Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy applies to the following website: https://arccounselling.ca (“Website”), owned and operated by ARC: Anxiety Relief Centre (“ARC”).

Article 1 – DEFINITIONS

  1. Effective Date: “Effective Date” means the date this Privacy Policy comes into force and effect.
  2. Parties: The parties to this privacy policy are the following data controller: ARC (“Data Controller”) and you, as the user of the Website. Hereinafter, the parties will individually be referred to as “Party” and collectively as “Parties”.
  3. Data Controller: Data Controller is the publisher, owner, and operator of the Website, and is the Party responsible for the collection of information described herein. If Data Controller or Data Controller’s property shall be referred to through first-person pronouns, it shall be through the use of the following: us, we, our, ours, etc.
  4. You: Should you agree to this Privacy Policy and continue your use of our website, you will be referred to herein as either you, the client, the user, or if any second-person pronouns are required and applicable, such pronouns as “your”, “yours”, etc.
  5. Consent: “Consent” to the collection, use and disclosure of Personal Information may be given in various ways. Consent can be expressed (e.g., orally, electronically or on a form you may submit, or implied (e.g., when you provide information necessary for a service you have requested, or in some circumstances where notice has been provided to you about our intentions with respect to your Personal Information and you have not withdrawn your consent for an identified purpose, such as by using an “opt out” option provided). Consent may be given by your authorized representative (such as a legal guardian or a person having a power of attorney).
  6. Services: “Services” means any services that we make available on our website.
  7. Personal Information: “Personal Information” means Personal Information and information that we obtain from you in connection with your use of the Website, and may include your name, address, email address, date of birth, telephone number, and other data which may identify you.

Article 2 – GENERAL INFORMATION

This Privacy Policy describes how we collect and use the Personal Information that we receive about you, as well as your rights in relation to that Personal Information.This Privacy Policy does not pertain to clinical or medical records of registered clients, only preliminary information provided when you visit our website, book online, or contact us via our website, phone, or email.

We are committed to the protection of your privacy while you use our website. By continuing to use our website, you acknowledge that you have had the chance to review and consider this Privacy Policy, and you acknowledge that you agree to it. This means that you also consent to the use of your information and the method of disclosure as described in this Privacy Policy. If you do not understand this Privacy Policy or do not agree to it, then you agree to immediately cease your access to our website.

Article 3 – CONTACT

If you have any questions about this privacy policy, the practices of this site, or your dealings with the Website, you can contact us at privacy@arccounselling.ca, or at our below-noted mailing address:

ARC: Anxiety Relief Centre
402 W. Pender Street, #704
Vancouver, BC, V6B 1T6

Any dispute arising between you and us with respect to your privacy is subject to any applicable Terms of Use of the Website, and this Privacy Policy, including limitations on damages, arbitration, and jurisdiction. This statement and the polices contained herein are not intended to and do not create any contractual or other legal rights in or on behalf of any party.

Article 4 – THE PERSONAL INFORMATION WE RECEIVE FROM YOU

Depending on how you access our services, you will be subject to different types of Personal Information collected and different manners of collection:

  • Registered or Potential Clients: You may request or book an appointment through the following methods:
    • Online Form (this covers the submission of a user-filled form on our website).
    • Online Booking Software “Cliniko” (for more information please visit: https://www.cliniko.com/security/)
    • Email (this covers communication sent to our general inbox: connect@arccounselling.ca)
    • Phone (this applies to calls and conversation including booking an appointment or consultation with our representatives).

During the process of your booking, we will collect some or all of the following Personal Information from you through your voluntary disclosure: your first name, last name, date of birth, email address, phone number, and reason for seeking services. You can book an appointment or communicate with us through an online form on our website, Cliniko, phone call, or email. Personal Information may be asked for in relation to: interaction with our representatives in any way; providing services to you; processing payment for your preferred services

By undergoing the booking process, you consent to us collecting your Personal Information, including the Personal Information described in this clause, as well as storing, using or disclosing your Personal Information in accordance with this Privacy Policy.

