Your privacy matters to us

Who we are

Ontario Hopes is a not-for-profit organization serving communities across Ontario, Canada. This policy explains how we handle personal information collected through ontariohopes.ca, in line with Canada’sPersonal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA). In this policy, “we”, “us” and “our” mean Ontario Hopes.

Information we collect

Information you give us. When you use a form on our site, we collect what you choose to enter:

• Contact form: your name, email address, phone number (optional), organization (optional), the topic you select and your message.
• Share your story form: your name, email, phone number (optional), your story, and whether you’d like it kept anonymous.
• Emails you send us: whatever you include in your message.

Donations. Online donations are processed by Square. Your payment details go directly to Square; we never see or store your full card or banking information. Square shares your name, email and gift details with us so we can thank you and keep accurate records. Square’s own privacy notice applies to the information you give it.

Information collected automatically. Like most websites, our hosting provider records basic technical information when you visit, such as your IP address, browser type and the pages you request. This is used to keep the site secure and running, not to identify you.

We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 through this website.

How we use it

• To reply to your message, volunteer application, kit request or partnership inquiry.
• To coordinate volunteers, supply donations and kit deliveries.
• To process and acknowledge donations.
• To share stories you’ve submitted, only with your permission, and anonymously if you’ve asked us to.
• To keep our website secure and working properly.

We will only use your information for another purpose if we first ask for your consent, or if the law requires it.

Who we share it with

We never sell, rent or trade your personal information. We share it only with:

• Service providers who help us run the site and our programs, such as our website host and form provider, Netlify, Inc., and our payment processor, Square. They may only use your information to provide services to us.
• Authorities, where we are required to by law.

Some of our service providers store information outside Canada, including in the United States. While it’s there, it may be subject to the laws of that country.

Cookies and tracking

Our website does not currently use advertising or analytics cookies, and our fonts and images are hosted on our own site, so no third-party tracking happens when you browse.

When you respond to our cookie notice, your choice is saved in your browser’s local storage so we don’t ask you again. If we add tools such as website analytics in the future, they will only run after you select “Accept”, and we will update this policy to list them. You can change your choice at any time using the Cookie settings link at the bottom of every page.

How long we keep it

We keep personal information only as long as we need it for the purpose it was collected, or as required by law, such as financial records for donations. When it is no longer needed, we securely delete it.

How we protect it

Our site is served over an encrypted (HTTPS) connection, and access to the information you send us is limited to the people who need it to respond. No method of transmission or storage is completely secure, but we take reasonable steps to protect your information.

Your choices and rights

You can ask us to:

• Tell you what personal information we hold about you.
• Correct information that is inaccurate.
• Delete your information, or withdraw your consent to how we use it, subject to legal requirements.
• Stop sending you emails. You can also use the unsubscribe link in any email we send.

Email us at info@ontariohopes.ca and we’ll respond within 30 days. If you’re not satisfied with our response, you can contact theOffice of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada.

Other websites

Our site links to partner organizations, news articles and social media. Those websites have their own privacy practices, which we don’t control, so please review their policies when you visit them.

Changes to this policy

We may update this policy from time to time. The “last updated” date at the top shows when it last changed. Significant changes will be highlighted on this page.

Contact us

Questions about this policy or your personal information? Emailinfo@ontariohopes.ca or use our contact form.