Welcome to the chs.ca web Site (the "chs.ca site"), owned and managed by The Canadian Hearing Society. ("CHS"). The CHS products and services (collectively, the "Programs and Services") are offered by CHS through web pages at chs.ca and are made available subject to this Privacy Policy. This statement discloses the privacy practices of the chs.ca site. By using the Programs and Services, you agree, without limitation or qualification, to be bound by this Privacy Policy.

The Privacy Policy contains detailed information about the following:

1. What information of yours does the chs.ca site collect?
   
2. What are "cookies" and how does CHS use them?
   
3. What organization is collecting the information?
   
4. How does the chs.ca site use the information?
   
5. With whom does the chs.ca site share the information that is collected?
   
6. How can you access, edit or delete your information?
   
7. How can you opt-out?
   
8. What types of security procedures are in place to protect against the loss, misuse or alteration of your information?
   
9. What can you do to better protect yourself on the Internet?
   

All questions or concerns regarding our use of your information and this statement should be directed to:

The Canadian Hearing Society
Fundraising & Communications
271 Spadina Road
Toronto, Ontario
M5R 2V3
E-mail: webmaster@chs.ca

Please note that the chs.ca site contains links to other sites, and while we endeavor to ensure that these other sites' privacy policies conform to our own, CHS cannot represent or guarantee that they do so. So bear in mind that sites that are linked to from the chs.ca site may have privacy policies which differ from that of the chs.ca site.

This policy may be updated from time to time so please check back periodically.


1. What information of yours does the chs.ca site collect?

The goal of the chs.ca site is to be your premier destination on the Internet by providing you with the information, services and product offerings that are most relevant to deaf, hard of hearing, deafened, hearing and significant others. To achieve this goal, the chs.ca site needs to collect information to understand what differentiates you from its other unique users. We collect two types of information from you, "Anonymous Information" and "Identifiable Information".

Anonymous information refers to information that cannot be traced back to an identifiable specific individual. Each time a visitor comes to the chs.ca site, CHS collects information that is necessary to improve the overall quality of the visitor's online experience. CHS collects the visitor's IP address (e.g., whether the user is logged on from a .ca, .com, .gov or .edu domain), referral data (e.g., the address of the last URL a user visited prior to clicking through to a chs.ca Network site), and browser and platform type (e.g., a Netscape browser on a Macintosh platform). CHS also collects aggregate search terms from its search services for internal reporting and targeted advertising. CHS collects this user information for purposes of product monitoring, product improvement, and targeted advertising.

In addition to this Anonymous Information, CHS may also collect identifiable information ("Identifiable Information"). Identifiable Information refers to information that tells us specifically who is using the chs.ca site, such as your name and e-mail address. Wherever and whenever CHS collects identifiable information, we make an effort to include a link to this Privacy Policy on that page.

CHS collects Identifiable Information in the following ways from different parts of the chs.ca site:

1. Most of the Identifiable Information is gathered when you voluntarily register. If you choose to register you may provide CHS with your name, postal code, e-mail address, birth date, gender and other information. While not all of this information is required, the more information you volunteer (and the more accurate it is), the better we are able to customize your experience. Once you register, you will be given a chs.ca site ID and will be able to take full advantage of the many offerings over the chs.ca site, including personalization services. For example, your chs.ca site ID is used to offer you customized information. The number and variety of useful services the chs.ca site provides continues to grow and so will your ability to make use of these services if you choose to register for them. If you choose not to provide the requested information, the chs.ca site may not be able to offer you some of the customized services that depend on this type of information to function. However, to register, you still have the option of providing only the minimum necessary information.
   
2. In addition to registration for various services on the chs.ca site, CHS may ask you for Identifiable Information at other times, including certain necessary information when you enter sweepstakes, a contest or a promotion sponsored by the chs.ca site and/or our many partners. We also ask for information when you make a purchase or conduct a transaction over the chs.ca site.
   
3. If you contact the chs.ca site, we may keep a record of that correspondence. We do collect any e-mail addresses of those who communicate with the chs.ca site by joining our mailing list voluntarily. We use the information provided to occasionally send out mass e-mailings to inform end users about upcoming events, and other activities endorsed by CHS.
   
   

2. What are "cookies" and how does CHS use them?

In addition to the Identifiable Information that CHS collects, we also collect information anonymously using "cookies." A cookie is a small text file containing a unique identification number that is transferred from a web site to the hard drive of your computer so that the web site may identify you and allow you to move within the chs.ca site without having to sign in each time. This unique number identifies your browser-- but not you -- to the CHS computers whenever you visit the chs.ca site. A cookie will NOT let a web site know any Identifiable Information about you, such as your real name and address. The coding in the cookies CHS sets lets us know that you are using a particular computer but nothing more. Since cookies are only text files, they cannot run on your computer, search your computer for other information or transmit any information to anyone.

