Privacy Policy

PURPOSE

Privacy of personal information is governed by the Personal Information Protection and Electronics Documents Act (“PIPEDA”). This policy describes the way that the Coaches Association of Ontario, collects, uses, retains, safeguards, discloses and disposes of personal information, and states the Coaches Association of Ontario’s commitment to collecting, using and disclosing personal information responsibly. This policy is based on the standards required by PIPEDA, and the Coaches Association of Ontario’s interpretation of these responsibilities.

OBJECTIVE

Our organization, the COACHES ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO, referred to hereafter as CAO, is an association coaches in Ontario, and provides these services to members and the public:

The mandate of the CAO is to provide a coordinating role to strengthen the support mechanisms, development opportunities and access to educational resources for all coaches across sports in Ontario. We exist to promote a minimum standard of coaching quality through education and assurance to coaching ethically in all situations, in all contexts.

SCOPE

This Policy applies to all CAO Directors and employees.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND ENFORCEMENT

The CAO’s Executive Director is the Privacy Officer and is responsible for the monitoring information collection and data security, and ensuring that all staff receives appropriate training on privacy issues and their responsibilities. The Privacy Officer also handles personal information access requests and complaints. The Privacy Officer may be contacted at the following address: Suite 200A – 1 Concorde Gate, Toronto, Ontario M3C 3N6

DEFINITIONS

Personal Information

Information about an identifiable individual; Personal information includes information that relates to their personal characteristics (e.g., gender, age, income, home address or phone number, ethnic background, family status), their health (e.g., health history, health conditions, health services received by them) or their activities and views (e.g., religion, politics, opinions expressed by an individual, an opinion or evaluation of an individual). Personal information, however, does not include business information (e.g., an individual’s business address and telephone number), which is not protected by privacy legislation.

GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Consent

Consent is required to be obtained by lawful means from individuals at the time of collection, prior to the use or disclosure of the personal information. If the consent to the collection, use or disclosure was not obtained upon receipt of the information, consent will be obtained prior to the use or disclosure of that information.  The CAO may collect personal information without consent where reasonable to do so and where permitted by law.

By providing personal information to the CAO, individuals are consenting to the use of the information for the purposes identified in this policy.

The determining the form of consent to use, the CAO will take into account the sensitivity of the information.

The CAO will not, as a condition of a product or service, require an individual to consent to the collection, use or disclosure of information beyond that required to fulfill the specified purpose.

An individual may withdraw consent to the collection; use or disclosure of personal information at any time, subject to legal or contractual restrictions, provided the individual gives one week’s notice of such withdrawal to the CAO. The Privacy Officer will advise the individual of the implications of such withdrawal.

Limiting Collection

All personal information will be collected fairly, by lawful means and for the purposes as specified in this policy. The CAO will not use any form of deception to obtain personal information.

Limiting Use, Disclosure and Retention

Personal information will not be used or disclosed by the CAO for purposes other than those for which it was collected as described herein, except with the consent of the individual or as required by law.

Information disclosed to a third party with consent from the individual shall be protected by a third party agreement to limit use and disclosure.

Personal information will be retained for certain periods of time in accordance with the following:

  1. Employee information will be retained for a period of seven years in accordance with Canada Customs and Revenue Agency requirements.
  2. Marketing information will be immediately destroyed upon compilation and analysis of collected information.
  3. As otherwise may be stipulated in federal or provincial legislation.

Personal information that is used to make a decision about an individual will be maintained for a minimum of one year of time to allow the individual access to the information after the decision has been made.

The CAO may disclose personal information to a government authority that has asserted its lawful authority to obtain the information or where the CAO has reasonable grounds to believe the information could be useful in the investigation of an unlawful activity, or to comply with a subpoena or warrant or an order made by the court or otherwise as permitted by applicable law.

Documents will be destroyed by way of shredding and electronic files will be deleted in their entirety. When hardware is discarded, the CAO will ensure that the hard drive or other storage device, memory card, disks, etc is physically destroyed.

Accuracy

The CAO will use accurate and up-to-date information as is necessary for the purposes for which it is to be used, to minimize the possibility that inappropriate information may be used to make a decision about an individual.

Safeguards

Security safeguards appropriate to the sensitivity of the information against loss or theft, unauthorized access, disclosure, copying, use or modification protect personal information.

Methods of protection and safeguards include, but are not limited to, locked filing cabinets, restricted access to offices, security clearances, need-to-know access and technological measures including the use of passwords, encryption and firewalls.

