We respect your privacy. When you visit our website, contact us, participate in one of our programs, become a member, or support our activities, we are committed to protecting your privacy rights and your personal information.
In order to do so, the York Region Violence Against Women Coordinating Committee has adopted the 10 Privacy Principles contained within the Canadian Standards Association Model Code for the Protection of Personal Information, which is a national standard of Canada.

Our 10 Privacy Principles

1. Our responsibility to protect your personal information
   The York Region Violence Against Women Coordinating Committee is responsible for the protection of your personal information collected through any of our offices or program activities. This responsibility extends when information is transferred or collected by third parties on our behalf.
2. Our obligation to identify the purposes for collecting personal information
   Before we collect any personal information from you, we will identify the purpose for the collection. A statement of purposes will be communicated wherever possible.
3. The requirement for knowledge and consent
   We will only collect personal information with your knowledge and consent, except in limited situations as permitted by law. This may be with your express consent (for example, when you voluntarily provide information on a form for purposes you clearly understand and agree to) or by declining an opportunity to opt-out of our collection or use of your personal information. Opt-out consent will be used only for non- sensitive information where we believe that the privacy impacts are low and you will be provided with sufficient notice of your right to opt-out of such uses. Further, you can withdraw your consent to the collection, use or disclosure of your personal information at any time, subject to any legal requirements and reasonable notice. A decision to withhold some personal information may influence the ability of the York Region Violence Against Women Coordinating Committee to provide you with service.
4. Limiting information collection
   We only collect personal information relevant to the purposes that have been identified. We collect information fairly and lawfully, and directly from individuals wherever possible. We may obtain fundraising lists from third parties. You have the right to provide as much, or as little information as you choose to share. If you provide information about a family medical history, this information will be considered as your information only, and not personal information of other family members.
5. Limiting use, disclosure and retention of your information
   We will only use or disclose your personal information for the purposes we have identified to you.
6. Our responsibility to ensure the accuracy of your personal information
   Other than fundraising lists, virtually all of the information that we collect comes directly from individuals themselves, for example on our donation form. We generally assume this information to be accurate and complete, unless we are informed otherwise.
7. Our responsibility to safeguard your personal information
   The York Region Violence Against Women Coordinating Committee uses appropriate safeguards to protect all personal information in its custody and control.
8. Our obligation to be open about our privacy policy and practices
   We are open about our policies and procedures. We make reasonable efforts to inform individuals about our policies and procedures, the purposes for which we collect, use or disclose personal information, and how to access your personal information.
9. Your right to access your personal information
   Upon request, we will inform you if we hold any personal information about you and provide you with access to this information. If we have any personal information about you, we will also tell you for what purposes it is used or disclosed. We do not share donor contact information with any other organizations or individuals.You have a right to update any personal information that we hold on you. Should you wish to see the full contents of an information file, you must make a formal written request and mail it to:Lorris Herenda
   c/o Yellow Brick House
   52 West Beaver Creek, Unit 4
   Richmond Hill, ON L4B 1L9
10. Your right to challenge our compliance with our privacy policy
    If, for any reason, you are concerned about our compliance with our privacy policy, please contact our Privacy Officer at the address listed above.