To help serve you better CHS uses cookies to:

1. Help us remember who you are through your browser settings so that CHS can offer and provide personalized services. CHS uses cookies to store and sometimes track information about our members' activities on the chs.ca site. Cookies also allow us to save passwords and preferences for you so that you will not have to re-enter them the next time you visit.
   
2. Measure traffic patterns. Without cookies, it could be difficult for CHS to know that certain services are more popular than others. This information also helps us to better understand when to offer new services.
3. Estimate audience size. Cookies help us know whether or not users have seen particular displays, including advertisements.
   
4. Display advertisements. Third party advertising networks for CHS may issue cookies when serving advertisements. See section 3 below for details on the information gathering practices of our ad-serving partners.
   
   The use of cookies is now an industry standard, and you will find them used on most major web sites. Most browsers are initially set up to accept cookies. If you prefer, you can reset your browser either to notify you when you have received a cookie, or to refuse to accept cookies. You should understand that while CHS does not require you to use cookies, certain sites would not function properly if you set your browser to not accept cookies.
   

3. What organization is collecting the information?

When you register information on the chs.ca site, that information is generally collected and maintained solely by CHS for the operation of the chs.ca site unless specifically stated otherwise at the point of collection. For example, some chs.ca site services are offered in conjunction with a partner company. If data is collected and/or maintained by any company other than CHS, we will tell you at the point of collection. If you do not want to share your information with that company, you can choose not to use that service.

CHS uses a reputable third party to serve the advertisements that you see on the chs.ca site. If you would like to know more about the information gathering practices and "opt-out" procedures of our third party ad server, please click here.

CHS may run promotions, contests and sweepstakes across the chs.ca site. These promotions, contests and sweepstakes may be sponsored or co-sponsored by third-parties. Data collected during a promotion is typically shared with the sponsor or co-sponsor. CHS will inform you at the point of collection whether or not we are sharing your Identifiable Information as a result of your participation in a promotion, contest or sweepstakes. If you do not want to have CHS share your data, you can choose to provide only the minimum information necessary to participate in such promotion, contest or sweepstakes, or choose not to participate in the promotion, contest or sweepstakes.

Be aware that chs.ca site sponsors and other advertisers have links on our sites that take you to other sites that may collect personally identifiable information about you. CHS hopes that all third parties involved adhere to our policies regarding the privacy of our users. However, the chs.ca site Privacy Policy does not cover third party data collection practices and the chs.ca site does not assume any responsibility for any actions of third parties.

4. How does the chs.ca site use the information it collects?

Any Identifiable Information you provide to CHS when registering for products and services on the chs.ca site is maintained and accessible only for the purposes of the chs.ca site unless specifically stated otherwise. CHS requests information from its users so those users can enjoy customized experiences across the chs.ca.

The chs.ca site may use the information it collects as follows:

1. The chs.ca site offers its users the ability to personalize content on the chs.ca site.
   
2. CHS uses the anonymous, aggregate data collected to inform our sponsors and advertisers as to numbers of people who have certain demographic characteristics and the number of those people who have seen and "clicked" on their advertisement(s). We will also disclose to those third-party sponsors and advertisers the overall demographics available regarding who saw and "clicked" on their advertisement. No Identifiable Information will be disclosed to these sponsors and advertisers as part of this process; only information in an anonymous, aggregate form will be disclosed.
   
3. CHS also uses the anonymous, aggregate data to perform statistical analyses of the collective characteristics and behavior of our registered users and visitors, to measure user demographics and interests regarding specific areas of the chs.ca site, to describe our services to third parties such as prospective business partners and advertisers and to analyze how and where best to use our resources. Without such data, we would be unable to identify the most popular areas of the chs.ca site, and we would be unable change and update the content and services appropriately. No Identifiable Information will be disclosed during these activities.
   
4. With your specific permission, the chs.ca site may, from time to time, use your information to contact you about changes or enhancements to Products and Services on the chs.ca site. If you indicated that you were interested in receiving offers or information from selected chs.ca site sponsors and advertisers, CHS can send you e-mail publications and mailings about products and services that we feel may be of interest to you and your company. For those who elect to receive such materials from CHS and who indicate that they do in their profile, CHS will release Identifiable Information. Information released includes name, e-mail address and other necessary information supplied in the chs.ca site registration process. If at any time you would like to end your subscription to any e-mail materials, follow the directions posted at the bottom of the e-mail material.
   
