Privacy Policy
Effective Date: May 1, 2026 | Organization: EmpowerMat (CRA #123456789RR0001) | Contact: empowermat@outlook.ca
EmpowerMat is committed to protecting the privacy of all individuals who interact with our website and programs, in accordance with Canada's Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) and applicable British Columbia and Alberta privacy legislation.
1. Information We Collect
EmpowerMat collects personal information only for the purposes described below. We collect:
- Scholarship applicants: Name, age, contact information (email, phone), martial art of interest, gym or training location, and a personal statement.
- Event registrants: Name, contact information, gym affiliation, and registration category (athlete, coach, spectator).
- Donors: Name, email, and payment information (processed securely via Stripe — EmpowerMat does not store payment card data).
- Sponsors: Business name, contact name, email, and sponsorship tier interest.
- Contact form submissions: Name, email, and message content.
- Testimonial submissions: Name, story content, and optionally a video. Social media consent is collected separately.
- Website analytics: Anonymized page view data for website improvement purposes.
2. How We Use Your Information
- To process scholarship applications and notify applicants of decisions
- To manage event registrations and communicate event details
- To process donations and issue tax receipts
- To communicate with sponsors regarding partnership opportunities
- To respond to contact form inquiries
- To publish approved testimonials on the EmpowerMat website
- To improve our website and programs through anonymized analytics
3. Children's Privacy
EmpowerMat serves youth ages 5–18. When personal information is collected from or about a minor, we require parental or guardian consent. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 without verifiable parental consent. Parents or guardians may contact us at empowermat@outlook.ca to review, correct, or request deletion of a minor's personal information.
4. Data Sharing
EmpowerMat does not sell, rent, or trade personal information to third parties. We share information only with:
- Stripe: For secure payment processing (governed by Stripe's privacy policy)
- Service providers: Who assist with website hosting and email, bound by confidentiality agreements
- Legal requirements: Where required by Canadian law
5. Data Retention
We retain personal information only as long as necessary for the purposes for which it was collected, or as required by law. Scholarship application data is retained for a minimum of 3 years for reporting purposes. You may request deletion of your personal data by contacting empowermat@outlook.ca.
6. Your Rights
Under PIPEDA, you have the right to:
- Access the personal information EmpowerMat holds about you
- Correct inaccurate personal information
- Withdraw consent for the use of your personal information
- Request deletion of your personal information
To exercise these rights, contact us at empowermat@outlook.ca.
7. Security
EmpowerMat uses industry-standard security measures including encrypted data transmission (HTTPS), secure session management, and access controls to protect your personal information.
8. Updates to This Policy
EmpowerMat may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. The effective date at the top of this page will reflect the most recent update. Continued use of our website following any changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.
9. Contact
For any privacy-related questions or requests, contact EmpowerMat's Privacy Officer at:
Email: empowermat@outlook.ca
Organization: EmpowerMat, Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada