by radio or phone.
- Ask which areas are off limits to visitors and when doors are locked.
Screening
A vulnerable sector check is a police information check plus a search for record suspensions (pardons) for sexual offences. It was created in 2000 for roles with trust or authority over children (under 18) or vulnerable persons. The hiring organization decides if a role needs one, and the applicant consents. No federal law requires organizations to run these checks.
Lesson 3: Professional boundaries
Clear boundaries protect young people and protect you from misunderstandings or false allegations.
| Do | Do not |
|---|---|
| Stay in open, visible areas | Meet a student alone behind a closed door |
| Involve teachers or school staff | Give students your personal phone number or social media |
| Keep conversations about safety and rules | Share personal secrets or flirt or joke about dating |
| Limit physical contact to what the law and safety require | Hug, touch or drive students home |
| Report concerns about co-workers | Ignore boundary-crossing by others |
Lesson 4: Communicating with young people
- Treat youth with the same respect as adult customers. Act on behaviour, not on age, clothing or group size.
- Introduce yourself and explain your role.
- Speak calmly. Do not lecture or shout.
- Correct behaviour privately if you can. Shaming a teen in front of friends often makes things worse.
- Explain the rule and give a clear choice: "You can stay if you keep the noise down, or you can head outside."
- Listen. Young people are more likely to cooperate if they feel heard.
- Call school staff, parents or police when a situation is beyond your role.
Note: in Alberta, the Human Rights Act protects age only for people 18 and older. Fair treatment of youth is still good practice and usually part of site policy.
Lesson 5: The duty to report child abuse
Every province and territory has a child protection law. In most, any person who believes a child is being abused or neglected must report it. You do not need proof, and you should not investigate yourself. The duty is personal: do not rely on someone else to report for you.
| Province | Ages | Report to |
|---|---|---|
| Alberta | Under 18 | Child Intervention Provincial Intake Line 1-800-638-0715 (24/7), or 911 in immediate danger |
| British Columbia | Under 19 | Ministry line 1-800-663-9122 (24/7), or 911 in immediate danger |
| Ontario | Mandatory for under 16; you may report 16 and 17 | A local Children's Aid Society, or 911 in immediate danger |
Signs that may worry you
No single sign proves abuse, but these can be reasons to report or to tell the school: injuries that are not explained or do not fit the story, a child who seems afraid to go home, a child often hungry or dressed poorly for the weather, an adult who is overly controlling or secretive about a young person, or a young person who talks about being hurt. Write down what you see and hear, with dates and times, using facts rather than guesses.
If a young person tells you about abuse
- Stay calm and listen. Believe them.
- Do not promise to keep it secret.
- Do not ask many detailed questions. Let them tell you in their own words.
- Write down what they said, in their words, and when.
- Make the report yourself, and tell your supervisor as your site requires.
Other help
- Cybertip.ca is Canada's national tipline for reporting online sexual exploitation of children.
- Kids Help Phone: call 1-800-668-6868 or text CONNECT to 686868, 24/7.