Privacy Policy

Our commitment

Young people trust us with personal stories, goals and challenges. Protecting that trust matters to us. This policy explains what personal information Youth Connect Services collects, why, and how we protect it. We follow the principles of Canada's Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) and other privacy laws that apply to us in Ontario.

What we collect

Information you give us

• Contact details: name, email, phone number, address.
• Program registration: age or date of birth, school or employment status, program interests, emergency contact, and parent or guardian details for participants under 18.
• Eligibility and funding information: some programs are funded by government or foundation partners who require demographic information (such as newcomer status or household income range). We'll explain why it's needed, and answering is voluntary unless it's required for eligibility.
• Employment support: résumés, cover letters, work history and career goals.
• Counselling and mentoring notes: information you choose to share with a counsellor or mentor.
• Donations: name, contact details and donation amount. Payment card details are handled by our payment processor, [processor name], and are not stored by us.
• Photos and videos: only with consent (and a parent or guardian's consent for participants under 18).

Information collected automatically

When you visit the website, we and our service providers may collect basic technical information such as your device type, browser, pages visited and approximate location (city level). See our Cookie Preferences page for details and choices.

How we use it

• to register you for programs and keep you updated about them;
• to provide counselling, mentoring, training and employment support;
• to connect you with employers or partners, but only when you ask us to;
• to issue certificates and tax receipts;
• to report to funders, usually as combined, non-identifying statistics;
• to improve our programs and website;
• to keep participants safe and meet our legal obligations.

We will not sell, rent or trade your personal information.

Consent and young people

We ask for your consent before collecting personal information and explain what it will be used for. You can withdraw consent at any time, though this may affect our ability to offer some services.

For participants under 13, we require consent from a parent or guardian. For participants aged 13 to 17, we may also ask for a parent or guardian's consent depending on the program, and we will always explain things in plain language so young people understand what they are agreeing to.

Counselling confidentiality

What you share with our counsellors and mentors is kept confidential. There are a few situations where we are required by law to share information, and we'll be honest with you about these up front:

• if we believe a child or youth under 16 (or under 18 in some circumstances) is being abused or neglected, we have a legal duty to report it to a children's aid society under Ontario's Child, Youth and Family Services Act;
• if there is a serious and immediate risk of harm to you or someone else;
• if we're required to by a court order or other legal process.

When we share information

We only share personal information:

• with service providers who help us operate (for example, website hosting, email, and donation processing), under agreements that require them to protect it;
• with funders, usually as anonymous statistics. If a funder requires identifiable information, we'll tell you when you register;
• with employers or partner organizations, only with your permission;
• when required by law, as described above.

Some service providers may store information outside Canada (for example, in the United States), where it may be subject to local laws. We choose providers with strong security practices.

Storage and security

We protect personal information with safeguards suited to how sensitive it is, including password-protected systems, limited staff access on a need-to-know basis, locked storage for paper files, and privacy training for staff and volunteers. No system is completely secure, but if a breach creates a real risk of significant harm, we'll notify affected people and the Privacy Commissioner of Canada as required.

How long we keep it

We keep personal information only as long as needed for the purpose it was collected, or as long as required by law or our funding agreements. Program records are generally kept for [X years] after your last participation, and donation records for at least six years as required for tax purposes. After that, records are securely deleted or destroyed.

Emails and newsletters

We only send newsletters and program announcements if you've agreed to receive them, in line with Canada's Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL). Every email includes an unsubscribe link, and you can opt out at any time.

Your rights

You can ask us to:

• tell you what personal information we hold about you;
• correct information that's wrong or out of date;
• delete your information, where we're not required to keep it;
• stop using your information for newsletters or photos.

We'll respond within 30 days. If you're not satisfied with our response, you can contact the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada.

Contact us

Questions or requests about privacy can go to our Privacy Officer: