Privacy Policy

Vancouver Dentist Directory ("we," "our," or "us") is committed to protecting your privacy and personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our website and services, in compliance with the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) and other applicable Canadian privacy laws.

By using our services, you consent to the collection and use of your information as described in this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with our practices, please do not use our services.

1. Information We Collect

1.1 Personal Information You Provide

We collect personal information that you voluntarily provide to us when you:

• Submit a lead request form (name, email, phone number, postal code, dental needs)
• Register as a dentist member (practice name, address, contact information, professional credentials)
• Create an account (email, password, name)
• Contact us for support or inquiries
• Subscribe to our newsletter or communications

1.2 Automatically Collected Information

When you access our website, we automatically collect certain technical information, including:

• IP address and device identifiers
• Browser type and version
• Operating system
• Pages viewed and links clicked
• Date and time stamps of visits
• Referring website addresses

1.3 Information from Third Parties

We may receive information about you from third-party services such as analytics providers and advertising networks, which we use to improve our services and understand user behavior.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

• Service Delivery: To connect patients with dentists, process lead requests, and facilitate communication between parties
• Account Management: To create and manage your account, authenticate users, and provide customer support
• Service Improvement: To analyze usage patterns, improve our website functionality, and develop new features
• Communication: To send service-related notifications, respond to inquiries, and provide updates about our services
• Marketing: To send promotional materials and newsletters (only with your consent, and you can opt out at any time)
• Legal Compliance: To comply with applicable laws, regulations, and legal processes
• Fraud Prevention: To detect, prevent, and address security issues, fraud, and technical problems

3. How We Share Your Information

We do not sell your personal information. We may share your information in the following circumstances:

3.1 With Dental Practices

When you submit a lead request, we share your contact information and dental needs with verified dentist members who serve your area. This is the core function of our service and is essential to connecting you with dental care providers.

3.2 With Service Providers

We use trusted third-party service providers to help us operate our business, including:

• Supabase: Our database and authentication provider, which stores your data securely in compliance with industry standards
• Email service providers for transactional and marketing communications
• Analytics and performance monitoring services
• Payment processors for membership subscriptions

These service providers are contractually obligated to protect your information and may only use it for the purposes we specify.

3.3 Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information if required by law, court order, or government regulation, or if we believe disclosure is necessary to protect our rights, your safety, or the safety of others.

3.4 Business Transfers

If we are involved in a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will notify you of any such change in ownership or control.

4. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your experience on our website. Cookies are small data files stored on your device that help us:

• Remember your preferences and settings
• Understand how you use our website
• Improve website performance and functionality
• Deliver relevant advertisements

You can control cookie preferences through your browser settings. Please note that disabling cookies may affect the functionality of our website. For more information about the specific cookies we use, please contact us.

5. Your Privacy Rights

Under PIPEDA and applicable Canadian privacy laws, you have the following rights regarding your personal information:

• Right to Access: You can request a copy of the personal information we hold about you
• Right to Correction: You can request that we correct inaccurate or incomplete information
• Right to Deletion: You can request that we delete your personal information, subject to legal retention requirements
• Right to Withdraw Consent: You can withdraw your consent for us to use your information at any time (note: this may limit our ability to provide services)
• Right to Object: You can object to certain uses of your information, such as marketing communications
• Right to File a Complaint: You can file a complaint with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada if you believe your privacy rights have been violated

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the information provided in the "Contact Us" section below. We will respond to your request within 30 days.

6. Data Security

We implement reasonable administrative, technical, and physical security measures to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. These measures include:

• Encryption of data in transit and at rest
• Secure authentication and access controls
• Regular security assessments and monitoring
• Employee training on data protection practices
• Secure data storage with Supabase, which maintains SOC 2 Type II compliance

However, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

7. Data Retention

We retain your personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, including:

• While you maintain an active account with us
• As required to provide services and support
• To comply with legal, tax, or accounting requirements
• To resolve disputes and enforce our agreements

When we no longer need your information, we will securely delete or anonymize it in accordance with our data retention policies.

8. Children's Privacy

Our services are not directed to individuals under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us immediately. If we become aware that we have collected information from a child without parental consent, we will take steps to delete that information.

9. International Data Transfers

Your information is stored and processed in Canada and may be transferred to, stored, or processed in other countries where our service providers operate. When we transfer your information internationally, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place to protect your privacy in accordance with PIPEDA requirements.

10. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or for other operational reasons. We will notify you of any material changes by posting the updated policy on our website with a new "Last Updated" date. Your continued use of our services after such changes constitutes your acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy.

We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically to stay informed about how we protect your information.

11. Third-Party Links

Our website may contain links to third-party websites and services that are not operated by us. This Privacy Policy does not apply to those third-party sites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of other websites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party sites you visit.

12. Contact Us

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us:

If you are not satisfied with our response to your privacy concern, you have the right to contact the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada:

13. Your Consent

By using Vancouver Dentist Directory, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Privacy Policy and consent to the collection, use, and disclosure of your personal information as described herein. For information about our Terms of Service, please visit our Terms of Service page.