HACKERGAL PRIVACY STATEMENT
Last revised: March 11, 2025
At Hackergal, we are committed to protecting your privacy and safeguarding your personal information. The purpose of this Privacy Statement is to inform you about our privacy practices, including how Hackergal (as follows, “we” or “us”) collects, uses and discloses personal information. In this Privacy Statement, when references are made to “you” or “your”, it means you on your own behalf, and on behalf of any person or organization on whose behalf you may act (collectively referred to herein as “you”). Note that references to the Hackergal “website” or “site” herein also includes the Hackergal Hub found at https://hub.hackergal.org/.
From time to time, we may make changes to this Privacy Statement. The Privacy Statement is current as of the “last revised” date which appears at the top of this page. When changes are made, they will become immediately effective when published in a revised Privacy Statement posted on our website, unless otherwise noted. We may also communicate the changes to this Privacy Statement by other means. This Privacy Statement applies to any information we collect or receive about you, from any source.
We may provide links to third-party websites for your convenience and information. We may also make opportunities available to you to subscribe to or use other products or services from third parties with different privacy practices. Those other websites, products, or services are governed by the privacy statements and policies of the respective third party. This Privacy Statement does not extend to any websites, products, or services provided by third parties. We do not assume responsibility for the privacy practices of third parties and we encourage you to review all third-party privacy statements prior to using third-party websites, products, or services.
The following topics will be covered in this Privacy Statement:
- What is Personal Information and what type of Personal Information do we collect?
- How do we collect your Personal Information?
- What are cookies and how do we use cookies?
- Where do we store your Personal Information?
- How do we use your Personal Information?
- To whom do we provide your Personal Information?
- When and how do we obtain your consent?
- How long will we use, disclose or retain your Personal Information?
- How can you review your Personal Information that we have collected, used or disclosed?
- How do you know that the Personal Information we have on you is accurate?
- What if the Personal Information we have on you is inaccurate?
- What happens if you object to how we handle your request?
- Are there any costs to you for requesting information about or access to your Personal Information or our privacy practices?
- How do we know that it is really you requesting your Personal Information?
- What safeguards have we implemented to protect your Personal Information?
- How do you contact us regarding access to your Personal Information or our privacy practices?
- What is Personal Information and what type of Personal Information do we collect?
“Personal Information” is any information about an identifiable individual.
Personal Information does not include any business contact information that is solely used to communicate with you in relation to your employment, business or profession, such as your name, position name or title, work address, work telephone number, work fax number or work e-mail address.
We may collect, use, and disclose different types of Personal Information, depending on our relationship with you. Generally, we collect the following types of Personal Information (not all of which may apply to you):
- identity information, such as your name, username or similar identifier, title, month of birth, gender, and optional ethnocultural identity and other demographic information that you decide to share with us;
- contact information, such as your city, province, and postal code of residence, school address, e-mail address and telephone numbers;
- interview quotes, and images, audio, and video of your likeness (e.g., as parents/guardians may consent to in the case of recipients of our scholarship program and participants in our ambassador program);
- information provided by you about your use of our website and services (whether in person, by phone or email, through social media or otherwise);
- technical and usage information about how and when you use our website, such as your internet protocol (IP) address, login data, browser type and version, date, time zone setting and location, browser plug-in types and versions, operating system and platform, other technology on the devices you use to access our website, weblogs, referring web addresses, other communication data, searches conducted, and pages visited (collectively “Internet Log Information”);
- professional information, such as your professional designations, job title, and the name and location of your employer;
- educational information, such as your grade, school name, school board, and participation in our education and training activities;
- language preferences;
- interests and experiences related to coding and digital skills training;
- event participation information, such as your enrollment and attendance at our events;
- information provided via surveys and contests; and
- marketing and communications information, such as your preferences for receiving our updates regarding new Hackergal programs, products and services.
- How do we collect your Personal Information?
We may collect Personal Information from you directly and/or from third parties, where we have obtained your consent to do so or as otherwise required or permitted by law.
- What are cookies and how do we use cookies?
