Privacy policy

Communitech Corporation (“Communitech” or “we”, “us” or “our” as context dictates) uses our websites (along with all subdomains, these “Sites”) to provide information about our organization, our products and services, and our community; and to allow people to sign up for events, newsletters, and programs and share comments about a wide array of topics relevant to the technology sector and the Waterloo region. By using our Sites or using our programs and offerings such as events, training courses, and email newsletters (collectively our “Services”), you agree to be bound by the terms of this Privacy Policy.

This Privacy Policy sets out our approach to any data that is collected upon your use of our Services and where such data may be used to personally identify you (“Personal Data”). To the extent such information is intermingled in our records with Personal Data, this Privacy Policy also relates to your business contact information, which we may collect for purposes of communicating with you in relation to your employment, business or professional interests (“Business Data”, and together with Personal Data, “your Data”).

We are committed to preserving the privacy of all individuals who use our Sites and utilize our Services and this Privacy Policy is designed to help you understand how your Data is collected, used and disclosed when you engage with our Services. Before registering, submitting any content or personal information, or otherwise using our Services, please make sure that you read this entire Privacy Policy as well as our terms of use (our “Terms”).

Please keep in mind that in the course of engaging with us, you may use a third party’s intellectual property, tool or resources (e.g. for payment processing), or click on links to third-party websites, in which case such third party’s privacy policy may also apply to you. We encourage you to read and review each privacy policy that applies to you as our Privacy Policy terms may differ from the terms contained in third parties’ privacy policies. We do not endorse or in any way guarantee performance or accept liabilities with respect to such third-parties.

If you have any objections to the terms in this Privacy Policy, you should not use any of our Sites or Services, or provide us with any of your Data. If you have any hesitations or are unsure about any of the terms, contact us at privacy@communitech.ca.

Information may be collected by direct and indirect means.

We may collect the Data that you disclose to us through your use of our Sites or Services as well as other information as set out below.

1. Personal Information You Provide

Your voluntary disclosure of your Data, as you engage with the Sites or Services for various purposes, including account openings, event, newsletter or program registration; or submission of other information to us, may include, but not be limited to:

• basic personal information, including your name, occupation, business name and contact information;
• information about your preferences with respect to dietary restrictions, learning interests, business needs; and employment related information;
• credit card and financial verification information; and
• any feedback you provide regarding our products and services which may have content which includes your Data.

Collection of this information is necessary for us in order to carry out the applicable actions (as set out under Item 2 below).

 2. Information Collected Automatically

During your use of our Sites and your communication with us, we may collect and store anonymous information (“Automatic Information”) about you using various technologies including, without limitation, Cookies, which are alphanumeric identifiers that are stored on your device with which you access the Sites, and Internet tags. Some of this information is automatically transmitted to us through your browser, such as the URL of the most recently visited web page, the date of the visit and the browser version that your computer uses, and the date of visit.

To accomplish any of the purposes listed below, we may combine your Data, Automatic Information, and non-personal information collected through your use of our Services. This information may be used in a variety of ways which are in keeping with the intent behind the collection of information. For instance, your Data collected for:

• account opening, credit card and financial verification information may be used to process payments, or may be delivered to a third party payment services provider to process payments, provide you access to the portions of the Sites which require account access, send information that you would receive as an account holder/member, and administer and monitor your account usage/membership;
• receipt of information would be used to contact you for the purpose of marketing, promotional offers, updates and any other purpose as permitted by you in the course of your interaction with us and the Sites and Services;
• engagement in a program may be used to connect you to members of our team as applicable for a program you are participating in;
• event attendance may be used for purposes of managing your participation in the event;
• feedback may be used to improve our services or provide you with information you requested; and
• all the above may be used to better match our offerings with your preferences and priorities.

In addition, the Automatic Information collected may be used to, among other things:

• monitor characteristics of and statistics on usage of our Sites;
• refine our Sites’ features and functionality; and
• collect information about browsing and refine your experience when you use the Sites, (e.g. Cookies allow us to adjust our Sites to meet your personal browsing preferences. If your browser is not set to allow Cookies, you may not have access to all areas or features of the Sites.).