The following steps will be taken to ensure security:

  1. Paper information is either under supervision or secured in a locked or restricted area.
  2. Electronic hardware is either under supervision or secured in a locked or restricted area at all times. In addition, passwords are used on computers.
  3. Reputable courier/delivery companies transmit through sealed, addressed envelopes or in boxes paper information.
  4. Electronic information is transmitted either through a direct line or is encrypted.
  5. Staff is trained to collect, use and disclose personal information only as necessary to fulfill their duties and in accordance with this policy.
  6. External consultants and agencies with access to personal information will provide the CAO with appropriate privacy assurances.

Openness

The CAO will publicize information about its policies and practices relating to the management of personal information. This information is available through this policy, on the CAO’s web site or upon request by contacting the Privacy Officer.

The information available to the public includes:

  1. The name or title, address and telephone number of the CAO’s Privacy Officer.
  2. The forms that may be used to access personal information or change information.
  3. A description of the type of personal information held by CAO, including a general statement of its approved uses.

Individual Access

Upon written request, and with assistance from the CAO, an individual may be informed of the existence, use and disclosure of his or her personal information and will be given access to that information.  As well, an individual is entitled to be informed of the source of the personal information along with an account of third parties to whom the information has been disclosed.

Requested information will be disclosed to the individual within 30 days of receipt of the written request at no cost to the individual, or at nominal costs relating to photocopying expenses, unless there are reasonable grounds to extend the time limit.

If personal information is inaccurate or incomplete, it will be amended as required.

An individual may be denied access to his or her personal information if:

  1. This information is prohibitively costly to provide;
  2. The information contains references to other individuals;
  3. The information cannot be disclosed for legal, security or commercial proprietary purposes;
  4. The information is subject to solicitor-client or litigation privilege.

Upon refusal, the CAO will inform the individual the reasons for the refusal and the associated provisions of PIPEDA.

Challenging Compliance

An individual may challenge the CAO’s compliance with this policy and PIPEDA, by submitting a challenge in writing.

Upon receipt of a written complaint, CAO will:

  1. Record the date the complaint is received;
  2. Notify the Privacy Officer who will serve in a neutral, unbiased capacity to resolve the complaint;
  3. Acknowledge receipt of the complaint by way of telephone conversation and clarify the nature of the complaint within three days of receipt of the complaint;
  4. Appoint an investigator using the CAO personnel or an independent investigator, who will have the skills necessary to conduct a fair and impartial investigation, and who will have unfettered access to all files and personnel, within ten days of receipt of the complaint.
  5. Upon completion of the investigation and within 25 days of receipt of the complaint, the investigator will submit a written report to the CAO.
  6. Notify the complainant of the outcome of the investigation and any relevant steps taken to rectify the complaint, including any amendments to policies and procedures, within 30 days of receipt of the complaint.

An individual may appeal a decision made by THE CAO under this Policy, in accordance with the CAO’s policies for appeals.

Approval and Review

This Policy was approved by the Board of Directors of the CAO on June 23, 2004, and will be reviewed annually.

IP Address

When the user’s web browser requests a web page from another computer on the Internet, it automatically gives that computer the address where it should send the information. This address is called the computer’s “IP address.”

The CAO does not collect, use or disclose IP Addresses.

Cookies

Cookies are small text files that a Web browser transfers to and from your hard drive for record keeping purposes. Cookies make life easier for you by saving your passwords, and preferences while you’re at our site. The use of cookies is an Internet standard, and you’ll find cookies at most major Web sites.

The use of cookies is an industry standard and many major browsers are initially set up to accept them. You can reset your browser to either refuse to accept all cookies or to notify you when you have received a cookie. However, if you refuse to accept cookies, you may not be able to use some of the features available on websites.

The CAO does not use cookies to identify specific individuals.

Copyright and Legal Disclaimer

This web site is a product of the CAO.  The information on this Web site is provided as a resource to those interested in coaching sport. The CAO disclaims any representation or warranty, express or implied, concerning the accuracy, completeness or fitness for a particular purpose of the information.  Persons accessing this information assume full responsibility for the use of the information and understand and agree that the CAO is not responsible or liable for any claim, loss or damage arising from the use of this information.  Reference to specific products, processes or services does not constitute or imply recommendation or endorsement by the CAO.  The CAO also reserves the right to make changes at any time without notice.

Links made available through this website may allow you to leave the CAO site. Please be aware that the internet sites available through these links are not under the control of the CAO. Therefore, the CAO does not make any representation to you about these sites or the materials available there.  The CAO is providing these links only as a convenience to you, and in no way guarantees these links and the material available there. The CAO is not responsible for privacy practices employed by other companies or websites.

Applicable Law

This site is created and controlled by the Coaches Association of Ontario in Canada.  As such, the laws of Canada will govern these disclaimers, terms and conditions, without giving effect to any principles of conflict of laws.