A “cookie” is a small text file that contains information and is stored on your computer. We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to automatically collect information about your use of our website and your interaction with our emails.
To optimize our website for ease of use, we or our service provider(s) may use cookies to collect standard information about your use of our website, including your language preferences, your Internet Log Information, and similar information. These cookies are intended to optimize your experience of our website. Additionally, we use this information for our business or analytical purposes (including to assess website traffic and track search criteria).
If you do not wish to accept cookies, you can adjust your web browser settings so that you automatically deny the storage of cookies or are informed each time a website requests to store a cookie. Previously stored cookies can also be deleted through your web browser. Please refer to your web browser’s help pages for more information.
Should you have cookies disabled on your machine, you will continue to have exactly the same access to Hackergal content as with ‘cookies’ enabled. It will only result in slightly less accurate usage figures for our own internal reports. For more information about cookies generally please visit www.allaboutcookies.org.
Web Beacons
We may employ clear gifs (also known as “web beacons”) to track online usage patterns and clear gifs in HTML-based emails sent to our users to track which emails are opened by recipients. The information is used to enable more accurate reporting and improve our services.
Google Analytics
Our website uses Google Analytics, a service from Google LLC (“Google”) that uses cookies. The information collected by the cookies (which includes your IP address) is transferred to Google who stores and processes the information in the United States. Google uses the information to provide us with an analysis of your use of our website, overall use of and traffic on our website. You can opt out of Google Analytics by downloading and using the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on. By using our website, you understand and acknowledge our use of Google Analytics.
- Where do we store your Personal Information?
We will keep the Personal Information that we collect either at the Hackergal offices in Canada, or at the offices of a service provider in the United States of America or in Canada or at data centres managed by us or our third party service providers in Canada and the United States, as applicable.
- How do we use your Personal Information?
We generally identify the purposes for which we use your Personal Information at the time we collect such information from you (and obtain your consent prior to such use). We generally use your Personal Information for the following purposes:
- to facilitate the delivery of current and future Hackergal programs, products and services, including, but not limited to, registration and support for upcoming Hackathons and registration for the Hackergal Hub;
- to provide you with the information or services that you may request;
- to obtain the necessary permissions for each child to participate in certain Hackergal events, including Hackathons and use Hackergal products and services, including the Hackergal Hub;
- to coordinate, manage and ship supplies to you;
- to advise you about new programs, products and services that may be of interest to you;
- to promote Hackergal programs, products and services;
- to respond to your inquiries, complaints or requests;
- to collect feedback, opinions and comments in regard to Hackergal’s products, services and operations;
- to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of our programs, products and services;
- to allow our third-party service providers to assist in providing you with the requested services;
- to anonymize for the purpose of aggregate and/or statistical research, demographic analysis, and impact measurement reporting;
- to administer our website and manage your account on Hackergal Hub;
- if you visit our premises, to ensure your safety and security (which may include video surveillance);
- to investigate legal claims and protect our rights, operations or property;
- for such other purposes that you may consent to from time to time; and
- as otherwise permitted or required by applicable law.
- To whom do we provide your Personal Information?
Generally, we will only make disclosures of Personal Information to such persons for which you provide your consent. As part of obtaining that consent, we identify to whom and for what purposes we will disclose your Personal Information. For example, we may disclose testimonials you provide to us with your first name, last initial, and grade to potential sponsors. We may also transfer your Personal Information to third-party service providers with whom we have a contract that includes appropriate privacy standards, where such third parties are assisting us with the provision of Hackergal programs, products and services– such as service providers that provide delivery services, logistical support, telephone support, hosting or data storage or processing, whether in the United States or in Canada. However, you should note that to the extent that any Personal Information is transferred outside of Canada, it is subject to the laws of the country in which it is held, and may be subject to disclosure to the governments, courts or law enforcement or regulatory agencies of such other country, pursuant to the laws of such country.
For written information about our policies and practices regarding service providers outside of Canada, contact our Privacy Information Officer in accordance with Section 16 below.
We may disclose your Personal Information when we believe such disclosure is required or permitted by law. In addition, we may disclose your personal information to a third party in the event of any significant business transaction, such as a merger or reorganization.