  • Visitors: If you are a visitor to our website and do not want to book an appointment or consultation or purchase any of our Services, you may still be subject to certain passive data collection (“Passive Data Collection”). Such Passive Data Collection may include through cookies, as described below, IP address information, location information, and certain browser dat
  • All Clients, Users and Visitors: The Passive Data Collection that applies to visitors shall also apply to all clients and other users of our website.
  • Billing Information: In order to book an appointment through our website via Cliniko, you may be asked to provide credit card information, billing address information, and possibly additional specific information so that you may be accurately charged for Services.

Article 5 – THE PERSONAL INFORMATION WE RECEIVE AUTOMATICALLY

Cookies: We may collect information from you through automatic tracking systems (such as information about your browsing preferences) as well as through information that you volunteer to us (such as information you provide during an appointment request or at other times while using our website, as described above).

For example, we use cookies to make your browsing experience easier and more intuitive: cookies are small strings of text used to store some information that may concern the user, his or her preferences or the device they are using to access the internet (such as a computer, tablet, or mobile phone). Cookies are mainly used to adapt the operation of the site to your expectations, offering a more personalized browsing experience and memorizing the choices you made previously.

A cookie consists of a reduced set of data transferred to your browser from a web server and it can only be read by the server that made the transfer. This is not executable code and does not transmit viruses.

Cookies do not record or store any Personal Information. If you want, you can prevent the use of cookies, but then you may not be able to use our website as we intend. To proceed without changing the options related to cookies, simply continue to use our website.

Technical Cookies: Technical cookies, which can also sometimes be called HTML cookies, are used for navigation and to facilitate your access to and use of the site. They are necessary for the transmission of communications on the network or to supply services requested by you. The use of technical cookies allows the safe and efficient use of the site.

You can manage or request the general deactivation or cancellation of cookies through your browser. If you do this though, please be advised this action might slow down or prevent access to some parts of the site.

Cookies may also be retransmitted by an analytics or statistics provider to collect aggregated information on the number of users and how they visit ARC. These are also considered technical cookies when they operate as described.

Temporary session cookies are deleted automatically at the end of the browsing session – these are mostly used to identify you and ensure that you don’t have to log in each time – whereas permanent cookies remain active longer than just one particular session.

Third-Party Cookies: We may also utilize third-party cookies, which are cookies sent by a third-party to your computer. Permanent cookies are often third-party cookies. The majority of third-party cookies consist of tracking cookies used to identify online behaviour, understand interests and then customize information for users.

Third-party analytical cookies may also be installed. They are sent from the domains of the aforementioned third parties external to the site. Third-party analytical cookies are used to detect information on user behavior on our website. This place anonymously, in order to monitor the performance and improve the usability of the site. Third-party profiling cookies are used to create profiles relating to users, in order to propose advertising in line with the choices expressed by the users themselves.

When these types of cookies are used, we will receive your explicit consent.

Support in Configuring your Browser: You can manage cookies through the settings of your browser on your device. However, deleting cookies from your browser may remove the preferences you have set for this website.

Log Data: Like all websites and mobile applications, this Website also makes use of log files that store automatic information collected during user visits. The different types of log data could be as follows:

  • internet protocol (IP) address
  • type of browser and device parameters used to connect to ARC
  • name of the Internet Service Provider (ISP)
  • date and time of visit
  • web page of origin of the user (referral) and exit
  • possibly the number of clicks

The aforementioned information is processed in an automated form and collected in an exclusively aggregated manner in order to verify the correct functioning of the site, and for security reasons. This information will be processed according to the legitimate interests of the Data Controller.

Article 6 – THIRD PARTIES

We may utilize third-party service providers (“Third-Party Service Providers”), from time to time or all the time, to help us with providing and delivering our Services and to help serve you. We may use Third-Party Service Providers to assist with information storage (such as cloud storage).

The following entities are used to store and process information:

  • We use Google Analytics for tracking metrics and usage on our website.
  • We use Hotjar to analyze user patterns through our website.
  • We use Cliniko and Contact Form 7 to collect personal information when you book or contact us through our website.
  • We use Google Workspace (G Suite) for business email hosting
  • We use Moneris and Stripe to process payments for our services.
  • We use WordPress to create and host our website, store and process data obtained through our website.

