Privacy Policy

This website is owned and operated by the Empower BC Social Services Society, an organization dedicated to providing vital social services within our community. We deeply respect the privacy of individuals who visit our website and are committed to safeguarding the information you provide. Our practices comply strictly with all applicable privacy legislation to ensure your data is handled responsibly.

**Ownership of Information**

Empower BC Social Services Society is the sole owner of the information collected through this website. We take extensive measures to protect this information against unauthorized access, loss, or misuse. The personal data you provide may be utilized for several important purposes, including contacting you regarding upcoming services, events, or to issue receipts for donations made. We assure you that we will not use or disclose your personal information for any other purpose, nor will we share it with third parties without obtaining your explicit consent beforehand.

If at any point you decide you would like us to stop contacting you, you can easily reach out by sending an email to info@empowerbcss.ca or by calling us at 672-727-9876. We prioritize your preferences and will promptly respect your request.

**Security of Transactions**

Every online transaction, donation process, and transmission of personal information conducted through this site is carried out via a secure and private system. This system employs advanced encryption protocols to protect all sensitive information shared by our donors, including credit card details and other personal identifiers.

**Website Data Collection Practices**

The Empower BC Social Services Society collects various types of data to understand and analyze how our website is utilized by visitors. This data collection aims to enhance user experience by identifying areas for improvement. The specific data we collect includes:

– **Internet Protocol (IP) Address and Domain Name**: This helps us track the general location from which users access our site.
– **Pages Viewed**: We monitor which pages you visit on our website, including the date and time, as well as the duration of your visit to each page.
– **Geo-Location Information**: We gather data about the region from which you are accessing the site.
– **Web Browser Information**: This includes details about the browser you use to access our site, such as the settings, operating system, and the type of device (e.g., desktop, tablet, mobile).
– **Referring Sites**: We track how you arrived at our website, which helps us understand the effectiveness of our marketing efforts.

To analyze this data, we utilize Google Analytics, a comprehensive web analytics service provided by Google Inc. You can gain insights into how Google Analytics collects and processes data by visiting “How Google Uses Data When You Use Our Partners’ Sites or Apps” (www.google.com/policies/privacy/partners/). Please be informed that Google Analytics employs cookies to gather information about your interactions with our site. By using this website, you consent to the placement of cookies on your device unless you have disabled them. If you wish to opt out of Google Analytics data collection, you can do so by installing the Google Analytics Opt-Out Browser Add-On (https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout). It is important to note that Google Analytics does not collect or store personally identifiable information, such as your name or address. Additionally, data collected by Google may be stored and accessed in locations outside of Canada and could be subject to the privacy laws of those regions. You can review Google’s Privacy Policy for further information at https://policies.google.com/privacy.

**Engagement Through Social Media**

The Empower BC Social Services Society actively uses various third-party social media platforms to engage with our community. These accounts are public and not hosted on our own servers. If you choose to interact with us through social media, we encourage you to familiarize yourself with the terms of service and privacy policies of those social media providers and any applications you use to access these platforms. This will ensure you understand how your information may be collected and used by those services.

**Links to External Websites**

Our website may contain links to other external websites that we believe may be of interest to our visitors. However, the presence of these links does not imply that Empower BC Social Services Society endorses or recommends the content found on those external sites. We do not assume any liability or responsibility for the accuracy, reliability, or timeliness of information provided by these third-party sources. If you rely upon information from such external sites, we advise you to verify that information directly with the original source. It is crucial to understand that Empower BC Social Services Society is not responsible for the privacy practices or content found on any of these external websites.

**Email Marketing Communications**

To manage our email marketing campaigns, Empower BC Social Services Society utilizes Mailchimp.com, a reliable and reputable service provider. We collect data through our email marketing list in order to conduct data analytics, which helps us understand our audience better and improve how we communicate important information to our users. This allows us to deliver relevant content and updates based on your preferences and interests. By subscribing to our email list, you can stay informed about our services and events.

We appreciate your trust in us and are committed to ensuring that your experience with the Empower BC Social Services Society is positive and transparent. If you have any questions or concerns regarding our privacy practices, please do not hesitate to reach out to us.