Privacy Policy
How Long Covid Resources Canada collects, uses and protects your personal information, written in plain language. I collect as little as possible, I never sell your information, and nothing is tracked until you say yes.
Who I am
Long Covid Resources Canada is an independent, self funded website created and run by me, Jaymie Firkus, from Alberta, Canada. I am responsible for the personal information collected through this website, and I am the person accountable for privacy here.
This policy follows Canada’s Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA), Alberta’s Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA), Quebec’s Act respecting the protection of personal information in the private sector (Law 25) for visitors in Quebec, and Canada’s Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL) for emails.
The short version
- You can read every page on this site without giving me any personal information.
- Analytics and marketing cookies stay off until you choose Accept in the cookie banner. You can change your choice at any time.
- I only collect what you choose to send me, such as your email for the newsletter or a message through a form.
- I never sell, rent or trade your information, and there is no advertising on this site.
- You can ask to see, correct or delete your information at any time by emailing admin@longcovidresourcescanada.ca.
What I collect and why
| Information | When | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Name and email address | You sign up for the newsletter | To send the newsletter you asked for |
| Name, email and your message | You use a contact, suggestion or listing form, or email me | To read and reply to you, and to update the site |
| Your story and any details you include | You choose to share your story | To publish it with your permission |
| Pages visited, device, browser and approximate location (city or region) | Only if you accept analytics cookies | To understand which resources help people and improve the site |
| Your cookie choice and light or dark display setting | When you use the banner or the display toggle | To remember your choices |
I only use your information for the purpose you gave it to me. If I ever want to use it for something new, I will ask you first. I do not use your information to make automated decisions about you, and I do not use it to train artificial intelligence.
Services I use
I rely on a few trusted services to run the site. Each one handles information under its own privacy policy, and I only share what they need to do their job.
- SiteGround hosts the website and keeps standard server logs, such as IP addresses, for security.
- HubSpot runs the newsletter, contact and story forms and the cookie banner. HubSpot privacy policy (opens in a new tab)
- Google Analytics, through Google Site Kit, measures visits if you accept analytics. Google privacy policy (opens in a new tab)
- OptinMonster shows occasional messages on the site.
- Buy Me a Coffee processes support payments on its own website. I never see your card details. I only see the name and message you choose to share. Buy Me a Coffee privacy policy (opens in a new tab)
- Embedded content such as YouTube or Vimeo videos, maps and a LinkedIn profile badge may set their own cookies or collect information when you view them, as if you visited those sites directly.
Sharing your story
Stories often include health information, which is sensitive. I treat it with extra care:
- I only publish a story with your clear permission, and you can choose to use your first name only or stay anonymous.
- I may edit for length or clarity, and I will not add anything you did not say.
- Please do not include details about other people, such as family members, without their permission.
- You can ask me to change or remove your story at any time, and I will do so within 30 days. Copies saved by search engines or other websites may take longer to disappear and are outside my control.
Storage outside Canada
Some of the services above, including HubSpot and Google, may store or process information in the United States or other countries. When information is stored outside Canada, it is subject to the laws of that country and may be accessed by its courts or government. I choose services with strong security and privacy commitments to lower this risk.
How long I keep information
- Newsletter: until you unsubscribe or ask me to delete it.
- Messages and form submissions: up to 2 years, then deleted, unless we are still in touch.
- Published stories: until you ask me to remove them.
- Analytics: no longer than 14 months, then deleted automatically by Google.
How I protect it
The site uses an encrypted connection (HTTPS), strong passwords on the accounts that hold your information, regular software updates and security monitoring from the host. Only I can see form submissions and the newsletter list.
No website is perfectly secure. If a breach ever creates a real risk of significant harm to you, I will tell you as soon as possible and report it to the Privacy Commissioner of Canada and the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Alberta, as the law requires.
Your rights
You can ask me to:
- tell you what personal information I hold about you and how I use it
- give you a copy of it
- correct anything that is wrong
- delete it, or stop using it for a purpose
- withdraw your consent, such as unsubscribing or changing your cookie choice
Email admin@longcovidresourcescanada.ca. There is no cost. I will reply within 30 days and may ask a question to confirm it is you before sharing any information.
Children and youth
This site shares information for families, but it is not designed to collect information from children. If you are under 14, please ask a parent or guardian to contact me or share a story for you. If I learn that I have information from a child under 14 without a parent’s consent, I will delete it.
Links to other websites
This site links to many clinics, studies and organizations. When you leave this site, their privacy policies apply, not this one. Please read them before sharing information, especially when signing up for a research study.
Changes to this policy
I review this policy at least once a year and whenever the law or the tools I use change. The date at the top shows the latest update. If a change affects how I use information you already gave me, I will ask for your consent again.
Contact and complaints
For any privacy question or request, contact Jaymie Firkus, Privacy Officer, at admin@longcovidresourcescanada.ca.
If you are not satisfied with my answer, you can contact the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (opens in a new tab), the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Alberta (opens in a new tab), or, in Quebec, the Commission d’accès à l’information (opens in a new tab).
