This privacy policy has been compiled to better serve those who are concerned with how their personal Information is being collected and used online by the Miistakis Institute’s websites and mobile apps.

Personal information in the context of this policy, is information that can be used on its own or with other information to identify, contact, or locate a single person, or to identify an individual in context. Please read our privacy policy carefully to get a clear understanding of how we collect, use, protect or otherwise handle your personal information in any of our online tools.

What personal information do we collect from the people that visit our websites or use our apps?

When registering on our mobile apps, as appropriate, you may be asked to enter your name and email address to create a profile which will allow all data you enter to be connected to one identity , thereby enhancing both the user experience and the scientific rigour.

Certain web sites may ask for your name and email address so that we can contact you to clarify information you may have provided, or provide information you have requested (e.g., our newsletter). In these cases, that is clearly indicated at the time you enter your information, and the intended purpose explicitly stated.

Certain mobile apps and web sites may collect GPS locations and IP addresses as part of the data collection functionality that is at the core purpose of those apps.

Please note that certain mobile apps or web sites may collect photos or audio recordings, but these are of ecological or natural features, and are only collected through explicit user upload. As well, users are not encouraged to enter photos or audio recordings which could personally identify them.

When do we collect information?

We collect information from you when you register on our apps, fill out a form, enter information on our site, or sign up for our newsletter. GPS locations are entered as part of your active submission of data through data collection apps or web mapping tools. IP addresses are entered as part of your active submission of data through data collection apps or web mapping tools to facilitate data cleaning and identify malicious use.

How do we use your information?

All information collected online, personal or otherwise, is used in support of our mandate as a conservation research charity. None of it is commercialized by the Miistakis Institute nor sold to third parties.

Your email address and name, when collected, are used only for the purpose identified by the app or web site where you are asked to enter this information. Personal information gathered for one app, web site, project or purpose is not transferred to other apps, web sites or projects.

GPS coordinates are gathered when app or web site users are asked to enter geo-locations for ecological or natural data (e.g., wildlife sightings, wetland locations, locations surveyed). This information is then used to inform more sustainable management of ecological or natural systems.

IP addresses are gathered with active data submission. This information is used to facilitate data cleaning and identify malicious use. IP addresses are not shared outside of the project for which they were collected.

Who will have access to the information

Although the conservation data collected through our apps and web sites may be shared outside of the Miistakis Institute, no personal information will be. Only Miistakis' designated project manager in charge of the program for which the data is collected, and Miistakis’ web programmer will have access to any personal information. That information will not be shared without your express permission.

How will the information be safeguarded?

All information is stored in an online database as part of a project's website. This data is safeguarded with a firewall and a Black Shield service to watch for malicious activity.

How long will the information be retained?

Personal information gathered as part of a project is retained for the duration of the project. Personal information gathered as part of the online newsletter is removed when the user unsubscribes.

At any time, the Miistakis Institute will respond to a written request for the deletion of personal information by immediately deleting that information from the relevant project or organizational databases.

Do we use 'cookies'?

'Cookies' are small files that a site or its service provider transfers to your computer's hard drive through your Web browser (if you allow) that enables the site's or service provider's systems to recognize your browser and capture and remember certain information.

Although cookies are quite commonly used by web sites, the Miistakis Institute sites do not use cookies directly. Miistakis however may use third party tools on their websites, such as WordPress or Google Analytics that may use cookies as part of their standard operation.

Third-party disclosure

We do not sell, trade, or otherwise transfer to outside parties any personal information collected directly or indirectly by our web sites or mobile apps.

We also do not provide non-personally identifiable visitor information to other parties for marketing, advertising, or other uses.

For certain mobile apps and web tools, we do transfer data which is provided by users (for example wildlife observation data) to third parties for the purposes of improved conservation management, but we do not transfer any personal information with those data.

Third-party links

We do not include or offer third-party products or services on our website.

We have implemented the following

We, along with third-party vendors such as Google, use first-party cookies (such as the Google Analytics cookies) and third-party cookies (such as the DoubleClick cookie) or other third-party identifiers together to compile data regarding user interactions with ad impressions and other ad service functions as they relate to our website.

Opting out

Mobile app users may delete their profile at any time by contacting the Miistakis Institute. Online newsletter subscribers can unsubscribe at any time using the instructions included in each newsletter mailing.

Users can set preferences for how Google advertises to you using the Google Ad Settings page. Alternatively, you can opt out by visiting the Network Advertising Initiative Opt Out page or by using the Google Analytics Opt Out Browser add on.

PIPEDA / PIPA Compliance

The Miistakis Institute operates under the laws of Canada and the Province of Alberta, and as such is bound by the federal Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) and Alberta’s Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA).

To ensure compliance, this privacy policy was developed using Guidelines for Online Consent (https://www.priv.gc.ca/media/2105/gl_oc_201405_e.pdf) and Seizing Opportunity: Good Privacy Practices for Developing Mobile Apps (http://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2013/priv/IP54-45-2012-eng.pdf) both developed by the federal Office of the Privacy Commissioner and the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Alberta.

Contacting Us

If there are any questions regarding this privacy policy, you may contact us using the information on our contact page.