438 809-5197

Privacy Policy

 

1. PRELIMINARY REMARKS

For GERMINA (hereinafter referred to as “GERMINA,” “we,” or “our”), the protection of the information and data we collect when you visit our website or the websites of our affiliated companies is of utmost importance, and our practices for respecting your personal information comply with the applicable laws in Quebec and Canada.

This Privacy Protection Policy (hereinafter the “Policy”) explains how we collect, use, disclose, process, and protect Personal Information and Browsing Information that you share with us when:

a) You visit the .com website or the websites of our affiliated companies linked thereto (hereinafter the “Site”).
b) You use its newsletter subscription system.
c) You browse pages related to our offered products or services.
d) You register to receive communications, newsletters, updates, special offers.
e) You participate in contests and/or promotions.

2. PERSONAL INFORMATION

2.1 DEFINITION OF “PERSONAL INFORMATION”

“Personal Information” refers to any information related to an individual that allows for their identification, including but not limited to their name, first name, residential address, email address, home telephone number, and cell phone number.

Germina.ca also collects aggregate information and information specific to individual users, such as data related to web pages visited by consumers and information voluntarily provided by consumers, such as survey information and information regarding contest registration. When you visit Germina.ca and interact with it, certain information may be automatically collected, including but not limited to:

  • • Your computer’s IP address.
  • • The type of browser and operating system used.
  • • Web pages visited by you immediately before and after your visit to Germina.ca.
  • • Your activities in community discussions.
  • • Information about the searches you conduct on Germina.ca and how you use the results of those searches.
  • • Information about the services you use on Germina.ca and the frequency of your usage.
  • • Information about the services you use on Germina.ca and the frequency of your usage.
  • • Data about the location and other information about mobile devices used to access and interact with Germina.ca.
  • • Standard server log information.
  • • Information collected using cookies, invisible pixels, and similar technologies.
2.2 COMPLIANCE WITH THE TEN (10) PRINCIPLES UNDERLYING THE MODEL CODE FOR THE PROTECTION OF PERSONAL INFORMATION

We commit to adhering to the ten (10) principles of personal information protection outlined below, as established in the Model Code for the Protection of Personal Information (CAN/CSA-Q830-96) and enshrined in the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) (S.C. 2000, c. 5).

You can obtain the full text of the Model Code for the Protection of Personal Information from the Canadian Standards Association (CSA). You can also order the Model Code for the Protection of Personal Information by writing to the following address:

CSA International
178 Rexdale Boulevard
Etobicoke (Ontario) M9W 1R3
Phone: 1-800-463-6727, (416) 747-4044

2.3 STATEMENT OF THE TEN (10) PRINCIPLES OF THE MODEL CODE FOR THE PROTECTION OF PERSONAL INFORMATION
A) PRINCIPLE 1 – ACCOUNTABILITY

All our employees are responsible for implementing and adhering to the principles outlined in this Policy. You can forward your questions and comments to our Customer Service, at the contact information provided above, and a designated person will respond to you promptly.

B) PRINCIPLE 2 – IDENTIFYING PURPOSES

The purposes for which your Personal Information is collected are determined beforehand or at the time of collection. In the event that we wish to collect, use, or disclose your Personal Information for purposes other than those stated in this Policy, we commit to informing you and obtaining your consent in advance.

C) PRINCIPLE 3 – CONSENT

We commit to obtaining your free and informed consent for the collection, use, or disclosure of your Personal Information, except as required by law.

D) PRINCIPLE 4 – LIMITING COLLECTION

The collection of your Personal Information will be limited to what is necessary for the purposes we have specified, and we will collect it in a lawful and honest manner.

E) PRINCIPLE 5 – LIMITING USE, DISCLOSURE, AND RETENTION

Your Personal Information will not be used or disclosed for purposes other than those for which it was collected, unless we have obtained your free and informed consent or as required by law. We will retain your Personal Information only for the period necessary to fulfill the specified purposes.

