Privacy Policy

Empowering Futures, Building Communities Society (EFBCS) is a registered non-profit organization based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. EFBCS is committed to protecting the privacy and personal information of all individuals who interact with our organization, including community members, program participants, volunteers, donors, partners, and visitors to our website.

This Privacy Policy describes how EFBCS collects, uses, discloses, and safeguards personal information in accordance with the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA), the Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA) of Alberta, and other applicable Canadian privacy legislation.

By accessing our website, participating in our programs, or submitting information to EFBCS, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Privacy Policy.

EFBCS may collect the following categories of personal information:

• Contact information: name, mailing address, email address, phone number
• Demographic information: age, gender, country of origin, preferred language, immigration status (where relevant to program eligibility)
• Program participation information: registration records, attendance, program feedback, and assessment data
• Volunteer and employment information: application materials, references, background check results, and scheduling information
• Donor and financial information: donation amounts, payment method records (processed securely through third-party payment processors), and charitable receipt information
• Website usage data: IP addresses, browser type, pages visited, and session duration, collected through cookies and analytics tools
• Communications: inquiries, feedback, and correspondence submitted through our website, email, or in person

We collect only the information reasonably necessary for the purposes described in this policy. Sensitive personal information, including health information, is collected only where specifically required and with explicit consent.

EFBCS uses personal information to:

• Deliver, administer, and evaluate our programs and services
• Communicate with participants, volunteers, donors, and partners
• Process donations and issue charitable tax receipts
• Fulfil reporting obligations to funders and government bodies
• Recruit, screen, and manage volunteers and staff
• Improve our website, programs, and organizational practices
• Send newsletters, event announcements, and updates (where consent has been provided)
• Comply with applicable laws, regulations, and legal obligations

EFBCS does not sell, rent, or trade personal information to third parties for marketing or commercial purposes.

EFBCS collects and uses personal information based on one or more of the following legal grounds:

• Consent: where you have provided explicit consent for a specific use
• Contract: where necessary to fulfil a service or program agreement
• Legal obligation: where required by law or regulatory authority
• Legitimate interest: where we have a genuine organizational need that does not override your privacy rights

You may withdraw consent at any time by contacting us using the details provided in Section 10. Withdrawal of consent may affect our ability to provide certain services.

EFBCS may share personal information in the following limited circumstances:

• Service providers: trusted third-party vendors who assist with website hosting, payment processing, email communications, and data management, under contractual confidentiality obligations
• Funders and government bodies: where aggregate or anonymized data is required for program reporting; personal information is shared only where explicitly required and permitted by law
• Legal requirements: where disclosure is required by court order, subpoena, or applicable law
• With your consent: in any other circumstance where you have provided explicit authorization

EFBCS does not disclose personal information across international borders except where required by law or where third-party service providers operate internationally under adequate privacy protections.

Our website may use cookies and similar tracking technologies to improve user experience, analyze traffic, and measure the effectiveness of our communications. Cookies are small text files stored on your device.

You may disable cookies through your browser settings; however, doing so may affect certain website functionality. We use analytics tools (such as Google Analytics) that collect anonymized usage data. These tools operate under their own privacy policies.

EFBCS retains personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, or as required by applicable law. Program participant records are typically retained for a minimum of seven (7) years following the end of participation, in accordance with non-profit governance and funder requirements. Financial records are retained for a minimum of seven (7) years in accordance with the Canada Revenue Agency requirements.

When personal information is no longer required, it is securely destroyed or anonymized.

EFBCS takes reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect personal information against unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. These include password-protected systems, restricted access to sensitive records, secure file storage, and staff training on privacy practices.

While we take all reasonable precautions, no method of electronic transmission or storage is completely secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security, and we encourage individuals to take care when sharing personal information online.

Under applicable Canadian privacy legislation, you have the right to:

• Request access to the personal information EFBCS holds about you
• Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information
• Withdraw consent to the collection or use of your personal information (subject to legal and contractual limitations)
• Request deletion of your personal information, where legally permissible
• File a complaint with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada or the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Alberta

EFBCS will respond to privacy-related requests within thirty (30) days of receipt.

Questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or EFBCS's privacy practices may be directed to:

EFBCS reserves the right to update this Privacy Policy at any time. The most current version will be posted on our website with the updated effective date. We encourage you to review this policy periodically. Continued use of our website or programs following any changes constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.