Privacy Policy

Introduction

DevConnect Canada ("we," "our," or "us") is committed to protecting and respecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website devconnectcanada.com (the "Service"), attend our events, or interact with our community.

This Privacy Policy complies with the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) and other applicable Canadian privacy laws.

Information We Collect

Personal Information You Provide

We may collect the following personal information that you voluntarily provide to us:

• Contact Information: Name, email address, phone number, mailing address
• Professional Information: Company name, job title, professional experience, skills and interests
• Event Registration: Information provided when registering for meetups, workshops, or conferences
• Communication Data: Messages sent through our contact forms, email correspondence, or event feedback
• Newsletter Subscriptions: Email address and communication preferences

Automatically Collected Information

When you access our Service, we may automatically collect certain information about your device and usage:

• Usage Data: Pages visited, time spent on pages, links clicked, referral sources
• Device Information: IP address, browser type and version, operating system, device identifiers
• Location Data: General geographic location based on IP address (city/province level)
• Cookies and Tracking: See our Cookie Policy section below

How We Use Your Information

We use the collected information for the following purposes:

Primary Purposes

• Community Services: Facilitate meetups, workshops, networking events, and educational programs
• Communication: Send newsletters, event announcements, and community updates
• Website Operation: Provide, maintain, and improve our website and services
• Support: Respond to inquiries, feedback, and provide customer support

Secondary Purposes

• Analytics: Understand how our website and services are used to improve user experience
• Research: Conduct surveys and research to better serve the developer community
• Marketing: Promote relevant services, events, and opportunities (with your consent)
• Legal Compliance: Meet legal obligations and protect our rights and interests

Information Sharing and Disclosure

We do not sell, trade, or otherwise transfer your personal information to third parties except in the following circumstances:

Service Providers

We may share information with trusted service providers who assist us in:

• Website hosting and maintenance
• Email marketing and newsletter services
• Event management and registration platforms
• Analytics and website optimization
• Payment processing for events or services

These service providers are contractually bound to protect your information and use it only for specified purposes.

Event Partners and Sponsors

For community events, we may share limited information (name, company, job title) with:

• Event venues and co-organizers
• Sponsors (only with your explicit consent)
• Other attendees (for networking purposes, with your permission)

Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information when required by law or to:

• Comply with legal process or government requests
• Protect the rights, property, or safety of DevConnect Canada, our users, or others
• Investigate or prevent fraud, security, or technical issues
• Enforce our Terms of Service

Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information:

• Encryption: Data in transit is protected using SSL/TLS encryption
• Access Controls: Limited access to personal information on a need-to-know basis
• Regular Updates: Security patches and updates are applied regularly
• Data Minimization: We collect only the information necessary for specified purposes
• Secure Storage: Data is stored on secure servers with appropriate safeguards

Cookie Policy

Our website uses cookies and similar tracking technologies:

Essential Cookies

These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off:

• Session management and security
• Load balancing and performance optimization
• Cookie consent preferences

Analytics Cookies

With your consent, we use analytics cookies to:

• Understand website usage patterns
• Improve user experience
• Measure website performance

Marketing Cookies

With your consent, we may use marketing cookies to:

• Personalize content and recommendations
• Measure effectiveness of marketing campaigns
• Provide relevant advertising (if applicable)

You can manage your cookie preferences through our cookie banner or your browser settings.

Your Rights and Choices

Under Canadian privacy law, you have the following rights regarding your personal information:

Access and Correction

• Right to Access: Request a copy of the personal information we hold about you
• Right to Correction: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information
• Right to Explanation: Understand how your information is being used

Withdrawal of Consent

• Newsletter Unsubscribe: Unsubscribe from marketing communications at any time
• Event Communications: Opt out of event-related communications
• Cookie Consent: Change cookie preferences through browser settings

Data Portability

Request a copy of your personal information in a structured, commonly used format.

Deletion Requests

Request deletion of your personal information, subject to legal and contractual obligations.

Data Retention

We retain your personal information only for as long as necessary:

• Contact Information: Until you request removal or unsubscribe
• Event Registration: Up to 2 years for community planning and follow-up
• Website Analytics: Aggregated data may be retained indefinitely
• Support Communications: Up to 3 years for quality assurance
• Legal Requirements: As required by applicable laws

International Data Transfers

Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than Canada, including the United States. When we transfer information internationally, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place through:

• Contractual clauses with service providers
• Adequacy decisions by privacy regulators
• Certification schemes and codes of conduct

Children's Privacy

Our services are not intended for individuals under 16 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 16. If you become aware that a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us immediately.

Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we make changes:

• We will update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this policy
• Significant changes will be communicated via email or website notice
• Your continued use of the Service constitutes acceptance of the updated policy

Contact Information

For questions about this Privacy Policy or to exercise your privacy rights, contact us:

Privacy Complaints

If you are not satisfied with our response to your privacy concern, you may file a complaint with:

Effective Date

This Privacy Policy is effective as of December 1, 2024, and governs our collection and use of information from that date forward.