Effective Date: January 1, 2025

At UBZ.ca (“UBZ,” “we,” “us,” or “our“), we deeply respect your privacy and are committed to protecting your personal information. Operating from Vancouver, British Columbia, we adhere to the highest standards of data protection, in compliance with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) of British Columbia. This Privacy Policy outlines how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you interact with our website and services (collectively, the “Platform“). By accessing or using UBZ.ca, you agree to the practices described in this Privacy Policy.

1. Information We Collect

We collect various types of information to provide and improve our Platform. This includes:

1.1 Personal Information

Personal Information refers to any information that can identify you as an individual. This may include:

  • Account Registration: When you create an account, we collect your name, email address, phone number, mailing address, and password.
  • Business Listings: If you are listing a business, we collect your business name, services offered, business address, contact information (phone number, email, website), hours of operation, photos, descriptions, and any additional details you choose to provide.
  • Communication Data: Information you provide when you contact us directly, such as feedback, inquiries, or support requests.

1.2 Non-Personal Information

Non-Personal Information does not directly identify you but may include:

  • Device and Usage Data: IP address, browser type, operating system, device model, screen size, referring website, pages visited, time spent on pages, navigation paths, search queries.
  • Location Data: General geographic location derived from your IP address.
  • Analytics Data: Aggregated information about how users interact with the Platform.

1.3 Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar technologies to enhance your experience:

  • Cookies: Small text files stored on your device to remember your preferences and actions over time.
  • Session Cookies: Temporary cookies that expire when you close your browser.
  • Persistent Cookies: Remain on your device until they expire or you delete them.
  • Web Beacons/Pixels: Tiny graphic images or scripts that monitor user interactions.
  • Local Storage: Data stored locally on your device (e.g., HTML5 local storage).

You can control cookies through your browser settings. Disabling cookies may affect the functionality of the Platform.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use your information for various purposes, including:

2.1 Providing and Maintaining the Platform

  • Account Management: To create, maintain, and secure your user account.
  • Service Delivery: To facilitate the features and services you request.
  • Customer Support: To respond to your inquiries and provide technical assistance.
  • Security Measures: To detect, prevent, and address technical issues and unauthorized activities.

2.2 Facilitating Business Listings and Connections

  • Display Listings: To showcase business listings and make them searchable to users.
  • User Interaction: To enable communication between users and businesses via contact forms, messaging, or other provided contact methods.
  • Personalization: To tailor content and recommendations based on your preferences and interactions.

2.3 Communication

  • Transactional Messages: To send emails regarding your account status, security alerts, or changes to our policies.
  • Marketing Communications: To inform you about promotions, new services, or events (with your consent). You may opt-out at any time.
  • Feedback and Surveys: To request your input for improving our services.

2.4 Analytics and Improvement

  • Usage Analysis: To understand how users navigate the Platform, identify trends, and improve user experience.
  • Performance Monitoring: To test and enhance the effectiveness of our Platform and marketing efforts.

2.5 Legal Compliance

  • Regulatory Obligations: To comply with applicable laws, regulations, legal processes, or governmental requests.
  • Enforcement Actions: To enforce our Terms and Conditions and other agreements.
  • Protective Measures: To protect the rights, property, or safety of UBZ.ca, our users, or others.

3. How We Share Your Information

We may share your information under the following circumstances:

3.1 Service Providers

We engage trusted third-party companies to perform services on our behalf, such as:

  • Hosting Providers: For website and data storage.
  • Analytics Services: To analyze data and improve our Platform.
  • Marketing Partners: For promotional activities and communications.
  • Payment Processors: To handle transactions securely (if applicable).

These providers have access to your information only to perform tasks on our behalf and must protect it in accordance with this Privacy Policy.

3.2 Legal Obligations and Security

  • Compliance: To comply with legal obligations, subpoenas, court orders, or government regulations.
  • Protection of Rights: To enforce our legal rights, investigate fraud, or protect the security of our Platform and users.

3.3 Business Transfers

In the event of a merger, acquisition, bankruptcy, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred to a successor organization. We will notify you of such changes and any choices you may have regarding your information.

3.4 Public Information

  • Business Listings: Information you include in your business listing will be publicly available to all users.
  • User Contributions: Content you post on public areas of the Platform, such as reviews or comments, will be accessible to other users.

3.5 With Your Consent

We may share your information with third parties when you provide explicit consent to do so.

4. Security Measures

We prioritize the security of your personal information through:

4.1 Technical Safeguards

  • Encryption: Using SSL/TLS protocols to encrypt data during transmission.
  • Firewall Protection: Implementing firewalls to protect against unauthorized access.
  • Secure Data Storage: Storing personal information on secure servers with restricted access.

