Privacy Policy
Our Commitment to Privacy
Women’s Centre of York Region (WCYR) is committed to protecting the privacy of its employees, board members, clients, donors and supporters. We value the trust placed in us by the public and recognize that maintaining this trust requires that we be transparent and accountable in how we treat the information that has been given to us. This Privacy Policy is a statement of principles and guidelines concerning the protection of personal information entrusted to us.
Personal Information Women’s Centre of York Region Collects
Canadian privacy legislation defines “personal information” broadly as information about an identifiable individual or as information that allows an individual to be identified. For the purposes of this policy, personal information means information about an identifiable individual as defined from time to time in applicable privacy legislation. Generally speaking, personal information does not include what is considered business contact information: name, title or position, business address, telephone number, facsimile number or e-mail address. Women’s Centre of York Region gathers and uses personal information for the following purposes:
To solicit and process donations and to issue tax receipts.
To process applications for funding (e.g. financial assistance, grants, bursaries, subsidies) from WCYR.
To provide requested information (e.g. brochures, fundraisers, etc.)
To provide information about WCYR (programs, events, updates) to the community through email, regular mail, or phone.
For any other purpose to which consent is given.
Women’s Centre of York Region’s Privacy Practices
WCYR shall in all respects comply with applicable privacy legislation. WCYR’s privacy practices are designed to achieve this. Therefore, in the course of collecting, using and storing personal information, WCYR will ensure that:
Consent to the collection, use, retention and disclosure of personal information must always exist. In obtaining consent, the purpose(s) for the collection, use and/or disclosure will be obvious by the very nature of the transaction or, if not, the purpose will be stated either at the time or before the information is collected. Any further use of this information is subject to consent, and WCYR routinely offers individuals the opportunity to opt not to have their information used for purposes beyond those for which it was explicitly collected. Information will be carefully protected from inappropriate or unauthorized use. Internally, access to personal information is based only on the need to deal with the information for the reason(s) for which it was collected. Personal information is stored in secured locations and on servers controlled by WCYR or at the offices of our service providers. Specific safeguards (physical, organizational and technological) are in place to ensure that the information is not shared or disclosed more widely than is necessary to achieve the purpose(s) for which it was collected. Measures are taken to ensure that the integrity of this information is maintained. Personal information is retained only for as long as is necessary to fulfill the purpose(s) for which it was collected and to meet specific legal obligations. When personal information is no longer needed (relating to the reason(s) for which it was collected), it will be appropriately destroyed. Individuals have the right to access their personal information, which WCYR has on file and to challenge its accuracy, if necessary. From time to time, WCYR may disclose personal information to:
Service providers, including an organization or individual retained by WCYR to perform functions on its behalf (e.g. data processing, office/professional services, document management, marketing, etc.)
Volunteers/staff who act as adjudicators on behalf of the WCYR in the assessment of applications for funding or to assess applications to volunteer.
Other charitable organizations, with consent.
Any third party or parties, where consent to such disclosure is provided or where disclosure is required or permitted by law.
Where personal information is transferred to outside service providers, all reasonable steps will be taken to ensure that any such provider has personal information procedures and policies in place that are at least comparable to those of WCYR.
Changes to Privacy Policy
Women’s Centre of York Region reserves the right to modify or supplement this privacy policy at any time.
Access to Information / Inquiry / Complaint Process
Any person whose personal information is held by Women’s Centre of York Region has:
The right to know of the existence of such personal information and to have access to that information to ensure that it is accurate, and
The right to complain if that personal information is improperly collected, used, stored or disclosed and/or inquiries pertaining to WCYR’s Privacy Policy or procedures can be directed to Liora Sobel, Executive Director at lioras@wcyr.ca or 905-853-9270 x101.
Requests in writing can be sent to:
Women’s Centre of York Region
16775 Yonge Street, Unit 207
Newmarket, Ontario, L3Y 8J4