- When and how do we obtain your consent?
We collect, use, and disclose your Personal Information with your consent or as permitted or required by law. We generally obtain your consent prior to collecting, using or disclosing your Personal Information. The form of consent that we seek, including whether it is express or implied, will largely depend on the circumstances and the sensitivity of the Personal Information.
If you provide Personal Information about another individual to us, it is your responsibility to obtain the consent of that individual to enable us to collect, use and disclose their information as described in this Privacy Statement.
If you wish to withdraw your consent to our collection, use or disclosure of your Personal Information, please contact our Privacy Information Officer in accordance with Section 16 below. We will accommodate your request to withdraw consent, subject to legal or contractual restrictions. Withdrawal of your consent may mean that we will no longer be able to provide you with certain programs, products or services.
If you no longer want to receive marketing-related e-mails from us, you may opt out by clicking the “unsubscribe” link at the bottom of any e-mail you receive from us. You may also opt out by contacting our Privacy Information Officer in accordance with Section 16 below. If you opt out from receiving marketing-related e-mails, we may still need to send you communications about your use of our programs, products or services, or other matters.
- How long will we use, disclose or retain your Personal Information?
We may keep a record of your Personal Information, including correspondence and/or comments, in a file specific to you. We will use, disclose and retain your Personal Information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which that Personal Information was collected and as permitted or required by law.
- How can you review your Personal Information that we have collected, used or disclosed?
If you make a written request to review any Personal Information about you that we have collected, used or disclosed, we will provide you with any such Personal Information to the extent required by law. We will make such Personal Information available to you in a form that is generally understandable and will explain any abbreviations or acronyms.
- How do you know that the Personal Information we have on you is accurate?
We will not routinely update your Personal Information, unless such a process is necessary. We rely on you to provide us with accurate Personal Information, and we expect you, from time to time, to update your Personal Information on a self-serve basis within your Hackergal Hub account or to supply us with written updates to your Personal Information, when required.
- What if the Personal Information we have on you is inaccurate?
At any time, you can challenge the accuracy or completeness of your Personal Information in our records. If you successfully demonstrate that your Personal Information in our records is inaccurate or incomplete, we will amend the Personal Information as required. Where appropriate, we will transmit the amended information to third parties having access to your Personal Information.
- What happens if you object to how we handle your request?
You may have the right to make a complaint to the federal privacy commissioner or the applicable provincial privacy commissioner.
- Are there any costs to you for requesting information about or access to your Personal Information or our privacy practices?
We will not charge any fees for you to access your Personal Information in our records or to access our privacy practices without first providing you with an estimate of the approximate fees, if any.
- How do we know that it is really you requesting your Personal Information?
We may request that you provide sufficient identification to fulfill your request to access or correct your Personal Information. Any such identifying information shall be used only for this purpose.
- What safeguards have we implemented to protect your Personal Information?
We have implemented physical, organizational, contractual and technological security measures in an effort to protect your Personal Information from loss or theft, unauthorized access, disclosure, copying, use or modification. For example, the only employees of Hackergal who are granted access to your Personal Information are those with a business ‘need-to-know’ or whose duties reasonably require such information.
Despite these measures, we cannot guarantee that our safeguards will always be effective. A breach of security safeguards can result in risks such as phishing and identity theft. In such cases, we will act promptly to mitigate the risks and to inform you where there is a real risk of significant harm, or as otherwise required by law.
We may also require that you assist us in safeguarding your Personal Information. For example, if you create an account through our website, you should use a unique and strong password and not share your password with others.
If you have reason to believe that your personal information is no longer secure, please immediately contact our Privacy Information Officer in accordance with Section 16 below.
- How do you contact us regarding access to your Personal Information or our privacy practices?
All comments, questions, concerns or complaints regarding your Personal Information, this Privacy Statement or our privacy practices, should be forwarded to our Privacy Information Officer as follows.
| In writing | Attn: Privacy Information Officer |
| Address | Hackergal 10 Dundas Street East, Suite 600 Toronto, ON M5B 2G9 |
| By email | privacy@hackergal.org |