Privacy Policy
Effective date: 2026-05-14
The Canadian Teacher Forum (forum.thecanadianteacher.com) is operated by TheCanadianTeacher.com. This policy explains what personal information the forum collects, how it is used, and what rights you have under Canadian privacy law.
For questions or privacy requests, email [email protected].
What we collect
- When you create an account: username, email address, password (stored hashed), display name.
- Optionally on your profile: biography, location, website, profile picture.
- When you post: threads, replies, votes, and any other content you submit are stored and publicly visible.
- Automatically when you visit: IP address, browser type, pages viewed, dates and times, and referring page. Used for security, abuse prevention, and basic site analytics.
- Cookies: login and session cookies to keep you signed in, security cookies set by our CDN, and cache cookies to serve pages faster. The forum does not use third-party advertising cookies or behavioral tracking.
How we use the information
- Provide forum services to you
- Send account-related communications
- Keep the forum secure
- Investigate reported violations of the Forum Rules
- Comply with Canadian law and lawful requests from authorities
We do not sell your personal information.
Who we share information with
We share specific data with service providers who help us operate the forum, including a hosting provider, a CDN and security provider, and an avatar service. These providers process data on our behalf and are bound by their own privacy practices.
Public content on the forum (threads, replies, profile information you choose to share) is visible to all visitors and indexable by search engines and AI systems.
We may disclose personal information when required by Canadian law, including in response to a valid court order, subpoena, or lawful request from law enforcement.
Cross-border data transfer
Our hosting and security infrastructure are located outside of Canada (currently the United States). By using the forum, you consent to your data being processed outside of Canada, in addition to Canadian privacy law obligations applicable to us as the operator.
Your rights
Under PIPEDA and applicable provincial law (Quebec’s Law 25, BC PIPA, Alberta PIPA, and others), you have the right to:
- Access the personal information we hold about you
- Correct inaccurate information
- Withdraw your consent
- Request deletion of your account and posted content
- Receive your data in a portable format
- File a complaint with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada or your provincial regulator
To exercise these rights, email [email protected]. We respond within 30 days.
Quebec residents have additional rights under Law 25. Our designated Privacy Officer is reachable at the same email address.
Data retention
We retain account data while your account is active. After account deletion, your record is removed within 30 days. Technical logs are retained for up to 90 days. Security records may be kept longer where needed for legitimate purposes such as abuse investigation.
Children
The forum is intended for educators. We do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under 13. If you believe a child under 13 has created an account, contact us and we will delete it.
Security
We protect your information with encrypted connections (HTTPS), hashed passwords, a web application firewall, and regular software updates. No system is perfect. If a breach affects your personal information, we will notify you as required by Canadian law.
Changes
We may revise this policy from time to time. The effective date at the top reflects the most recent revision. Substantive changes will be communicated on the forum or by email to registered members.
Contact
Email: [email protected]