1. Introduction
Safety Grade (“we”, “us”, “our”) operates the website located at https://safetygrade.ca (“the Site”). Our mission is to raise public awareness about school safety conditions by gathering user-submitted data (ratings and stories) to highlight the best and worst schools in the region. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information. By using the Site, you consent to the practices described in this Privacy Policy.
2. Information We Collect
We may collect information about you in a variety of ways, including:
2.1. Personal Data
When you register for an account on the Site, we may collect personal information you choose to provide, including but not limited to:
- Name
- Email address
- Username
- Role or position (e.g., student, parent, staff member)
- Profile avatar, if provided
2.2. User-Generated Content
We collect and store all content that you submit to the Site, including:
- School ratings and survey responses for categories such as Staffing, Security, Facilities, Support, and Visibility.
- Written stories (reviews) about your experiences with a particular school.
- Comments you leave on stories or responses to other user submissions.
All user-generated content may be subject to moderation before it is published publicly on the Site. Your submitted ratings and stories are stored even if they are pending approval, and may remain in our records for quality assurance, moderation, and analytics, even if they are not ultimately published.
2.3. Usage Data
We may automatically collect information about your interaction with the Site, such as:
- Your IP address
- Browser type and version
- Operating system
- Pages viewed, including school profiles, ratings pages, and story listings
- Date, time, and duration of visits
2.4. Cookies and Similar Technologies
We may use cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your experience, remember your preferences, and improve the Site. You can adjust your browser settings to manage cookies, but disabling cookies may affect certain Site features.
3. How We Use Your Information
3.1. Providing and Improving Our Services
- To facilitate user registration and account management
- To allow you to post ratings, stories, and comments
- To moderate and review content for appropriateness and accuracy before publication
- To improve the Site’s performance, user experience, and functionality
- To aggregate rating data in order to calculate and display school rankings and ratings
3.2. Communications
- To send administrative emails related to your account or changes to our policies
- To respond to user inquiries and provide customer support
3.3. Analytics and Reporting
- To analyze user submissions and generate aggregate, anonymized reports about school conditions and trends
- To identify best- and worst-performing schools in various safety categories and to share these findings publicly in a transparent manner
3.4. Legal and Compliance
- To analyze user submissions and generate aggregate, anonymized reports about school conditions and trends
- To identify best- and worst-performing schools in various safety categories and to share these findings publicly in a transparent manner
4. Disclosure of Your Information
4.1. With Service Providers
We may share your information with trusted third-party service providers who assist us with site hosting, data analysis, email communications, and other functions necessary to operate and maintain the Site.
4.2. Public Disclosure of User-Generated Content
Approved stories, ratings, and aggregated survey results may be made publicly visible on the Site. While you have the option to mark stories as “anonymous,” please note that certain identifying factors (such as your role type) may still be discernible to the public if included in your content.
4.3. Legal Compliance and Protection
We may disclose your personal information if required to do so by law or in good faith belief that such action is necessary to:
- Comply with legal obligations or respond to legal requests
- Protect the rights, property, or safety of Safety Grade, our users, or others
4.4. Business Transfers
In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of our assets, your information may be transferred to the acquiring entity.
5. Data Retention
We retain your personal information and user-generated content for as long as needed to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy, or as required by law. Even if a story or rating is not approved for public display, we may keep a record of it for moderation, internal reporting, or legal compliance purposes.
6. Your Rights
Under Ontario and Canadian privacy laws, you have the right to:
- Access and review the personal information we hold about you
- Request corrections to inaccurate or incomplete personal data
- Request deletion of your personal data, subject to certain legal or operational exceptions
- Withdraw consent if we are processing your data based on consent
To exercise these rights, please contact us at info@safetygrade.ca.
7. Data Security
We implement technical and organizational measures to help protect your personal information from unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. However, no online platform is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute data security.
8. International Transfers
Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries outside your country of residence, including Canada. By using the Site, you consent to the transfer and processing of your information in accordance with this Privacy Policy.
9. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in our data practices, the Site’s features, or legal requirements. Any changes will be posted on the Site, and the “Last Updated” date will be revised accordingly. Your continued use of the Site after changes are posted indicates your acceptance of the revised Privacy Policy.
10. Contact Us
If you have questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us at info@safetygrade.ca.