Privacy Policy

At Laty's Foundation, we are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring the security of your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and protect your information when you visit our website, apply for scholarships, make donations, or otherwise interact with our organization.

1. INFORMATION WE COLLECT

Personal Information You Provide

We collect information that you voluntarily provide to us, including:

• Contact Information: Name, email address, phone number, mailing address
• Scholarship Applications: Academic records, financial information, personal essays, references, hockey experience details
• Donation Information: Payment details (processed securely through third-party providers), donation preferences
• Communications: Messages sent through our contact forms, chat features, or direct emails

Automatically Collected Information

When you visit our website, we may automatically collect:

• Technical Information: IP address, browser type, operating system, device information
• Usage Data: Pages visited, time spent on site, referral sources
• Cookies and Similar Technologies: See Section 6 for details

2. HOW WE USE YOUR INFORMATION

We use your personal information for the following purposes:

• Scholarship Administration: Processing applications, evaluating candidates, communicating with applicants and references
• Donation Processing: Processing donations, issuing receipts, managing donor relationships
• Communication: Responding to inquiries, providing updates about our programs, sending newsletters (with consent)
• Website Functionality: Providing and improving our website features and user experience
• Legal Compliance: Meeting regulatory requirements and protecting our legal rights
• Fraud Prevention: Protecting against fraudulent activities and ensuring security

3. INFORMATION SHARING AND DISCLOSURE

We do not sell, trade, or rent your personal information to third parties. We may share your information in the following limited circumstances:

• Service Providers: Third-party companies that help us operate our website and programs (e.g., payment processors, email services, web hosting)
• Scholarship References: Contact with provided references as part of the application review process
• Legal Requirements: When required by law, court order, or to protect our rights and safety
• Board Members: Scholarship application information shared with our Board of Directors for evaluation purposes
• With Your Consent: Any other sharing with your explicit permission

4. DATA RETENTION

We retain your personal information only as long as necessary for the purposes outlined in this policy:

• Scholarship Applications: Retained for 7 years after the application cycle for record-keeping and potential future reference
• Donor Information: Retained as required by Canadian law for tax and accounting purposes (typically 7 years)
• General Communications: Retained for 3 years unless longer retention is required for legal purposes
• Website Analytics: Anonymized data may be retained indefinitely for statistical purposes

5. DATA SECURITY

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

• Encryption: Sensitive data is encrypted both in transit and at rest
• Access Controls: Limited access to personal information on a need-to-know basis
• Secure Hosting: Our website is hosted on secure servers with regular security updates
• Third-Party Security: We work only with reputable service providers who maintain appropriate security standards
• Regular Reviews: We regularly review and update our security practices

However, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

6. COOKIES AND TRACKING TECHNOLOGIES

Our website uses cookies and similar technologies to enhance your experience:

• Essential Cookies: Required for basic website functionality (e.g., remembering form data)
• Analytics Cookies: Help us understand how visitors use our site to improve user experience
• Chat Functionality: Our live chat feature may use cookies to maintain conversation state

You can control cookie settings through your browser preferences. Note that disabling certain cookies may affect website functionality.

7. YOUR PRIVACY RIGHTS

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

• Access: Request a copy of the personal information we hold about you
• Correction: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information
• Deletion: Request deletion of your personal information (subject to legal retention requirements)
• Withdrawal of Consent: Withdraw consent for processing where we rely on consent
• Portability: Request your data in a commonly used format
• Complaint: File a complaint with the Privacy Commissioner of Canada if you believe we have violated your privacy rights

To exercise these rights, please contact us using the information provided in Section 10.

8. CHILDREN'S PRIVACY

Our services are designed for individuals aged 16 and older. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 16 without parental consent. If we become aware that we have collected personal information from a child under 16 without verification of parental consent, we will take steps to remove that information.

9. CHANGES TO THIS PRIVACY POLICY

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. We will notify you of significant changes by:

• Posting the updated policy on our website with the "Last Updated" date
• Sending email notifications to registered users for material changes
• Displaying prominent notices on our website

Your continued use of our services after changes become effective constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

10. CONTACT INFORMATION

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

11. GOVERNING LAW

This Privacy Policy is governed by the laws of Canada and the province of Nova Scotia. We comply with:

• Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA)
• Provincial privacy legislation where applicable
• Other relevant Canadian privacy and data protection laws

Last Updated: September 2025
Effective Date: September 2025