F) PRINCIPLE 6 – ACCURACY

We take reasonable measures to ensure that your Personal Information remains accurate, complete, and as up to date as possible. You can help maintain the accuracy of your Personal Information by informing us of any changes to your record and by notifying us in writing of any errors you notice. You can contact our Customer Service, whose contact information is provided at the end of this Policy.

G) PRINCIPLE 7 – SECURITY MEASURES

We have implemented security measures in accordance with industry standards to protect your Personal Information using security measures commensurate with its level of sensitivity. Our security measures are periodically reviewed and enhanced as needed.

Despite these precautions, you should be aware that no data transmission over the internet is entirely secure. When you disclose Personal Information on a website, that information may be intercepted, collected, and used. This applies to information shared on bulletin boards, in discussion forums, and even through emails. You transmit this information at your own risk, regardless of whom you send it to, and we cannot be held responsible if information is intercepted and used by third parties.

H) PRINCIPLE 8 – TRANSPARENCY

We will provide you, upon request, with information about our policies and practices regarding the management and protection of Personal Information.

I) PRINCIPLE 9 – ACCESS TO PERSONAL INFORMATION

We commit to informing you, upon request, of the existence of Personal Information about you, how it is used, whether it has been disclosed to third parties, and to allow you to access it. . You will also have the ability to challenge the accuracy and completeness of your Personal Information and request appropriate corrections. Requests for access to Personal Information can be made to our Customer Service, whose contact information is provided at the end of this Policy.

J) PRINCIPLE 10 – COMPLAINTS AND REQUESTS FOR ACCESS TO PERSONAL INFORMATION

For any questions, concerns, or complaints regarding this Policy, or for a request to access your Personal Information, please do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service, whose contact information is provided at the end of this Policy.

2.4 CONSENT TO THE COLLECTION OF PERSONAL INFORMATION

In certain circumstances, we may request that you provide certain personal information, for example, when you fill out a form on the website in the “Contact Us” or “Submission” section.

All Personal Information is collected with your consent, and you are free at all times to decide whether or not to provide such Personal Information. However, in the case of refusal, you may not have access to sections of the Site that require you to provide such Personal Information.

A) PERSONAL INFORMATION OF THIRD PARTIES

When you provide us with Personal Information belonging to another person, such as a third party, we assume that you have obtained valid consent from that person, allowing us to collect, use, disclose, process, and protect that Personal Information in accordance with this Policy.

B) MINORS

If you are under the age of eighteen (18), please obtain permission from a parent or guardian before transmitting personal information to us.

2.5 USE OF YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION

We collect, use, and/or disclose your Personal Information for the following purposes:

  • • To provide you with the product, service, or information you have requested.
  • • To offer you customer service.
  • • To help us assess and improve our Site by tailoring its content to your needs and personal preferences.
  • • To communicate with you, inform you of new offers and promotions, as well as any facts or events that may be of interest to you.
  • • To organize and administer contests and/or surveys.
  • • To allow us to maintain the quality of interactions and enforce etiquette rules in sections where you can provide comments.
  • • To conduct business operations.
  • • To process payments and, if necessary, recover unpaid debts.
  • • To identify and protect you against errors, fraud, theft, and other illegal activities.
  • • For any other purpose for which you have provided your consent at the time of providing your Personal Information.
Career Opportunities

Employment Opportunities at Germina: We may announce job opportunities on our website. When you apply for a job or submit inquiries related to a job opportunity, you may provide certain personal information about yourself (such as that contained in a resume, cover letter, or similar job-related documents). We use this information to process your job application or any other request you make and to respond to it.

Contests and Promotions

Finally, Germina.ca may collect information about you if you participate in a contest or promotion hosted by Germina.ca or one of our partners. Additionally, Germina.ca may sometimes ask you, through such forms, if you are interested in receiving information about other services, contests, or news about Germina.ca or our partners. Additionally, Germina.ca may sometimes ask you, through such forms, if you are interested in receiving information about other services, contests, or news about Germina.ca or our partners. You will always have the choice to decline this request or unsubscribe from a personalized service you have previously opted for. The information collected may include your name, address, phone number, email address, date of birth, and details related to your participation in the contest or promotion.

