Privacy Policy

Last updated: December 15, 2023

1. Introduction

Salso World Media ("we," "our," or "us") is committed to protecting the privacy and personal information of our customers, website visitors, and workshop participants. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your personal information in compliance with the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) and applicable provincial privacy legislation.

By using our website, services, or participating in our workshops, you consent to the collection, use, and disclosure of your personal information as described in this Privacy Policy.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Personal Information

We may collect the following types of personal information:

  • Contact Information: Name, mailing address, email address, phone number
  • Account Information: Username, password, and account preferences
  • Payment Information: Credit card details, billing address, and transaction history
  • Workshop Information: Registration details, skill level, special accommodations needed
  • Communication Records: Correspondence through email, phone, or our contact forms
  • Marketing Preferences: Newsletter subscriptions and communication preferences

2.2 Automatically Collected Information

When you visit our website, we automatically collect:

  • Technical Information: IP address, browser type, operating system, device information
  • Usage Information: Pages visited, time spent on site, referral sources
  • Cookies and Tracking: Information stored through cookies and similar technologies

2.3 Information from Third Parties

We may receive information about you from:

  • Social media platforms when you interact with our content
  • Payment processors for transaction verification
  • Marketing partners for audience insights (aggregated and anonymized)

3. How We Use Your Information

3.1 Primary Purposes

We use your personal information for the following purposes:

  • Service Delivery: Processing orders, workshop registrations, and providing customer support
  • Account Management: Creating and maintaining your account, processing payments
  • Communication: Sending order confirmations, workshop notifications, and responding to inquiries
  • Legal Compliance: Meeting regulatory requirements and legal obligations

3.2 Secondary Purposes (with Consent)

With your consent, we may also use your information for:

  • Marketing: Sending newsletters, promotional offers, and workshop announcements
  • Personalization: Customizing your website experience and product recommendations
  • Research: Improving our services and developing new offerings
  • Analytics: Understanding website usage patterns and customer preferences

4. Information Sharing and Disclosure

4.1 Service Providers

We may share your information with trusted third-party service providers who assist us in:

  • Payment processing (Stripe, PayPal, Square)
  • Email marketing (Mailchimp, Constant Contact)
  • Website hosting and maintenance
  • Customer support services
  • Shipping and logistics

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

4.2 Business Transfers

In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your personal information may be transferred to the new owner, subject to the same privacy protections.

4.3 Legal Requirements

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

  • Comply with legal processes
  • Protect our rights and property
  • Investigate potential violations of our terms
  • Ensure the safety of our customers and staff

4.4 We Do Not Sell Personal Information

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties for their marketing purposes.

5. Data Security

5.1 Security Measures

We implement comprehensive security measures to protect your personal information:

  • Encryption: All sensitive data is encrypted in transit and at rest
  • Access Controls: Limited access to personal information on a need-to-know basis
  • Regular Updates: Security software and systems are regularly updated
  • Employee Training: Staff receive regular privacy and security training
  • Incident Response: Procedures in place for addressing security breaches

5.2 Data Retention

We retain your personal information only as long as necessary for the purposes outlined in this policy or as required by law. Specific retention periods include:

  • Customer Accounts: Until account deletion is requested
  • Transaction Records: 7 years for tax and accounting purposes
  • Marketing Communications: Until you unsubscribe
  • Website Analytics: 26 months (Google Analytics default)

6. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

6.1 Types of Cookies We Use

  • Essential Cookies: Required for website functionality and security
  • Analytics Cookies: Help us understand how visitors use our website
  • Marketing Cookies: Used to deliver relevant advertisements
  • Preference Cookies: Remember your settings and preferences

6.2 Managing Cookies

You can control cookies through:

  • Our cookie consent banner when you first visit our website
  • Your browser settings to block or delete cookies
  • Opting out of third-party analytics and advertising cookies

Note that disabling certain cookies may affect website functionality.

7. Your Privacy Rights

7.1 Access and Correction

You have the right to:

  • Request access to your personal information we hold
  • Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information
  • Receive a copy of your personal information in a portable format

7.2 Withdrawal of Consent

You may withdraw your consent for:

  • Marketing communications (unsubscribe links or contact us)
  • Non-essential cookies (through our cookie management tool)
  • Account services (by requesting account deletion)

7.3 Data Deletion

You may request deletion of your personal information, subject to:

  • Legal retention requirements
  • Legitimate business purposes
  • Outstanding contractual obligations

7.4 How to Exercise Your Rights

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at:

  • Email: [email protected]
  • Phone: (416) 555-0123
  • Mail: 123 Queen Street West, Toronto, ON M5H 2M9

We will respond to your request within 30 days and may require identity verification.

8. Children's Privacy

Our services are not directed to children under 13 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe we have collected information from a child under 13, please contact us immediately so we can delete such information.

For participants aged 13-17 in our workshops, we require parental consent and may collect limited information necessary for workshop participation and safety.

9. International Data Transfers

Your personal information may be processed and stored outside of Canada, including in the United States, where our service providers are located. These countries may have different privacy laws than Canada. When we transfer your information internationally, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place to protect your privacy rights.

10. Third-Party Links

Our website may contain links to third-party websites. This Privacy Policy does not apply to those websites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party sites you visit.

11. Privacy Policy Updates

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect:

  • Changes in our business practices
  • New legal requirements
  • Technological developments
  • Industry best practices

We will notify you of material changes by:

  • Posting a notice on our website
  • Sending an email to registered users
  • Updating the "Last updated" date at the top of this policy

12. Contact Information

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

Privacy Officer

Salso World Media
123 Queen Street West
Toronto, ON M5H 2M9
Canada

Email: [email protected]
Phone: (416) 555-0123
Business Hours: Monday-Friday, 9 AM - 5 PM EST

Privacy Commissioner

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

Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada
30 Victoria Street
Gatineau, QC K1A 1H3
Phone: 1-800-282-1376
Website: www.priv.gc.ca

13. Definitions

  • Personal Information: Information about an identifiable individual, including name, contact details, payment information, and online identifiers.
  • Consent: Voluntary agreement to the collection, use, or disclosure of personal information for specific purposes.
  • Anonymized Data: Information that cannot be used to identify a specific individual.
  • Third Party: Any organization other than Salso World Media and yourself.

This Privacy Policy is effective as of the date last updated above and governs our collection, use, and disclosure of your personal information from that date forward.