Health, Safety & Harm Reduction
Health, Safety & Harm Reduction
Code of Conduct
Shambhala Music Festival is committed to fostering a safe and inclusive community event. In order to do so, we ask that all participants understand and agree to this Code of Conduct in relation to all activities regarding the festival.
The following actions will result in a warning and/or immediate ejection from the festival:
- Offensive or abusive language
- Obscene or offensive gestures, including the use of offensive imagery and symbolism on banners, signs, and other visual tools
- The participation in an activity that is insulting or harmful to oneself and/or fellow guests
- Violence or engaging in any harmful behaviour to self or others
- Damage, destruction, vandalism or theft of any property
- Disrespecting or damaging the festival grounds, urination or defecation in the river and/or outside of a proper public restroom
- The possession of alcohol
- The possession, or sale of illegal substances
- Accessing restricted areas without adequate credentials
- Creating potential fire risks
Any individual who violates this Code of Conduct may be immediately removed from the festival grounds and have their Festival Wristband and parking/camping privileges revoked, without refund. Law enforcement may be notified.
Please contact security@shambhalamusicfestival.com if you believe you’ve observed or experienced a violation of this Code of Conduct, and Shambhala Music Festival will work to assess the situation and to respond as soon as possible. Please remember that notifying Shambhala Music Festival does not constitute or replace a notification to local law enforcement.
Health & Safety Services
ShambhaCares
The driving force behind Shambhala Music Festival’s extensive Harm Reduction is simple: "It’s all about the people on the dancefloor." Over the past 25 years, Shambhala has established itself as a leader in health and safety standards in the North American festival industry, and we plan to continue to lead this conversation well into the future. Encompassing all aspects of harm reduction from sexual health, a strong medical team, and various safe spaces, the Shambhala Music Festival Harm Reduction team ensures that all patrons, as well as staff, are educated on how to ensure the festival is an accepting and safe environment.
Accessibility Zone
Our Accessibility Zone is located near Downtown and specially catered for the members of our Shambhala community with mobility disabilities. For charging motorized wheelchairs, power access is available at Medical Services in the heart of Downtown Shambhala. For further information or inquiries into our Accessibility Program, contact sales@shambhalamusicfestival.com
Fire-Rescue Team
No campfires or open flames of any kind are permitted. The Salmo River Ranch is extremely dry during the summer, and provincial fire bans are likely in effect.
We have a dedicated professional Fire-Rescue team. In the case of fire, call the SOS 1-778-724-1119 or report to the nearest staff member immediately.
Preventative Actions:
- If your propane bottle is older than 12 years and is no longer safe to be refilled, please either have it replaced or refrain from bringing it
- Do not leave your vehicle idling on the grass
- Turn off any heat-generating appliances and keep them away from combustibles
- No candles, fireworks, fire poi/hoops/other fire toys, fuel (white gas), tiki torches, BBQs (charcoal or propane), hibachi-style camp stoves, propane-powered heaters or propane campfires
SOS Number
SOS Number 📞 1-778-724-1119
During the festival, this number will get you any one or all of our highly trained Medical, Fire Response, Security or Harm Reduction Teams.
- Know your location
- Stay on the phone and stay with the person in need
- If you are unable to phone, find a crew member with a radio
- If the situation resolves, please call back or wait on scene for the team to arrive
Green River Collective
The mission of the Shambhala Green River Collective is to reduce pollution and contaminants, to increase awareness of the river’s bio-diversity and to assist in the long-term regeneration of the waterway. Thanks to their tireless education and outreach, the amount of litter we see near the river and around the festival grounds has significantly decreased. You can find The Green River Collective on the shore of Muscle Beach.
Please do NOT bathe in the river, even with biodegradable / “earth-friendly” products - the high concentration of these products can be damaging to fish habitats and wildlife, so please use the showers only for personal care.
Drop Beats, Not Butts ❌ Smokers, please carefully and safely dispose of cigarettes & other types of smoking entrails. Do not toss them on the ground or garbage, as this can start a fire. Look for the eco-friendly Pocket Ashtrays courtesy of The Green River Collective, or bring a small container to dispose of butts.
Harm Reduction
ANKORS
ANKORS has been serving the Kootenays for over two decades and is always an important presence at Shambhala Music Festival. Learn more about ANKORS here.
Located in the health & wellbeing zone of the festival, ANKORS provides:
- Info on drug effects, risks, dosing and mixing
- free drug checking
- free condoms, lubricants, and safer sex information
- safer party info, harm reduction supplies, resources, and support
Look for these amazing harm reduction volunteers, identified by their purple bandanas. At the festival, ANKORS is open Tuesday 4 pm-8 pm & Wednesday-Sunday 11 am-2 am.
Medical
Located in the heart of Downtown Shambhala, our Medical Services are open 24 hours a day. The Medical Team is available for anything from cuts to medical emergencies.