Information relating to and collected by third-party service providers may be transferred on servers located outside of your province, country or other governmental jurisdiction where the data protection laws may differ than those from your jurisdiction.

We will take all steps reasonably necessary to ensure that your data is treated safely and securely and according to this Privacy Policy. Therefore, no transfer of your Personal Information will take place in an organization/ province/ country unless there are adequate controls in place including the security of your personal information.

Article 7 – CONSENT

Generally, by providing us with Personal Information, we will assume that you consent to our collection, use and disclosure of such information for the purposes identified or described in this Privacy Policy, if applicable, or as otherwise described at the time of collection.

We do not collect, use or disclose your Personal Information other than as described in this Privacy Policy without your consent, unless permitted or required by law. We may be required or permitted under statute or regulation to collect, use or disclose personal information without your consent, for example in response to a court order or subpoena, to comply with local or federal regulations, or to collect a debt owed to us.

You may withdraw your consent to our collection, use and disclosure of Personal Information at any time, subject to contractual and legal restrictions and reasonable notice, however, please note that if you withdraw your consent to certain uses of your personal information, we may no longer be able to provide certain of our services.

Article 8 – STORAGE AND RETENTION OF INFORMATION

The security of your Personal Information is important to us, and we take every step to ensure that it is protected against unauthorized access, disclosure, or destruction. Please note, however, that no system involving the transmission of information via the internet, or the electronic storage of data, is completely secure.

We will retain your Personal Information only for as long as is necessary for the purposes set out in this Privacy Policy, and to comply with our legal obligations. For example, if we are required to retain your data to comply with applicable laws), resolve disputes, and enforce our legal agreements and policies.

Although we take precautions to safeguard your Personal Information, when you voluntarily disclose personal information on our Website which does not encrypt or otherwise secure that information other than by standard web server technology, along with any substantive information disclosed in your communication, this Personal Information may be subject to unauthorized collection by third parties and that unauthorized activity is beyond our control.

Article 9 – PURPOSES OF PROCESSING OF PERSONAL INFORMATION

We use your Personal Information to provide you the services and/or information you may have requested from us. This includes but is not limited to: information about our counselling services, information about our practitioners, and scheduling a counselling appointment or consultation.

Information that does not identify you personally, but that may assist in providing us broad overviews of our client base, will be used for research and analytical purposes. Such information may include, but is not limited to, interests based on your cookies.

Article 10 – DISCLOSURE OF PERSONAL INFORMATION

Under certain circumstances, we may be required to disclose your Personal Information if required to do so by law or in response to valid requests by public authorities (e.g. a court or a government agency).

We may also release such information if we feel it is necessary in order to protect our rights or the rights of our clients, affiliates, partners, or any other party, and for purposes of protection from fraud and credit risk. We may disclose your Personal Information in the good faith belief that such action is necessary to:

  • To comply with a legal obligation
  • To protect and defend our rights or property
  • To protect the personal safety of users of our service or the public
  • To protect against legal liability
  • To prevent or investigate possible wrongdoing in connection with our service

Article 11 – ACCEPTANCE OF RISK

By continuing to our website in any manner or request services, you agree and consent to this Privacy Policy. You further acknowledge, agree and accept that no transmission of information or data via the internet or phone call is always completely secure, no matter what steps are taken. You acknowledge, agree and accept that we do not guarantee or warrant the security of any information that you provide to us, and that you transmit such information at your own risk.

Article 12 – MODIFICATIONS AND REVISIONS

We reserve the right to modify, revise, or otherwise amend this Privacy Policy at any time and in any manner. If we do so, however, we will notify you and obtain your consent to the change in processing. Unless we specifically obtain your consent, any changes to the Privacy Policy will only impact the information collected on or after the date of the change. It is also your responsibility to periodically check this page for any such modification, revision or amendment.

Last updated February 18th, 2021