2.6 SHARING YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION WITH THIRD PARTIES

In accordance with this Policy and the ten (10) principles of the MODEL CODE FOR THE PROTECTION OF PERSONAL INFORMATION, we may share certain of your Personal Information for the purpose of providing you with services. We will take reasonable measures to ensure that Personal Information shared with third parties is protected and retained in accordance with the principles outlined in this Policy, but we cannot guarantee or accept liability for this.

We want to clarify that we will not disclose your Personal Information to advertisers, clients, partners, or third parties without obtaining your prior written consent. Notwithstanding the above, we may disclose your Personal Information to the following individuals and organizations in the contexts outlined below:

A) TO SERVICE PROVIDERS

We may transfer your Personal Information to service providers acting on our behalf, for the purposes mentioned in this Policy. This could include a company or organization whose services have been retained for our software or applications.

B) TO OUR AFFILIATED COMPANIES

We may share your Personal Information with our affiliated companies to better serve you and inform you about all our products and services.

C) TO OUR BUSINESS PARTNERS

Occasionally, we may share your Personal Information by sharing our customer lists with carefully selected organizations that wish to introduce you to products and services they believe may be of interest to you.

D) IN THE CONTEXT OF BUSINESS TRANSACTIONS

We may participate in the sale, merger, restructuring, or transfer of part or all of our business. In such transactions, we may disclose your Personal Information to the acquirer or the new organization. In this case, we will require that the confidentiality of your Personal Information be protected by the acquirer or the new organization in accordance with this Policy and applicable laws regarding the protection of Personal Information.

E) UNDER THE LAW

In addition to the aforementioned contexts, we may, for example, disclose your Personal Information:

  • • To our legal counsel.
  • • To a government agency authorized to obtain such Personal Information.
  • • If we have reason to believe, in good faith, that the disclosure of Personal Information could be useful in an investigation into illegal or fraudulent activity.
  • • To comply with an order or decision of a court or tribunal.
F) OTHER SOURCES

We may access other information about you from third-party sources and platforms (such as social networking sites, databases, internet marketing, and advertising targeting companies), including:

  • • If you access third-party social networking services (such as Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter) from Germina.ca, your username and connection lists for those services.
  • • Demographic data, such as age group, gender, and your interests.
  • • Data on interaction and ad viewing, such as ad click-through rates and the number of times you have viewed a particular ad.
  • • Unique identifiers, including mobile device identification numbers, which may determine the physical location of such devices in accordance with applicable law.

Please note that Germina.ca may combine the information we collect with information obtained from third parties.

2.7 TO AVOID SHARING OR HAVE YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION DELETED

You can request at any time that the Personal Information we hold about you not be shared under paragraphs a), b) c) and (d) of the preceding section, or that it be deleted. Il vous suffit de nous faire parvenir une demande via notre formulaire de contact ou via les coordonnées qui sont inscrites à la fin de la présente Politique, pour demander que les Renseignements Personnels vous concernant ne soient pas partagés ou encore, soient supprimés de nos bases de données.

POLICY CHANGES

This Privacy Policy has been effective since January 2023. We reserve the right to make modifications to this Privacy Policy at any time, and these changes will take effect upon their posting.

We aggregate and analyze the data we collect to learn more about how Germina.ca is used. Among other things, we may use this information to monitor and analyze the usage of Germina.ca, improve its functionality, and better tailor its content and design to meet the needs of our visitors.

CUSTOMER SERVICE

For any questions, comments, or requests related to this Privacy Policy and the practices we have implemented regarding the protection of Personal Information, you can contact GERMINA at the following contact details:

Contact Information:
GERMINA
9250, Avenue du Parc, #201
Montréal (Québec) H2N 1Z2
438 809-5197

OFFICE OF THE PRIVACY COMMISSIONER OF CANADA

The Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada may also address some of your questions, and you can contact this organization for information. Toll-free phone: 1-800-282-1376. https://www.priv.gc.ca