The Corporation of the City of Guelph (“City of Guelph,” “we,” “us,” “our”) understands your privacy is important. This Privacy Policy (“Privacy Policy”) describes how we collect, use, store, process, and share your information in relation to your access and use of https://resourceexchange.ca/ (the “Website”), including, without limitation, the information provided by you when you contact us through the Website or create an account (the “Account”) and any and all updates, tools, functionality, applications, bulletin and message boards, product postings, chat areas, private/direct message functions, news and events postings, forums, downloadable brochures and materials, video content and literature related to any of the foregoing (collectively with the Website, the “Service”).
References to “you” and “your” mean anyone who visits, accesses, or uses the Service. By visiting, accessing, or using the Service, you confirm that you have read, understand and agree to this Privacy Policy and to the collection, use, storage, transfer, processing, and disclosure of your information, including personal information, as described in this Privacy Policy. IF YOU DO NOT AGREE WITH THIS POLICY, DO NOT ACCESS OR USE ANY PART OF THE SERVICE OR REGISTER FOR AN ACCOUNT.
You understand and acknowledge that we reserve the right to change or amend this Privacy Policy from time to time without advance notice to you. We are, however, committed to protecting your information and will never materially change our policies and practices without posting notice on the Website. Please check back frequently to see any such updates or changes. Your continued access to and/or use of the Website after any such changes constitutes your acceptance of, and agreement to, this Privacy Policy, as revised.
1. Information Collection
a. General.
When you visit the Website without registering for an Account, you can browse without submitting any personally identifiable information. However, general non-personally identifiable information is automatically collected as you interact with the Website. In order to create a listing (“Listing”) to offer for sale any products or materials (each a “Material”) through the Service, you will be required to register for an Account. To register for an Account, you must be at least 18 years of age. ReSource Exchange is intended as a business-to-business platform. When registering you will be asked to provide business contact information, which could include some personal information. The Corporation of the City of Guelph collects any personal information under the authority of the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA). MFIPPA defines personal information as recorded information about an identifiable individual – which could include name, employment history, address, telephone number, and other personal details .Reference Under MFIPPA business information does not constitute personal information and is not protected. Information collected by us through the Website is described below.
a. Account; Login.
When you register for an Account, the Information you provide to us may include, but is not limited to:
- Contact information such as name, business name, email address, mailing address and phone number;
- Business operations, business model and primary markets as it may relate to growing the circular economy; and
- Unique identifiers such as user name and password and IP address.
b. Listings and Transactions
Registered users may create a Listing of Materials available for purchase through the Service. To create a Listing, you will be required to provide, and we will collect, certain information about the Material you are selling, including Material name/type, the quantity of the Material available, and a description of the Material. Users may use the “Contact the Seller” button to initiate a transaction for any listings on the platform. The contents of any messages sent between users on the platform are visible to ReSource Exchange platform administrators. Administrators will only view messages between users for the purposes of supporting transactions, ensuring the operation of the website, and upholding community guidelines as outlined in our Terms of Service. It is strongly recommended that any confidential discussions, negotiations or exchanges between users (e.g. sharing of credit card information) take place off the platform.
c. Request for Information.
You may provide your email address and other contact information to us in order to request information related to the Service if you do not sign up for an Account.
d. Communications.
In order to receive certain communications from us, you will be required to submit certain business contact information, including, but not limited to, your name email address and business phone number.
e. Social Media.
We may collect information when you visit or use third-party websites and apps that we have a registered page with such as Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter. We receive information about you and your activities on and off our Website from third-party websites and apps through their reporting tools.
f. Automatically Collected Information.
Similar to other websites, we may collect some information automatically and store it in log files. This collection may include, but is not limited to, your IP address, browser and device type, referring/exit pages and URLs, other browser history, number of clicks, landing pages, cookie information, the pages you requested and viewed, the amount of time spent on particular pages, and the date and time of each request you make. We collect this non-identifying information in order to better understand our users, to more efficiently operate our business, to promote our products and services, and to improve the quality of the Service. We may automatically collect information using various mechanisms, including, but not limited to, cookies and pixels described below.