We also reserve the right to use your Data and Automatic Information as set forth in our Terms, if applicable.

1. To Help with Business Operations
   We may disclose your information to our representatives, affiliates, suppliers or other third parties with whom we do business (our “Business Partners”) when it is deemed necessary for our business operations. For example, from time to time, we may engage companies or individuals for certain services on our behalf including, without limitation, conducting audits, performing legal services, processing credit card payments, collecting feedback, utilizing data to improve our marketing or Services, and providing customer service. Our Business Partners and any other third-party service providers will only have incidental access to your Data to the extent required to perform their services. They are prohibited from the use of your Data for any purpose other than assisting with our business operations.

2. Safety and Security
   We may disclose your information as necessary to protect the safety or security of other users of our Services, to detect and prevent fraud or abusive behaviour, or when otherwise required or permitted by law.
3. Transfer or Sale
   In the event that we transfer or otherwise dispose of our business to an affiliate, successor, assign or other third party entity, we may disclose your Data. However in the event that such a transaction occurs, your information will remain subject to the terms of any pre-existing Privacy Policy. We’ll never sell your Data to a third-party.
4. Legal Requirement
   We may disclose your information, if required, to:
   • supervisory authorities, tax authorities, police and other regulatory authorities as required by law or in response to a subpoena, court order, or other legally valid inquiry or order; and
   • to either prevent/minimize a criminal offense or to protect a person’s rights and personal and or financial health.
5. Consent
   In addition to permissions already granted under this Privacy Policy by you, we may provide, disclose or transfer your Data with your consent provided either as a part of the Services you receive from us or in writing by you otherwise.

1. Protection
   In order to help prevent unauthorized access to and maintain data accuracy and ensure the correct use of your Data, we have put in place commercially reasonable physical, electronic (e.g. SSL (secure socket layer) server authentication) and managerial procedures to safeguard and secure the information we collect in relation to our Services. While we will make every reasonable effort to keep your Data secure we cannot guarantee that (i) despite our best effort your information will remain private, (ii) the information you transmit to us over the Internet will not be intercepted, (iii) any third party’s system (e.g. ticketing, payment or other platforms) will appropriately safeguard any information you provide over such system.
2. Storage
   Your Data may be stored in Canada or any other country in which the severs of a third party reside, including but not limited to the United States and Europe. We retain the right to transfer your Data to an affiliate or third party to protect the information or for a use (see Part B above) as we see fit. BY AGREEING TO THIS PRIVACY POLICY, YOU AGREE AND CONSENT TO US DOING SO WITHOUT YOUR FURTHER CONSENT.
3. Identification
   To help prevent unauthorized access to your Data you are responsible for keeping any username and password (collectively, “ID”) that you receive upon opening any accounts, for use on any Sites or in conjunction with our Services, private and confidential. You are solely responsible for preventing the unauthorized use of your ID. If you suspect that your information has been compromised or that your account has been accessed without your consent, please contact us immediately at privacy@communitech.ca.
4. Retention
   We may store your Data from the date of collecting such information for (i) as long as necessary to provide you our Services, or (ii) to comply with governmental requirements, whichever is longer.

Should you submit an inquiry through our Sites, or otherwise communicate with us electronically, you consent to us responding to such inquiries electronically or as otherwise required.

We want to ensure your personal information is accurate and up to date. If you notice any inaccuracies, please let us know. At any time, you may request access to your Data by contacting privacy@communitech.ca. We will respond to your request within a reasonable time period, and process it as appropriate under applicable law. Your request may be subject to a processing fee as allowed under law.

We reserve the right to change this Privacy Policy, and any other policies and procedures concerning our practices for managing collection and use of information, at any time without prior notice to you. If this Privacy Policy is modified, we will update all visitors to our Sites, via a notice or other method, that we have a revised Privacy Policy and provide a link to such updated policy. For ease of reference, you will always be able to note the most recent date the Privacy Policy was updated by reviewing the top of such policy. Any changes that are made to this Privacy Policy will apply to both information that we hold prior to the effective date of the amended Privacy Policy and to any information collected on or after such effective date. Our successors and assigns may collect and use your personal information for substantially similar purposes as described in this Privacy Policy.