Privacy Policy

1. Overview

Founders Club Canada respects the privacy of applicants, members, event participants, partners and website visitors. This Privacy Policy describes the categories of personal information that may be collected, how information may be used, the circumstances in which it may be shared and the choices available to individuals.

This policy is intended as a general description of our practices. Additional notices, consent language or contractual terms may apply to a specific membership service, event, transaction or third-party platform.

Our privacy practices are intended to be administered in a manner consistent with applicable Canadian privacy requirements, including federal and provincial requirements that may apply to a particular activity or individual.

2. Information we may collect

Depending on how you interact with the Club, we may collect information that you provide directly, including:

• name, email address, telephone number and other contact details;
• company name, title, professional biography, city, industry, company stage and website;
• membership application responses and information provided during a membership review;
• member profile information, member card number and account preferences;
• event registrations, attendance information and program participation;
• introduction requests, resource requests, support messages and correspondence;
• information voluntarily supplied in forms, surveys, discussions or other interactions.

3. Technical and usage information

When you use the website or private platform, certain technical information may be processed automatically, such as IP address, browser type, device information, referring pages, approximate geographic region, access time, security events and website activity. This information may be used for administration, analytics, troubleshooting, fraud prevention and security.

4. Consent, accountability and appropriate purposes

Where consent is required, we may seek it expressly or rely on consent that is reasonably implied by the circumstances, depending on the sensitivity of the information and the purpose of the interaction. Individuals may withdraw consent to certain optional uses, subject to legal, contractual or operational restrictions and reasonable notice.

We aim to collect, use and disclose personal information only for purposes that a reasonable person would consider appropriate in the circumstances. Access to personal information should be limited to people and service providers who require it for legitimate Club functions.

5. How information may be used

We may use personal information to operate and improve Founders Club Canada, including to:

• review and administer membership applications;
• create and manage member accounts and credentials;
• provide access to the private member directory, resources and programs;
• facilitate requested introductions and member services;
• administer events, round tables, councils and other programming;
• respond to enquiries and provide support;
• send operational notices and, where permitted, relevant communications;
• maintain security, investigate misuse and protect the integrity of the platform;
• understand service performance and improve the member experience;
• meet legal, regulatory, contractual and record-keeping obligations.

6. Membership applications

Application information may be reviewed by authorized personnel involved in membership administration and may be retained as reasonably necessary to complete the review, maintain records and manage future interactions. An application is not public and does not create a membership relationship by itself.

7. Private member directory

Approved member profile information may be visible to other authorized members through the private platform. The directory is intended for legitimate peer-to-peer and institutional purposes. Members must not scrape, systematically export, resell, publish or use directory information for unsolicited mass marketing.

8. Introductions and member interactions

When a member requests an introduction, relevant information from that request may be shared with the intended recipient or other parties reasonably involved in facilitating the connection. Members should avoid including sensitive or unnecessary information in an introduction request.

9. Service providers

We may use third-party service providers for hosting, email delivery, analytics, security, forms, payments, event operations, communications, cloud infrastructure or other business functions. Providers may process information only as necessary to perform the services for which they are engaged, subject to applicable contractual and legal requirements.

10. Other disclosures

Information may be disclosed where required or permitted by law, in response to valid legal process, to protect the rights or security of individuals or the Club, to investigate suspected misuse, or in connection with a legitimate organizational restructuring, financing, merger, acquisition or transfer of assets where appropriate safeguards apply.

11. Communications

Operational communications related to an application, account, event or membership may be necessary to provide the service. Promotional or informational communications may be sent where permitted by applicable law and can generally be discontinued using the unsubscribe method provided in the communication or by contacting us.

12. Cookies and analytics

The website may use cookies or similar technologies for basic functionality, security, preferences and analytics. Browser settings may allow you to restrict certain cookies, although doing so can affect website or platform functionality. If additional analytics or advertising tools are introduced, corresponding notices should be updated as appropriate.

13. Retention

Personal information is retained only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes for which it was collected, including membership administration, security, dispute resolution, legitimate business records and legal or regulatory requirements. Retention periods may differ by category of information.

14. Security

Reasonable administrative, technical and organizational safeguards should be maintained to reduce the risk of unauthorized access, use, alteration or disclosure. These may include access controls, account authentication, role-based permissions, secure hosting practices, logging and platform maintenance. No website, transmission or storage system can be guaranteed completely secure.

15. International processing

Some technology or service providers may process information outside your province or outside Canada. Where this occurs, information may be subject to the laws of the jurisdiction in which it is processed. We may take reasonable steps to use providers and contractual arrangements appropriate to the nature of the information and service.

16. Access, correction and deletion requests

You may request access to, correction of or deletion of certain personal information, subject to applicable law, identity verification and legitimate retention requirements. Members may also be able to update selected profile fields through the private platform.

17. Children

The services are intended for business professionals and are not directed to children. We do not knowingly design the membership platform for individuals who are not legally able to enter the relevant membership or service arrangements.

18. Privacy incidents and complaints

If we become aware of a privacy or security incident involving personal information, we may investigate, contain and document the incident and take notification or other steps where required by applicable law. Individuals with a concern about our privacy practices are encouraged to contact us first so the matter can be reviewed. Depending on the circumstances, individuals may also have the right to raise a concern with an applicable privacy regulator.

19. Changes to this policy

This Privacy Policy may be revised as the organization, technology or legal requirements evolve. The current version will be published on this page with the updated date shown above.

20. Privacy contact

Questions, requests or concerns relating to privacy can be sent to [email protected]. Please provide enough information for the request to be understood and, where necessary, for identity to be reasonably verified.