Privacy
Policy.

Scope and accountability

This policy applies to DowntownVancouver.ca and the information under its control. DowntownVancouver.ca is an independent local services platform that connects visitors with participating professional service providers. It is not a medical, dental, legal, accounting or other professional practice.

DowntownVancouver.ca is responsible for its privacy practices and has designated the holder of compliance@downtownvancouver.ca to receive privacy questions, access or correction requests, and complaints.

Information we collect

Information you provide directly

If you email us, we may receive your name, email address, organization, message and any other information you choose to provide. Please do not send medical records, dental records, legal files, tax records, financial account information or other sensitive professional-service information to DowntownVancouver.ca. Contact the relevant provider directly for services, consultations and appointments.

Technical and security information

The website host and security systems may automatically record limited technical information such as IP address, browser and device information, requested page, referring page, date and time, and security events. This information is used to operate, secure and troubleshoot the website.

Google Analytics and cookies

With your permission, DowntownVancouver.ca uses Google Analytics 4 to understand aggregate website use, including pages viewed, general referral source, device and browser characteristics, approximate geographic information and interactions with site content. We do not intentionally send names, email addresses, form contents or provider-enquiry details to Google Analytics.

Google Analytics uses first-party cookies, including cookies commonly named _ga and _ga_<measurement-id>, to distinguish browsers and sessions. Analytics cookies are not placed unless you select Allow analytics. If you decline, the site remains fully available.

A strictly necessary preference cookie records whether you allowed or declined analytics so the site can respect your selection. You may reopen the consent controls at any time using Cookie preferences in the footer.

Google Search Console is used to monitor the site’s presence in Google Search. Search Console does not require DowntownVancouver.ca to place a visitor-tracking cookie on this website.

How information is used

We use information only for purposes a reasonable person would consider appropriate in the circumstances, including to:

• respond to enquiries, corrections and privacy requests;
• operate, protect and troubleshoot the website;
• understand aggregate site performance and improve content;
• administer participating-provider and exclusive-category relationships;
• maintain business, security and compliance records; and
• meet legal or regulatory obligations.

DowntownVancouver.ca does not sell personal information.

Service providers and disclosure

Information may be processed by service providers that support website hosting, email, security and analytics. Google processes analytics information under its own terms and privacy practices. Service providers may process information outside British Columbia or Canada, where it may be subject to the laws of the jurisdiction in which it is processed.

We may disclose information where reasonably necessary to obtain professional advice, protect the website or its users, investigate misuse, complete a business transaction, or comply with law, court order or lawful governmental request. We do not disclose an enquiry to a participating provider unless you direct us to do so or the disclosure is otherwise authorized by law.

Retention and security

We retain information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes described in this policy, legal requirements, dispute resolution and legitimate business records. Google Analytics event-level retention is configured within Google Analytics; the standard property options are limited to 2 or 14 months. Aggregated reports may remain available for longer periods.

We use reasonable administrative, technical and organizational safeguards appropriate to the nature of the information. No internet transmission or storage system can be guaranteed completely secure.

Access, correction, withdrawal and complaints

Subject to applicable law, you may request access to personal information about you under our control, ask that inaccurate information be corrected, withdraw consent to future analytics collection, or raise a concern about our privacy practices.

To make a request, email compliance@downtownvancouver.ca. We may need to verify your identity before responding. If a concern is not resolved, you may contact the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner for British Columbia.

External websites and participating providers

The site links to independent providers and other external websites. Their privacy practices are governed by their own policies. DowntownVancouver.ca is not responsible for the privacy, security or content of external websites.

Changes to this policy

We may update this policy when our services, technology or legal obligations change. The effective date at the top of the page identifies the current version.