Computer

Every website browser (Internet Explorer, Mozilla, Google Chrome, Safari) keeps a record of websites you have visited. Find instructions on how to delete “cookies” or “temporary internet files”. You can use the HELP function of your browser. Many browsers will also remember things you have searched for, so be sure to delete any previous searches such as: signs of abuse, am I being abused, or how to erase websites I have visited. You can also use a private or incognito window for your research, as these windows do not record your history.

Phone

When you contact us, or any organization assisting women in danger, be careful to use a telephone that does not keep a record of the numbers you’ve called. If you have a phone that keeps call logs, be sure to delete any calls that would raise flags if your abuser were to see them. Likewise, delete any text messages in which you may have disclosed that you are in an abusive relationship. Remember, long distance calls will show up on a phone bill so if you need to make a long distance call, do not use a phone for which your partner will have access to the bill. When in doubt, use a work phone, a pay phone, a friend’s phone, or any other phone that cannot be tracked by your abuser.

Cell phones also have GPS so if you leave your abuser, be sure to turn off your device’s location information so that your abuser cannot locate you using GPS. If it is a viable option, get a new phone and number once you have left.

If you are in danger, call 911!

E-mail

Your email program will save a copy of any sent messages. Make sure to completely remove any emails that your partner might find, or do not use a computer or email address that your partner has access to.

Privacy Policy

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Policy

This privacy policy explains how the Welcome Centre Shelter for Women (WCS) collects, uses and discloses your information when you use our website, along with who access to the data collected and the site’s cookie practices. The policy also explains how our privacy commitments apply to our website operations. By using the WCS website, the user agrees that they consent to the conditions set out in this Privacy Policy.

Privacy Policy Commitments:

  • The only personal information that we collect from your visit is what you voluntarily provide us for specific purposes, such as to ask questions, submit documents, make a payment/donation, provide feedback, use our search tool, or subscribe to our communications.
  • Our website analytics only use non-identifiable data.
  •  We take reasonable precautions to protect your personal information in our possession from loss, misuse and unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration and destruction.
  • We do not share data about your visit with third parties except to report malicious attacks or as required by law.
  • We make reasonable efforts to minimize the number of third parties that may track you on our website. Pages that utilize third party code that may track your visit include those with embedded YouTube videos or podcast players. In these examples the media playback cannot be reliably delivered without the reliance on third parties.

Data Collection

WCS servers automatically record non-identifiable details about website visits. Web server logs are generated when visitors view and interact with our web pages. We only collect non-identifying data that helps us achieve the purposes of this Privacy Policy. We do not collect any additional data beyond the data listed below without notifying users first:

  • Your Internet Protocol (IP) address.
  • Date and time of the interaction.
  • Your operating system.
  • Your browser type, plugins, and version.
  • Pages you viewed and documents downloaded on our website and time spent on each page.
  • URL of the page that directed you to our website, and in some instances, the search term(s) you used to find us.
  • Language of your browser.
  • Country (determined by IP address).

Server logs are automatically deleted on a revolving basis , unless circumstances warrant longer retention, for example, to investigate a bug or malicious attack.

While we take all reasonable precautions to ensure that user data is secure and that users are protected, there always remains the risk of harm. The internet as a whole can be insecure at times and therefore, we are unable to guarantee the security of user data beyond what is reasonably practical.

How We Use Your Data

Our website analytics only use non-identifiable data.  User data will be stored until the purpose the data was collected for has been achieved. We log and analyze transaction data from website visits to:

  • fix errors on our website;
  • defend against malicious attacks;
  • generate website usage statistics; and
  • improve service delivery in general.

Who We Share Personal Data With

We may disclose user data to any member of our organization who reasonably needs access to user data to achieve the purposes set out in this Privacy Policy.

Cookies

  • A cookie is a small text file that a website creates and accesses through your browser when you visit the site. Cookies are used for many purposes, such as to track language preferences, provide customized web page content, and display website navigation history.
  • You do not have to accept any cookies to access or search the WCS website.  However, there may be minor loss of functionality if you have disabled or deleted all cookies. Please consult your browser settings (and browser extensions or plugins) which allow you to configure whether and how you receive cookies.
  • Cookies used by the WCS do not contain personally identifying information, and do not give us access to anything on your device.  Data generated from WCS cookies are not used to identify visitors, used to track them across the Internet, or shared with third parties. The foregoing does not apply to certain third-party cookies associated with embedded content, discussed below.

Third Party Cookies

When visiting our site, your browser may receive longer-term “persistent” cookies from third parties including Google. This may happen because some WCS web pages host embedded content such as videos and podcasts hosted by third party providers. Consequently, these providers could potentially track your online activities across other websites.

 

Third Parties

The IPC collects and analyzes website usage data solely for internal purposes. We do not sell, rent, exchange, or otherwise disclose any information that we collect about our website visitors to third parties, except in the case of a malicious attack, to prove or protect our legal rights, or as required by law.

Email Communication

If you sign up to receive email news, updates or communications from the WCS your email address will only be used to provide you with the requested service. If you do not wish to receive e-mail communications from the WCS regarding new programs and the ongoing work IPC is undertaking, you may unsubscribe at any point or e-mail us at C.Wall@welcomecentreshelter.com.

External Sites

The WCS website may contain links to websites controlled by other Government of Ontario organizations and to third party websites. We are not responsible for the content and the privacy practices of sites other than our own. We encourage you to examine each site’s privacy policies and to make your own decisions regarding how your personal information is protected as well as the accuracy, reliability and completeness of material and information found there.

Modifications

The Privacy Policy may be amended from time to time in order to maintain compliance with the law and to reflect any changes to our data collection process. When we amend this Privacy Policy, we will update the “Effective Date” at the top of this Privacy Policy.