EquityHub CA ("EquityHub CA", "we", "us" or "our") operates the website equityhubca.com as an educational platform that helps Canadian retail investors understand private real estate as an alternative asset class. We publish independent, data-driven guides explaining how private real estate vehicles pool capital to acquire residential, multi-residential, commercial and industrial property across markets such as Toronto, Vancouver and Calgary. This Privacy Policy explains what personal information we collect through equityhubca.com, why we collect it, how we use and protect it, and the choices and rights available to you.
We are committed to handling personal information in accordance with the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA, S.C. 2000, c. 5) and the ten fair information principles set out in Schedule 1 of that Act, together with any applicable provincial privacy legislation. By using our website or submitting a form to us, you acknowledge the practices described in this policy.
1. Accountability and Who We Are
EquityHub CA is the organisation responsible for the personal information under our control. Because EquityHub CA is an education-only publisher, we do not sell securities, take commissions, manage client portfolios or provide individualised financial advice. The personal information we handle is therefore limited to what is needed to respond to enquiries, deliver requested educational content and operate the website. Questions about this policy or our information-handling practices can be directed to info@equityhubca.com.
2. Personal Information We Collect
We collect only the information that is reasonably necessary for the purposes described below. Depending on how you interact with equityhubca.com, this may include:
- Identity information: your full name, submitted through our request-information form or newsletter sign-up.
- Contact information: your email address, which is the primary way we respond to enquiries and send requested educational guides.
- Enquiry details: your self-described investor experience level and the content of any message you choose to send us, so we can answer your question appropriately.
- Technical information: your IP address, browser type, operating system, device characteristics, referring page and pages viewed, collected automatically through server logs and cookies.
- Cookie and preference data: a record of your cookie consent choice and similar settings, as described in our Cookie Policy.
We do not knowingly collect financial account numbers, government identifiers, or sensitive information about health, and we ask that you do not submit such details through our forms. Because we offer education rather than transactions, there is no need for us to gather investment account data.
3. How We Collect Information
We collect information directly from you when you complete the request-information form, subscribe to our educational newsletter, or email us at info@equityhubca.com. We also collect certain technical information automatically when you browse equityhubca.com, using server logs and the cookies described in our Cookie Policy. We do not purchase personal information from data brokers or combine your information with lists obtained from third parties.
4. Purposes for Which We Use Your Information
Consistent with the PIPEDA principle of identifying purposes, we use personal information only for the following clearly defined reasons:
- To respond to your enquiry and provide the educational information you request about private real estate investing in Canada.
- To deliver newsletters and educational guides you have asked to receive, and to let you unsubscribe at any time.
- To understand which guides and market-data breakdowns are most useful, so we can improve our content and the structure of the website.
- To maintain the security, integrity and proper functioning of equityhubca.com and to detect and prevent fraud, spam or abuse.
- To comply with our legal and regulatory obligations under Canadian law.
We will not use your personal information for any new purpose that is incompatible with those listed above without first obtaining your consent, except where permitted or required by law.
5. Consent
We rely on your consent to collect, use and disclose your personal information. When you submit a form on equityhubca.com, you provide express consent by ticking the required consent checkbox before the form can be sent. For routine website operation and security, we rely on implied consent that is reasonable in the circumstances. You may withdraw your consent at any time, subject to legal or contractual restrictions and reasonable notice, by contacting us at info@equityhubca.com. Withdrawing consent may mean we can no longer respond to your enquiry or send you the educational materials you requested.
6. Disclosure of Personal Information
EquityHub CA does not sell, rent or trade your personal information. We disclose it only in limited circumstances:
- Service providers: our website hosting provider and email service provider, which process information solely on our behalf and under confidentiality obligations.
- Legal requirements: where disclosure is required or permitted by law, such as in response to a valid request from a government authority, court order or regulator.
- Protection of rights: where reasonably necessary to investigate suspected fraud, protect the security of our website, or enforce our Terms of Use.
Where we engage a third party to process information on our behalf, we use contractual and other means to provide a comparable level of protection while the information is being handled by that party.
7. Retention of Personal Information
We retain personal information only as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes for which it was collected. Information submitted through the request-information form or newsletter is generally retained for up to twenty-four (24) months after our last meaningful contact with you, after which it is securely deleted or anonymised. Server log and technical data is retained for a shorter period for security and analytics purposes. When information is no longer required, we destroy, erase or anonymise it using appropriate safeguards.
8. Safeguards and Security
We protect personal information with security safeguards appropriate to its sensitivity. Technical measures include encryption of data in transit using TLS/SSL, restricted server access and protected storage of form submissions. Organisational measures include limiting access to personal information to those who need it to do their work and a general practice of data minimisation. While we take these precautions seriously, no method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.
9. Your Rights Under PIPEDA
Subject to certain legal exceptions, you have the following rights with respect to your personal information:
- Access: to be informed of the existence, use and disclosure of your personal information and to be given access to that information.
- Accuracy and correction: to challenge the accuracy and completeness of your information and to have it amended where appropriate.
- Withdrawal of consent: to withdraw your consent to the collection, use or disclosure of your information at any time, subject to legal or contractual restrictions.
- Information about our practices: to ask questions and receive an account of how we handle your personal information.
- Complaint: to challenge our compliance with PIPEDA and to escalate unresolved concerns to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada.
To exercise any of these rights, contact us at info@equityhubca.com. We will respond within thirty (30) days as required by PIPEDA, or tell you if we need additional time. We may ask you to verify your identity before acting on a request.
10. Cookies and Tracking
We use a small number of cookies and similar technologies to remember your cookie-consent choice and to understand how the website is used. You can manage cookies through the consent banner shown on your first visit and through your browser settings. For full details, including the types of cookies we use and how to control them, please read our Cookie Policy.
11. Third-Party Links and Services
Our website may load resources such as web fonts from third-party providers and may link to external resources for further reading. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of websites we do not operate. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party site you visit.
12. Children's Privacy
EquityHub CA publishes content intended for adult investors, and our audience is generally aged thirty to sixty. The website is not directed at children, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from individuals under the age of majority in their province or territory. If you believe a minor has provided us with personal information, please contact us so we can delete it.
13. Storage and Cross-Border Processing
Your personal information may be stored or processed by our service providers on servers that are located in Canada or in other countries. Where information is processed outside Canada, it may be subject to the laws of those jurisdictions, including lawful access by courts and authorities. We take reasonable steps to ensure that any service provider offers a comparable level of protection to that required under PIPEDA.
14. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology or legal requirements. When we make material changes, we will revise the "Last updated" date above and, where appropriate, provide a more prominent notice on equityhubca.com. We encourage you to review this page periodically.
15. Contact and Complaints
If you have questions, requests or concerns about this Privacy Policy or how EquityHub CA handles your personal information, please contact us:
- Brand: EquityHub CA
- Website: equityhubca.com
- Email: info@equityhubca.com
If we are unable to resolve your concern to your satisfaction, you have the right to contact the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (OPC) at priv.gc.ca for further assistance.