- Cookies. A cookie is a small text file that is stored on a computer for record-keeping purposes. Our third-party analytics providers use cookies to record information about your activities while using the Service and to “remember” you when you return to the Service. Some cookies remain on your computer until you delete them. Others, like session ID cookies, expire when you close your browser. You may set your browser setting to attempt to reject cookies and you may still use the Service, however, certain features of the Service may not be available if your browser does not accept cookies. See the section titled “Do Not Track Settings” below for more information on how the Service may respond to your browser settings. We do not control the use of cookies by third parties. See also the section titled “Third Party Analytics Providers” below.
- Pixels. Pixels are tiny graphics with a unique identifier that are used to track the online movements of web users. Unlike cookies, which are stored on a computer’s hard drive, pixels are small graphics that are about the size of the period at the end of the sentence that are embedded invisibly on web pages or in HTML-based emails. Our third-party analytics providers may place pixels on the Site that track what other websites you visit (both before and after visiting the Site). Our third-party analytics providers use information obtained from pixels to help us improve our business and the Service. We do not control the use of pixels by third parties.
g. Third Party Analytics Providers.
We use third parties to help us operate and improve the Service. In doing so, we may share with these third parties non-personally identifiable information about users’ use of the Service. These third-party providers also use cookies. We use third party analytics providers, such as Google Analytics, to provide us with general demographic and interest-level information about our users and to help create a better user experience. We do not control information collected by third parties and are not responsible for their use of that information.
Google Analytics uses cookies and pixels in order to collect demographic and interest-level information and usage information from users that visit the Service, including, but not limited to, information about the pages where users enter and exit the Service and what pages users view on the Service, time spent, browser, operating system, device information, and IP address. Cookies and pixels allow Google to recognize a user when a user visits the Service and when the user visits other websites. Google uses the information it collects from the Service and other websites to share with us and other website operators information about users including, but not limited to, age range, gender, geographic regions, general interests, and details about devices used to visit websites and purchase items. We take reasonable measures to prevent linking information we receive from Google with any of your personally identifiable information. For more information regarding Google’s use of cookies and collection and use of information, see the Google Privacy Policy. To opt out of Google Analytics, please visit the Google Analytics Opt-Out Page to learn about opting out and installing the appropriate browser add-on.
h. “Do Not Track” Settings.
Because we track Service usage information through the use of cookies, pixels, and other tracking mechanisms, your selection of the “Do Not Track” option provided by your browser may not have any effect on our collection of cookie information. The only way to completely “opt out” of the collection of any information through cookies or other tracking technology is to actively manage the settings on your browser to delete and disable cookies and other tracking/recording tools. However, getting a “Do Not Track” signal to work as you might want is difficult. Using browsers as an example, not all tracking technologies can be controlled by browsers; unique aspects of your browser might be recognizable even if you disable a tracking technology; not all settings will necessarily last or be effective; even if a setting is effective for one purpose, data still may be collected for another; and even if one website observes a “Do Not Track” signal, that website usually will not be able to control other websites.
2. Information Use
a. General.
We will use your personally identifiable information to operate, manage, and administer your Account and the Service; to assist in facilitating your Materials transactions; to provide you with support for the Service; to communicate with you; to improve the Service. We may also use personally identifiable information to resolve disputes; to detect and protect against errors, fraud, and illegal activity; to assist law enforcement; to enforce this Privacy Policy and our Terms of Service; or for any other purpose described in this Privacy Policy or described to you at the time of collection. ReSource Exchange is a collaborative initiative across a range of organizations in Guelph-Wellington and beyond. The logos of our collaborator organizations are shared on the ReSource Exchange front page. Business contact details or other personally identifiable information may be shared with project collaborators in accordance with the terms of this Privacy Policy to achieve the purposes outlined above.
b. Communications.
When you visit the Website or register for an Account, you are communicating with us electronically. When you create an Account, you will be asked to consent to communicate with us electronically and receive electronic messages from us. In the course of providing the Services, we may send you emails, notifications, or other communications related to your use of the Service, your Account, or to respond to your inquiries or requests (“Service-related communications”). We may also send you promotional and informational emails to notify you about products, services, events, research, news, third party organizations of interest that may be of interest to you (“non-Service communications”). If you would like to stop receiving non-Service communications from us please click on the unsubscribe from these emails link in any non-Service communication you receive.
c. Use of Non-Personally Identifiable and Aggregate Information.
We may use non-personally identifiable information and aggregate information for any lawful purpose, including, but not limited to, analyzing trends, managing and administering the Service, tracking users’ interaction with the Service, to create new products or services, or to improve our business and the Service. In addition, we may share aggregate information with our business partners including ReSource Exchange collaborator organizations and funders (whose logos are listed on the front page of resourceexchange.ca) and the U.S. Business Council for Sustainable Development who is supporting this service for the purposes of improving the platform, research and analysis, and developing new programs and platforms to support the circular economy. We may also combine your non-personally identifiable information and aggregate information with other non-personally identifiable information and aggregate information collected from other sources. We will take reasonable steps, including those described in this Privacy Policy, to ensure that aggregate information is never associated with you or your personally identifiable information. By accessing the Website, you are deemed to consent to the disclosure of your information for the foregoing purposes.
d. Information Retention.
Unless otherwise instructed, we will retain your personally identifiable information for only as long as reasonably useful for the purposes described in this Privacy Policy or as required by federal and provincial laws. We will retain and use your information as necessary to comply with our legal obligations and in order to deter fraud or abuse of the Service. We may dispose of any information in our discretion without notice, subject to applicable law. We do not undertake any retention obligations through this statement.
3. Information Disclosure
a. Affiliated Entities and Service Providers.
We work with service partners, including ReSource Exchange collaborator organizations (whose logos are listed on the front page of resourceexchange.ca) and the U.S. Business Council for Sustainable Development (“Partners”) to operate the Website and provide the Services, which may include:
- matching resource sellers to potential buyers;
- developing new programs or interventions to help grow the circular economy (e.g. new funding programs, innovation challenges, etc.);
- researching transactions between clients to learn more about circular business models; and
- any other purpose disclosed by us in this Privacy Policy or at the time you provide information to us.
Information is shared with Partners only to the extent necessary for them to perform their respective functions.
Our Partners are required to keep your information private and secure, and not to disclose or use your information for any other purpose. By accessing the Website, you are deemed to consent to the disclosure of your information for the above purposes.
b. Legal Requirements.
We reserve the right to disclose your information, including personal information, collected by us: (i) to satisfy or comply with any applicable law, regulation or legal process or to respond to lawful requests; (ii) if we believe disclosure is needed to protect our rights, property, or safety and the rights, property and safety of third parties or the public in general; (iii) to prevent or stop activity we consider to be illegal or unethical.
c. Disclaimer.
We cannot ensure that all of your personal information will never be disclosed in ways not otherwise described in this Policy. For example, a third party may unlawfully intercept or access transmissions or private communications, or other users of the Service may abuse or misuse your personal information. No transmission of data over the internet can be 100% secure.
4. Information Security Measures
The security of your information is a priority for us. We take steps to help safeguard your information from unauthorized access, use or disclosure, including physical security measures, electronic security measures, organizational processes and contractual obligations with third parties. The personal information we collect is stored in operating environments that are not available to the public.
However, please note that no security measures can provide absolute protection. We cannot warrant the security of any information you provide to us. We accept no liability if communications are intercepted by third parties or incorrectly delivered or not delivered. It is important for you to protect against unauthorized access to your Information, your computer and to exercise caution when using shared devices.
5. Accessing, Updating, or Deleting your Personal Information.
You may access, update, or delete your personal information by contacting us at: admin@resourceexchange.ca. We will make good faith efforts to resolve requests to correct inaccurate information except where the request is unreasonable, requires disproportionate technical effort or expense, jeopardizes the privacy of others, or would be impractical. If your Account is terminated for any reason, your information will no longer be accessible through your Account or associated with your Account. However, activity that occurred prior to deletion may still continue to be stored on our systems or the systems of our service providers.
6. Additional Terms
Please also review our Terms of Use which, among other matters, establish the use, disclaimers, and limitations of liability governing the use of the Service.
7. Privacy Questions
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact us at:
Information and Access Coordinator City of Guelph
City Hall, 1 Carden St.
Guelph, Ontario N1H 3A1
519-822-1260 extension 2349
privacy@guelph.ca