- Trained medical professionals on duty
- Walk-in visits as needed
- Rapid mobile-first response teams for any medical calls
- Plan B available
- Prescription support by the local pharmacy
Our trained Medical Professionals are ready to assist should you need medical attention while on the farm.
Get Home Safe
Prepare for delays and Police Checkpoints as you exit the farm. Bring plenty of water and ensure you’ve gotten enough rest and are sober before driving. You can also choose to stay on-site Monday night and leave Tuesday before noon if you need more time to rest.
- Plan a designated, rested, sober driver
- Schedule a departure time
- Pack lots of water and snacks for your departure journey from the farm
- Always have a conscious co-pilot
- Consider local hotel/motel/camping options if you have a long drive home ahead of you
*Please note: do not use the SOS number outside of the Salmo River Ranch property. If you need emergency assistance once you leave, please call 911.
Outreach
Teams of trained festival professionals are here to provide consent and harm reduction education, resources and support if needed. You can identify them by their purple consent bandanas. They have radios and are able to connect our guests to other services as needed.
The Outreach Team is a great resource for safety and harm prevention. Consent Ambassador volunteers can be found at the gate of the festival and roaming throughout the grounds. Ask them any health and safety questions you might have, and for directions to harm reduction services if you or a friend are in need of support services.
Sanctuary
The Sanctuary provides psych crisis & mental health support in a calm, safe place. Providing nonjudgmental support, The Sanctuary welcomes anyone who feels they need a safe, quiet place to rest.
Sanctuary is the place to go if you are:
- Feeling stressed, overwhelmed, or isolated
- Experiencing any mental health-related concerns such as anxiety, panic attacks, hallucinations, delusions or dissociation
Located next to Medical Services, The Sanctuary is a haven nestled in a grove of old-growth trees. The Sanctuary is open 24 hours a day and is staffed with experienced professionals who will be happy to help you.
Safe Space
This space is held for self-identified women & other BIPOC, LGBTQIA2S+, and community members who are feeling vulnerable as a result of historical or present-day concerns and need a supportive safe place. Volunteers are trained in crisis intervention and can offer support and connect folks to resources in their own community.
Rest assured, we are committed to creating an inclusive and secure environment for all attendees! The Safe Space is open 24 hours a day.
Security
Security and public safety staff are available at all times. Their goal is to ensure the safety and well-being of all guests. If you see dangerous or suspicious behaviour, find the nearest crew member to report it. They will contact Security immediately. Some crew may be identified by wearing a neon Security shirt, an orange Stagekeeper shirt, or a crew member carrying a radio or wearing a crew lanyard.
Camp Clean Beats
Working alongside the Harm Reduction Team, Camp Clean Beats is a sober-supportive space where ravers choosing to abstain from substances (including alcohol) are welcomed with open arms! Whether you're stopping by for a quick visit or you decide to make Camp Clean Beats your home base throughout the festival, this team offers a safe space and community for substance-free guests, including peer-based recovery support and daily meetings for those interested.
Meeting times are Thurs-Sun, 10-11am, 4-5pm, & 9- 10pm.
Camp Clean Beats welcomes all methods, intentions, and durations of sobriety while prioritizing the ultimate support and safety of the collective within our camping space. RSVP your camping spot or ask specific questions by emailing campcleanbeats@gmail.com. Please refer to the festival map for the camp location.
Yoga Classes
Let daily soulful yoga classes allow you to find an inner peace that will ground you for a weekend of dancing, friend-making and soul-searching. Stretch out tight muscles and get limbered up for lovely festival adventures at morning Yoga.
Bring your own mat and water.
Classes are held daily at the Yoga Garden and at Riverside ShambhaLodging. View the Attractions, Workshops and Performance Schedule here.
Plus, there's some special classes at a few of the stages too. View the Stage Set Times Schedule here.
Crowd Safety
Keeping our Farmily safe while they are in the crowd is a very important job for both our team and our fellow Farmily members. When entering the crowd, these are some important things to look out for:
- Respect each other's space
- Observe your surroundings and look out for exit points
- Don’t push - ever
- Walk or dance - don’t run
- Inform - if you see something, say something
- Safety plan - spend some time planning your day and routes
- Be mindful of peak crowd times - if a larger crowd isn’t for you, plan your dancing schedule accordingly
River Safety
River conditions can change quickly! Please be aware of changing conditions. The Salmo River is unsupervised, and swimmers use the river at their own risk
- Buddy system: pair up when participating in river activities, ensuring no one is alone in case of an emergency.
- Avoid swimming at night: do not swim after dusk due to reduced visibility & cooler temperatures, which increase the risk of accidents.
- Awareness of water conditions: moving water changes - be aware of currents, natural hazards & obstructions.
- No diving: never enter moving water head first.
Sign up to receive the latest Shambhala news
You'll receive news, updates and exclusive offers, helping you to stay in the loop with everything happening at the festival.