Community Futures Alberni-Clayoquot (“we”, “us” or “our”) is committed to safeguarding the information entrusted to us by our clients, members, volunteers and stakeholders (“Users” “you” or “your”). We manage your personal information, meaning any information that relates to an identified or identifiable individual (“Personal Information”), in accordance with British Columbia’s Personal Information Protection Act and other applicable laws. This Privacy Policy governs the manner in which we collect, use, maintain and disclose information collected, including for each User of the https://cfac.ca website (“Site”) and all products and services offered by us (“Services”).

We may collect your Personal Information in a variety of ways, including, but not limited to when you visit our Site or fill out a form, and in connection with other activities, Services, features or resources we make available on our Site or otherwise through us. Users may visit our Site anonymously. However, we will collect Personal Information from Users if they voluntarily submit such information to us. Users may refuse to supply Personal Information, except that it may prevent them from engaging in certain Site-related activities and Services.

We will generally inform our Users before or at the time of collecting Personal Information of the purposes for which we are collecting the information. However, we may not do this when a User volunteers information for an obvious purpose.

Use of Personal Information

We use the Personal Information you provide us to plan, provide, maintain and evaluate the Site and the Services. We also use the Personal Information that you provide to contact or respond to requests made by you and provide you with updates or informative communications related to the Site or Services.

We may contact Users who have provided their information specifically to conduct or seek feedback relating to the Site or the Services. These surveys are used to improve our level of service and to understand how Users view and value our strategic mission. While aggregate information about survey results may be publicized, individual data from these surveys will not be shared with other organizations.

We will generally inform our Users before or at the time of collecting Personal Information of the purposes for which we are collecting the information. However, we may not do this when a User volunteers information for an obvious purpose.

Collection and Use of Other Information

We may collect other information about Users whenever they interact with our Site. Non-personal information may include Users’ browser names, their type of computer, and technical information about Users’ means of connection to our Site, such as the operating system and the Internet service providers utilized, as well as other similar information.

Web Browser Cookies

Our Site may use “cookies” to enhance the User experience. Users’ web browsers place cookies on their hard drives for record-keeping purposes, to save settings and preferences, and sometimes to track information about them. Users may choose to set their web browser to refuse cookies or to alert them when cookies are being sent. If they do so, note that some parts of the Site may not function properly.

When We Disclose Personal Information

We do not sell, trade, or rent your Personal Information to others. We may share generic aggregated demographic information not linked to any Personal Information regarding Users with our business partners, trusted affiliates and advertisers for the purposes outlined above. We may use third-party service providers, business partners, or trusted affiliates such as other Community Futures BC offices or Venture Connect to help us deliver the Services and the Site or administer activities on our behalf, such as sending out communications. We may also share User Personal Information the following limited circumstances, including:

• With your consent: We may disclose your Personal Information for a purpose with your consent.

• Law enforcement: Under certain circumstances, we may be required to disclose your Personal Information if required by law or in response to valid requests by public authorities (e.g. a court or a government agency).

• If authorized by law: We may disclose your Personal Information if authorized by applicable laws, including but not limited to the BC Personal Information Protection Act.

• Other legal requirements: We may disclose your Personal Information in the good faith belief that such action is necessary to (1) comply with a legal obligation, (2) protect and defend our rights or property, (3) prevent or investigate possible wrongdoing in connection with the Services, (4) protect the personal safety of Users or the public or (5) to protect against legal liability.

How We Protect Your Information

We adopt appropriate data collection, storage and processing practices and security measures to protect against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure or destruction of your Personal Information, username, password, transaction information and data stored on our Site.

You may request information about our use of your Personal Information. In addition, you may request a correction of an error or omission in your Personal Information. We will respond to your request within 30 days unless we request an extension. We may charge a reasonable fee to provide information, but not to make a correction. We will advise you of any fees that may apply before beginning to process your request.

We use appropriate security measures when destroying Personal Information, including shredding paper records and permanently deleting electronic records.

Third-Party Websites

Users may find advertising or other content on our Site that links to the sites and services of our partners, suppliers, advertisers, sponsors, licensors and other third parties. We do not control the content or links on these sites and are not responsible for the practices employed by websites linked to or from our Site. In addition, these sites or services, including their content and links, may constantly change. These sites and services may have privacy and customer service policies. Browsing and interaction on any other website, including websites with a link or links to our Site, is subject to that website’s terms and policies.

Third-Party Social Media

The use of social media by CFAC is an extension of our Web presence. Social media accounts are public and not hosted on CFAC servers. Users who interact with CFAC through these media must read the conditions of service and privacy policies of these third-party providers of services and applications used to access them.

Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this privacy policy at any time. When we do, we will revise the updated date at the bottom of this page. We encourage Users to frequently check this page for any changes to stay informed about how we are helping to protect the Personal Information we collect. You acknowledge and agree that it is your responsibility to review this privacy policy periodically and become aware of modifications.

Your Acceptance of These Terms

By using this Site or our Services, you signify your acceptance of this policy. If you do not agree to this policy, please do not use our Site or Services. Your continued use of the Site or Services following the posting of changes to this policy will be deemed your acceptance of those changes.

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact us at:

Community Futures Alberni Clayoquot
http://cfac.ca

Mailing address:

4757 Tebo Ave,

Port Alberni, BC  V9Y 8A9

Tel: 250-724-1241

If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, you may contact the Information and Privacy Commissioner of British Columbia at:  Email: info@oipc.bc.ca, Website: www.oipc.bc.ca

This document was last updated on January 31, 2025.