5. If you enter a sweepstakes or a contest on the chs.ca site, we will use the information you provided to contact you in the event you win. All CHS contest entry forms provide a way for you to opt-out of any communications that are not related to awarding prizes for the promotion. These entry forms also provide users with a choice on whether to receive e-mail marketing materials from third parties. Any information you provide will not be shared with such third parties unless you agree by checking the appropriate consent box on the entry form. If you enter a contest, you may be asked, under the rules of the promotion, to agree that the promotion sponsor may use your name in relation to announcing and promoting the winners of the promotion.
   
6. CHS may be required by law enforcement or judicial authorities to provide information on individual users to the appropriate governmental authorities.
   

5. With whom does the chs.ca site share the information that is collected?

In order to provide you with content and services that match your interests, the chs.ca site has relationships with many of the best services and content companies on the Internet. Many of these services also require registration to make them function properly. You can recognize most of these sites by the joint branding of CHS and such companies. Other third-party relationships are "private label" relationships where a Product or Service partner provides CHS with technology, services and/or content under chs.ca site branding. Whenever you provide registration information on co-branded or private label sites such data may be shared with the partners. You should make every effort to read the individual privacy policies of the partners, and make an informed decision on your own whether or not to continue based upon these sites' privacy practices and your own discretion.

In addition to finding co-branded sites, you will find direct links on our site to sites offered by third parties. Some of these sites are authorized to use the chs.ca site brands and/or logos. No third-party sites are covered by this Privacy Policy. If you feel that a site using a chs.ca site brand and/or logo does not follow an acceptable privacy policy, please contact the webmaster@chs.ca at chs.ca.


6. How can you access, edit or delete your information?

The chs.ca site provides its registered users the ability to access and edit the identifiable information in their user profiles. Currently, to access and edit your identifiable information, you have to go the chs.ca site. CHS also offers all users who have volunteered any Identifiable Information to CHS the opportunity to review the information provided and to rectify any inaccuracies. Please contact our webmaster@chs.ca at chs.ca.

7. How can you opt-out?

You can opt-out of providing Identifiable Information and from receiving information on chs.ca site updates and new services, as well as direct email offers from selected chs.ca site partners and sponsors. This is done at the point of initial collection of information and during the editing or updating process. The process to opt out of most chs.ca site email materials is the same as the process for editing user information profiles described above. In addition, all such email materials have easy-to-follow unsubscribe directions posted at the bottom of the email. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us (webmaster@chs.ca) at chs.ca.

8. What kinds of security procedures are in place to protect against the loss, misuse or alteration of your information?

The chs.ca site has security measures in place to attempt to protect you against the loss, misuse and alteration of your user data under our control. In all cases, your information is retained in secure facilities, protected from unauthorized access and kept only as long as is reasonably required. Only authorized employees who have a need to know your information for the purposes described in this policy have access to the information you choose to provide to us. CHS has imposed strict rules on chs.ca site employees who have access to the databases that store user information or to the servers that host our services. While we cannot guarantee that loss, misuse or alteration to data will not occur; we make every effort to prevent such unfortunate occurrences. Any other particularly sensitive information, such as your credit card number collected for a transaction is encrypted prior to transmission. CHS is not liable for any illegal use of your Identifiable Information that is beyond our reasonable control.

You are ultimately responsible for the security of your chs.ca site ID and password. Please take care when using and storing them. CHS recommends that you do not divulge your password to anyone. You should log out of your browser at the end of each computer session to ensure that others cannot access your identifiable information and correspondence, especially if you share a computer with someone else or are using a computer in a public place like a library or Internet cafe.


9. What you can do to better protect yourself on the Internet

1. Know the risks
   When you communicate with others online, you should be aware that, when disclosing Identifiable Information such as one's actual name, member name or email address on a web page, in a newsgroup, chat room, forum or any other medium, information may be collected and used by others to send that person unsolicited email from other parties, outside the chs.ca site.
   
2. Educate yourself, your co-workers and employees.
   Search the Web for as much information as you can about how to protect your privacy. Look for a privacy statement in the sites you visit. Privacy resources can be found at by clicking on any of the following links:
   

Industry Canada - Electronic Commerce Task Force (http://www.e-com.ic.gc.ca/english/index.html)

Privacy Commissioner of Canada (http://www.privcom.gc.ca)

CSA International (http://ww w.csa-international.org)

Electronic Privacy Information Center (http://www.epic.org/)

Privacy International (http://www.privacy.org/pi/)