Privacy Policy
Authority and scope
The City of Fernie (City) is committed to protecting personal information in accordance with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act of British Columbia (FOIPPA).
Where personal information is collected, used, stored, or processed by third-party service providers on behalf of the City, those providers are also subject to the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) and/or other applicable privacy legislation.
This Privacy Policy explains how personal information is collected, used, disclosed, and protected through this website.
Ownership and service provider
This site is owned and operated by the City using software licensed from Social Pinpoint, which provides the online engagement platform and related technology services.
The City retains custody and control of personal information collected through this site. Social Pinpoint acts as a service provider and is contractually required to protect personal information, limit its use to authorized purposes, and comply with applicable privacy legislation, including FOIPPA and PIPEDA. For additional details, please refer to Social Pinpoint's Privacy Policy.
Collection of personal information
Personal information is collected only as authorized under FOIPPA and, where applicable, PIPEDA, and only where reasonably necessary for public engagement, communication, and service delivery.
Personal information may be collected in the following ways:
Profile information
If you choose to register on this site, we may collect your email address and any additional information you voluntarily provide. Registration is optional, and you may browse publicly accessible areas of the site anonymously.
Engagement information
We collect information you voluntarily submit when participating in engagement activities, such as survey responses, comments, submissions, or feedback.
Usage information
We may collect limited information about how the site is used (e.g., pages visited or documents downloaded) to evaluate and improve engagement activities and website performance.
Use of personal information
Personal information collected through this website may be used to:
- support, analyze, and evaluate public engagement initiatives;
- communicate with you about engagement opportunities, events, or related initiatives;
- respond to enquiries, comments, or submissions; and
- meet statutory, operational, and administrative requirements of the City.
Disclosure of personal information
Personal information may be disclosed only as permitted or required under FOIPPA and PIPEDA. This may include disclosure to authorized service providers, such as Social Pinpoint, who provide services on behalf of the City and are bound by contractual and legal privacy obligations.
Storage, security, and safeguarding
The City takes reasonable administrative, technical, and physical measures to protect personal information against unauthorized access, use, disclosure, alteration, or loss. These measures may include encryption, access controls, and secure system management practices.
Personal information is stored and managed in accordance with FOIPPA requirements. Where information is handled by third-party service providers, appropriate safeguards are in place to ensure compliance with applicable privacy legislation.
External links
This website may contain links to external websites for convenience. The City is not responsible for the privacy practices or content of external sites and encourages users to review the privacy policies of those websites before providing personal information.
Access to and correction of personal information
Under FOIPPA, you have the right to request access to records in the custody or control of the City, including records containing your personal information, subject to limited and specific exceptions. You also have the right to request correction of your personal information if you believe it is inaccurate or incomplete.
Where PIPEDA applies, you may also have the right to access, correct, or request deletion of your personal information, subject to applicable legal requirements.
Requests must be made in writing and will be handled in accordance with applicable legislative timelines.
Changes to this policy
This Privacy Policy may be updated from time to time. Any changes will be posted on this website.
Contact us
For questions about this Privacy Policy, to request access to or correction of personal information, or to raise privacy concerns or complaints, please contact:
Email: letstalk@fernie.ca
