Privacy Policy

The Chinese Association of Mississauga ("CAM," "we," "us," or "our") respects your privacy and is committed to protecting the personal information you share with us. This policy explains what we collect, why we collect it, and how we handle it.

This policy applies to our website and to the services we provide, including settlement services, LINC language classes, senior services, community programs, membership, and donations.

Information we collect

Information you give us directly. When you contact us, register for a program, apply for membership, or make a donation, we may collect:

• Name and contact details, including email address, phone number, and mailing address
• Preferred language
• The service or program you are asking about
• Information needed to determine eligibility for a program, which may include immigration status, date of birth, and household details
• Any information you choose to include in a message to us

Information collected automatically. We do not use website analytics or tracking tools. Our website host may collect basic technical information, such as browser type and general location, as part of normal website operation and security.

Why we collect it

We use your personal information to:

• Respond to your questions and connect you with the right services
• Determine eligibility and register you for programs such as LINC
• Process membership applications and donations
• Send program updates, event notices, and newsletters, where you have asked to receive them
• Meet reporting requirements for our funders, including Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)
• Improve our services

We do not sell your personal information, and we do not share it for marketing purposes.

Consent

We collect and use your personal information with your consent. When you submit a form on our website or provide information to our staff, you consent to the uses described in this policy.

You may withdraw your consent at any time by contacting us using the details below. Please note that withdrawing consent may affect our ability to provide certain services to you.

When we share information

We may share personal information in the following situations:

• With funders and government partners. Programs such as LINC and settlement services are government funded, and we are required to report certain participant information to funders, including IRCC.
• With service partners. If we refer you to another organization for support, we will share only what is needed, and only with your consent.
• With service providers. We use third-party tools to operate our website and manage our communications, including Webflow for website hosting and form submissions, and Google services such as Gmail and Google Sheets for correspondence and record keeping. These providers may store information outside Canada, and their systems are subject to the laws of the countries where that information is held.
• When required by law. We may disclose information where required by law, or to protect the safety of an individual.

How long we keep it

We keep personal information only as long as needed for the purpose it was collected, or as required by our funding agreements and applicable law. General enquiries submitted through our website are typically retained for up to two years. Program and membership records are kept for the period required by the relevant funding agreement, after which they are securely deleted or destroyed.

How we protect it

We take reasonable steps to protect personal information against loss, theft, and unauthorized access. These include password-protected accounts and devices, limiting access to staff who need the information to do their work, and storing paper records in a secure location at our office.

No method of transmission over the internet is completely secure, so we cannot guarantee absolute security.

Your rights

You have the right to:

• Ask what personal information we hold about you
• Ask us to correct information that is inaccurate or incomplete
• Withdraw your consent to our use of your information
• Ask us to delete your information, subject to any legal or funding obligations that require us to retain it

To make a request, contact us using the details below. We will respond within 30 days.

Cookies

Our website uses only the cookies needed for the site to function properly and securely. We do not use advertising or tracking cookies. You can set your browser to refuse cookies, though some parts of the site may not work as expected.

Links to other websites

Our website contains links to other organizations, including government sites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of those sites, and we encourage you to read their policies.

Children's privacy

Our website and services are directed at adults. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 without the consent of a parent or guardian. If you believe we have collected such information, please contact us and we will delete it.

Changes to this policy

We may update this policy from time to time. The date at the top shows when it was last revised. Significant changes will be posted on this page.

Contact us

If you have questions about this policy, or would like to make a request about your personal information, please contact us:

Chinese Association of Mississauga
1177 Central Parkway West, Unit 16, Golden Square Centre
Mississauga, ON L5C 4P3
Phone: (905) 275-8558
Email: info@chineseassociationmississauga.com

If you are not satisfied with our response, you may contact the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada at priv.gc.ca or 1-800-282-1376.

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