Privacy Policy

1. Information We Collect

Personal Information

We may collect personal information that you voluntarily provide to us when you:

• Make a donation
• Register for events or programs
• Apply to volunteer
• Contact us through our website
• Subscribe to our newsletter or updates

This information may include:

• Name and contact information (email address, phone number, mailing address)
• Payment information (for donations)
• Demographic information
• Any other information you choose to provide

Automatically Collected Information

When you visit our website, we may automatically collect certain information about your device, including:

• IP address
• Browser type and version
• Operating system
• Pages visited and time spent on pages
• Referring website addresses

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

• To process donations: We use your payment information to process your charitable contributions and issue tax receipts.
• To communicate with you: We may send you information about our programs, events, and fundraising activities.
• To manage volunteers: We use your information to coordinate volunteer activities and training.
• To improve our services: We analyze website usage to enhance user experience and improve our programs.
• To comply with legal obligations: We maintain records as required by Canadian charity regulations.
• To send newsletters: If you opt-in, we'll send you updates about our organization and community safety information.

3. How We Protect Your Information

We implement appropriate technical and organizational security measures to protect your personal information, including:

• Secure servers and encrypted data transmission
• Limited access to personal information (only authorized personnel)
• Regular security assessments and updates
• Secure payment processing through trusted third-party providers

However, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your personal information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

4. Sharing Your Information

We do not sell, trade, or rent your personal information to third parties. We may share your information only in the following circumstances:

Service Providers

We may share information with trusted third-party service providers who assist us in:

• Payment processing
• Email communications
• Website hosting and maintenance
• Data analysis

These providers are contractually obligated to protect your information and use it only for the services they provide to us.

Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information if required by law or in response to valid requests by public authorities (e.g., court orders, subpoenas).

With Your Consent

We may share your information with your explicit consent for specific purposes not covered in this policy.

5. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Our website may use cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your browsing experience. Cookies are small data files stored on your device.

Types of Cookies We Use:

• Essential Cookies: Necessary for website functionality
• Analytics Cookies: Help us understand how visitors use our website
• Preference Cookies: Remember your settings and preferences

You can control cookies through your browser settings. However, disabling cookies may limit your ability to use certain features of our website.

6. Third-Party Links

Our website may contain links to third-party websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of these external sites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party sites you visit.

7. Children's Privacy

Our website is not intended for children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us, and we will delete such information.

8. Your Privacy Rights

Under Canadian privacy law, you have the following rights regarding your personal information:

• Access: You can request a copy of the personal information we hold about you.
• Correction: You can request that we correct any inaccurate or incomplete information.
• Deletion: You can request that we delete your personal information, subject to legal retention requirements.
• Opt-Out: You can unsubscribe from our communications at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link in our emails or contacting us directly.
• Withdraw Consent: You can withdraw your consent for us to process your information at any time.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the information provided below.

9. Data Retention

We retain your personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law. This includes:

• Donation records: Retained for 7 years as required by Canadian tax law
• Volunteer records: Retained for the duration of your volunteer service plus 2 years
• Contact form submissions: Retained for 2 years
• Newsletter subscriptions: Until you unsubscribe

10. International Data Transfers

Your information may be transferred to and maintained on servers located outside of your province, territory, or country where privacy laws may differ. By using our website, you consent to the transfer of your information to Canada and its processing in accordance with this Privacy Policy.

11. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. We will notify you of any material changes by:

• Posting the updated policy on our website
• Updating the "Last Updated" date at the top of this policy
• Sending an email notification (for significant changes)

We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically to stay informed about how we protect your information.

12. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices, please contact us:

13. Consent

By using our website and providing your personal information, you consent to the collection, use, and disclosure of your information as described in this Privacy Policy.