4.2 Organizational Measures

  • Access Controls: Limiting access to personal information to authorized personnel who need it for their job functions.
  • Employee Training: Educating staff about data privacy and security best practices.
  • Incident Response Plan: Establishing procedures to handle data breaches promptly and effectively.

4.3 User Responsibilities

  • Account Security: Protecting your login credentials and notifying us immediately of any unauthorized use.
  • Awareness: Being cautious of phishing attempts and ensuring you’re using the authentic UBZ.ca Platform.

We cannot guarantee absolute security but strive to protect your information to the best of our abilities.

5. Your Rights and Choices

You have certain rights regarding your personal information:

5.1 Access and Correction

  • Access Requests: You may request access to the personal information we hold about you.
  • Correction Requests: You can request corrections to any inaccurate or incomplete personal information.

5.2 Consent Withdrawal

  • Marketing Opt-Out: Unsubscribe from promotional emails by clicking the unsubscribe link or contacting us.
  • Cookie Preferences: Manage or disable cookies via your browser settings.

5.3 Deletion

  • Right to Erasure: Request deletion of your personal information, subject to legal obligations.

6. Third-Party Links and Interactions

Our Platform may contain links to external websites or services:

6.1 External Websites

  • No Control: We do not control third-party sites and are not responsible for their content or privacy practices.
  • Recommendation: Review the privacy policies of any external sites you visit.

6.2 Social Media Platforms

  • Integration: Our Platform may integrate with social media platforms (e.g., Facebook, Twitter).
  • Data Sharing: Interactions with these features are governed by the privacy policies of the respective platforms.

7. Children’s Privacy

We are committed to protecting the privacy of children:

7.1 Age Limitation

  • No Underage Users: Our Platform is not intended for individuals under 14 years of age.
  • No Intentional Collection: We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 14.

7.2 Parental Guidance

  • Awareness: Parents should monitor their children’s online activities.
  • Action: If you believe a child under 14 has provided us with personal information, please contact us at [email protected] to have it removed.

8. International Data Transfers

While we primarily operate in Canada, your information may be transferred to, stored, or processed in other countries:

8.1 Data Location

  • Canadian Servers: Our primary servers are located in Canada.
  • Third-Party Services: Some service providers may process data in countries outside Canada.

8.2 Cross-Border Protections

  • Adequate Safeguards: We ensure that data transfers comply with applicable data protection laws and include appropriate safeguards.

9. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy to reflect changes in our practices or legal obligations:

9.1 Notification of Changes

  • Effective Date: We will update the “Effective Date” at the top of this Policy.
  • Communication: Significant changes will be communicated via email or prominent notices on our Platform.

9.2 Acceptance of Changes

  • Continued Use: Your continued use of the Platform after changes are posted signifies your acceptance of the revised Policy.

10. Disclaimer of Warranties and Limitation of Liability

10.1 Disclaimer of Warranties

  • “As Is” Basis: The Platform is provided “as is” without warranties of any kind.
  • No Guarantees: We do not guarantee the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of any information on the Platform.

10.2 Limitation of Liability

  • No Liability: We are not liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages arising from your use of the Platform.
  • Maximum Liability: Our total liability shall not exceed the amount paid by you, if any, for accessing the Platform.

11. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless UBZ.ca and its affiliates from any claims arising out of:

  • Your Use: Your use of the Platform in violation of this Privacy Policy.
  • Third-Party Rights: Any infringement of third-party rights resulting from your actions.

12. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution

12.1 Governing Law

  • Jurisdiction: This Privacy Policy is governed by the laws of the Province of British Columbia and the federal laws of Canada.

12.2 Dispute Resolution

  • Informal Resolution: Attempt to resolve disputes by contacting us directly.
  • Legal Proceedings: Any legal action shall be brought in the courts of Vancouver, British Columbia.

13. Contact Information

If you have questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy, please contact us:

For privacy-related inquiries specific to British Columbia:

14. Additional Provisions

14.1 Language Preference

  • English Language: This Privacy Policy is provided in English. Any translations are for convenience, and the English version prevails.

14.2 Severability

  • Partial Invalidity: If any provision is deemed unenforceable, the remaining provisions remain in effect.

14.3 Entire Agreement

  • Comprehensive Understanding: This Privacy Policy, along with our Terms and Conditions, constitutes the entire agreement regarding your information.

14.4 Waiver

  • Non-Waiver: Failure to enforce any provision does not constitute a waiver of that provision.

Thank you for trusting UBZ.ca with your personal information. We are dedicated to protecting your privacy and ensuring a secure experience on our Platform.

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