Privacy Policy

Last Updated: January 2025

Introduction

The Yellowhead Emergency Shelter For Women Society ("we," "us," or "our") is committed to protecting the privacy and confidentiality of all individuals who use our services, visit our website, or interact with our organization. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and protect your personal information.

Given the sensitive nature of our work supporting women and children fleeing violence, we take privacy and confidentiality extremely seriously.

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Information We Collect

Website Visitors

When you visit our website, we may automatically collect:

• Browser type and version
• Operating system
• Referring website
• Pages visited and time spent
• IP address (anonymized)

Contact Form Submissions

When you submit a contact form, we collect:

• Name
• Email address
• Phone number (if provided)
• Message content

Donors

Donations are processed through CanadaHelps, a third-party platform with its own privacy policy. We may receive donor information including name, contact details, and donation amount for tax receipt and acknowledgment purposes.

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How We Use Your Information

We use collected information to:

• Respond to inquiries and requests
• Process and acknowledge donations
• Issue tax receipts
• Send newsletters (with consent)
• Improve our website and services
• Comply with legal obligations

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Confidentiality of Shelter Clients

The privacy and safety of women and children using our shelter services is our highest priority.

All information about shelter residents and crisis line callers is kept strictly confidential. We do not share this information with any third party except:

• With the client's explicit written consent
• When required by law (e.g., child protection concerns)
• In cases of immediate threat to life

The location of our shelter is kept confidential to protect the safety of all residents.

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Information Sharing

We do not sell, trade, or rent your personal information to third parties.

We may share information with:

• Service Providers: Third parties who assist with website hosting, email services, or payment processing, under strict confidentiality agreements
• Legal Requirements: When required by law, court order, or government regulation
• Protection: To protect the rights, safety, or property of our organization or others

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Cookies and Analytics

Our website may use cookies to enhance user experience and collect anonymous analytics data. You can control cookie settings through your browser preferences.

We may use Google Analytics to understand how visitors use our website. This data is anonymized and used only to improve our online presence.

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Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. These measures include:

• Secure, encrypted connections (HTTPS)
• Limited access to personal information
• Staff training on privacy and confidentiality
• Regular review of security practices

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Your Rights

You have the right to:

• Access your personal information we hold
• Request correction of inaccurate information
• Request deletion of your information (subject to legal requirements)
• Opt out of marketing communications
• Withdraw consent at any time

To exercise these rights, please contact us using the information below.

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Third-Party Links

Our website may contain links to third-party websites, including our donation platform (CanadaHelps). We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these external sites. We encourage you to review their privacy policies before providing any personal information.

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Children's Privacy

Our website is not directed at children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children through our website. Information about children receiving shelter services is protected under our client confidentiality policies.

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Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Any changes will be posted on this page with an updated revision date. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.

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Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices, please contact us: