Privacy Policy

Effective Date April 26, 2026

Last Updated May 12, 2026

This Privacy Policy explains how Immigrant Women Entrepreneur Canada (“IWEC,” “we,” “our,” or “us”) collects, uses, stores, shares, protects, and manages personal information when individuals access our website, join our community, register for events, apply for membership, request mentorship, apply to become a mentor, download resources, submit forms, contact us, volunteer, sponsor, partner with us, or otherwise interact with our programs and services.

IWEC is operated by Newcomer Success Network Canada, a not-for-profit organization in Canada. This Privacy Policy applies to the website immigrantwomenentrepreneur.ca and to related IWEC online and offline activities, unless a separate privacy notice applies.

By using our website or providing personal information to us, you agree that we may collect, use, and disclose your personal information as described in this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with this Privacy Policy, please do not use our website or submit personal information to us.

1. Our Commitment to Privacy

IWEC is a community built around trust, inclusion, mentorship, entrepreneurship, and support for immigrant women entrepreneurs in Canada. We understand that privacy is not just a legal requirement; it is part of building a safe and respectful community.

We aim to handle personal information responsibly, transparently, and only for purposes that are reasonable and connected to our community, membership, events, mentorship, resources, communication, and organizational activities.

2. Scope of This Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy applies to personal information collected through:

• our website and web forms;
• membership registration and community sign-up forms;
• mentor and mentee application forms;
• event registrations, workshops, webinars, and community programs;
• resource downloads, toolkit requests, newsletter forms, and lead capture forms;
• member directory submissions and business profile forms;
• volunteer, sponsor, partner, speaker, and media inquiry forms;
• emails, phone calls, messages, surveys, feedback forms, and direct communications;
• online platforms, CRM systems, payment processors, event tools, email marketing tools, and community tools used by IWEC.

This Privacy Policy does not apply to websites, platforms, payment systems, social media pages, or third-party services that we do not own or control. Those third parties may have their own privacy policies and terms.

3. Personal Information We May Collect

The information we collect depends on how you interact with IWEC. We may collect the following categories of personal information:

3.1 Contact Information

• name;
• email address;
• phone number;
• city, province, or country;
• preferred method of contact;
• social media handles or website links if voluntarily provided.

3.2 Membership and Community Information

• membership type or plan;
• community participation status;
• business stage, interests, goals, or challenges;
• industry, business category, or professional background;
• communication preferences;
• event attendance or program participation history.

3.3 Business Profile and Directory Information

• business name;
• business description;
• business location or service area;
• products or services offered;
• business website, social media links, photos, logos, or promotional materials;
• business category, years in business, founder bio, and other profile details voluntarily submitted.

3.4 Mentor, Mentee, Volunteer, Speaker, Sponsor, and Partner Information

• professional experience;
• areas of expertise;
• mentorship interests and availability;
• business needs and mentorship goals;
• volunteer skills and availability;
• speaker biography, topic interests, and credentials;
• sponsorship or partnership inquiry details;
• organization name and representative contact details.

3.5 Payment and Transaction Information

If IWEC offers paid memberships, event tickets, workshops, sponsorship packages, donation options, directory upgrades, or other paid services, payment information may be processed through third-party payment processors. We may receive limited transaction information such as payment status, amount, invoice details, date of payment, membership level, event registration, and billing contact details. We do not intend to store full credit card numbers on our own website systems.

3.6 Event and Media Information

• event registration details;
• attendance records;
• dietary or accessibility requests if voluntarily provided;
• photographs, video recordings, livestream footage, testimonials, quotes, and feedback collected at events or through community activities;
• speaker, panelist, sponsor, or volunteer participation details.

3.7 Technical and Website Usage Information

When you visit our website, we may automatically collect limited technical information such as IP address, browser type, device type, operating system, pages visited, referring website, approximate location, date and time of visit, form interactions, cookie identifiers, and website analytics data. This helps us operate, secure, measure, and improve our website.

4. Sensitive Information

We do not intentionally request sensitive personal information unless it is necessary for a specific purpose and provided voluntarily. Sensitive information may include information about health, accessibility needs, dietary restrictions, immigration-related experiences, financial hardship, cultural identity, or other personal circumstances shared through applications, surveys, forms, or conversations.

If you choose to share sensitive information, we will use it only for the purpose for which it was provided, such as accessibility accommodations, program support, grant reporting, mentorship matching, or responding to your request. Please avoid submitting sensitive information unless it is necessary.

5. How We Collect Personal Information

We may collect personal information directly from you when you:

• visit the website;
• fill out a contact form;
• join the community or mailing list;
• register for a membership plan;
• register for an event, workshop, or webinar;
• download a guide, template, toolkit, or resource;
• submit a mentor or mentee application;
• create or update a member profile;
• submit a business listing;
• apply to volunteer, sponsor, partner, or speak at an event;
• send us an email, call us, or communicate with us directly;
• participate in surveys, feedback forms, contests, campaigns, or community activities.

We may also collect information from third-party tools that support our operations, such as email marketing platforms, CRM systems, website analytics tools, payment processors, event registration platforms, form builders, scheduling tools, and social media platforms, where permitted by law and applicable platform policies.

6. Why We Collect and Use Personal Information

We collect and use personal information for reasonable purposes connected to our mission, community, programs, and operations, including to:

• operate and improve the IWEC website and community platform;
• respond to inquiries, requests, and communications;
• process memberships, event registrations, downloads, and applications;
• send requested resources, guides, templates, and toolkits by email;
• manage mentor, mentee, volunteer, sponsor, partner, speaker, and member relationships;
• match mentors and mentees where applicable;
• manage events, workshops, webinars, and community sessions;
• create, review, approve, and display member directory or business profile listings where applicable;
• send newsletters, community updates, event invitations, announcements, and educational resources;
• process payments, receipts, invoices, refunds, sponsorship payments, or membership fees;
• understand community needs and improve programs, resources, services, and website experience;
• measure website performance, resource engagement, email campaign performance, event participation, and program impact;
• maintain safety, security, fraud prevention, and community guidelines;
• comply with legal, accounting, grant reporting, governance, regulatory, or organizational obligations;
• protect IWEC, Newcomer Success Network Canada, members, volunteers, partners, sponsors, and the community.

7. Consent

We generally collect, use, or disclose personal information with your knowledge and consent, except where otherwise permitted or required by law. Consent may be express, such as when you check a box, submit a form, register for an event, join a mailing list, or agree to receive communications. Consent may also be implied where the purpose is obvious and reasonable in the circumstances, such as responding to an inquiry you sent to us.

You may withdraw your consent at any time, subject to legal, contractual, operational, or program-related limitations. If you withdraw consent, we may not be able to provide certain services, membership benefits, event access, resource delivery, directory listings, or communications.

To withdraw consent, contact us at info@immigrantwomenentrepreneur.ca or use the unsubscribe link in our marketing emails where available.

8. Email Communications, Newsletters, and CASL

If you subscribe to our newsletter, join our community, register for an event, download a resource, become a member, apply for mentorship, or otherwise provide your contact information, we may send you relevant communications about IWEC programs, events, membership updates, resources, newsletters, opportunities, and community announcements.

Where required by Canada’s Anti-Spam Legislation, we will seek appropriate consent before sending commercial electronic messages, identify ourselves in the message, and provide a way to unsubscribe. You may unsubscribe from marketing or newsletter communications at any time. Operational or transactional messages, such as event registration confirmations, membership notices, payment receipts, or responses to your inquiries, may still be sent where necessary.

9. Cookies, Analytics, and Tracking Technologies

Our website may use cookies, pixels, analytics tags, or similar technologies to operate the website, remember preferences, measure traffic, understand user behaviour, improve content, and support marketing or retargeting activities where applicable.

Cookies may help us understand which pages are visited, which resources are downloaded, how users interact with the site, and how we can improve the experience. Third-party services such as website analytics, advertising platforms, email platforms, CRM tools, or social media platforms may also use cookies or similar technologies.

You may adjust your browser settings to block or delete cookies. However, some website features may not work properly if cookies are disabled.

10. Lead Capture and Resource Downloads

IWEC may offer downloadable resources such as guides, templates, checklists, funding lists, toolkits, worksheets, videos, or business resources. To access certain resources, we may ask for your name, email address, business stage, interests, or other relevant information.

We may use this information to send the requested resource, personalize future communications, understand what support our community needs, and share relevant events, programs, or resources. For example, if you download a funding guide, we may send related grant alerts or funding workshop invitations.

11. Membership, Member Directory, and Public Profiles

If IWEC offers member profiles or a member directory, certain information you submit may be displayed publicly or to other members depending on the directory settings and your selected participation level.

Information that may appear in a directory or public profile can include your name, business name, business description, city or service area, industry, website, social media links, profile photo, business logo, mentor status, membership type, products or services, and other information you choose to provide.

You are responsible for ensuring that any information you submit for public display is accurate and appropriate. Do not submit private information that you do not want publicly displayed.

12. Mentorship Program Privacy

If you apply to become a mentor or request mentorship, we may collect information about your business, goals, experience, challenges, expertise, availability, preferred mentorship areas, and other relevant details. We may use this information to review applications, manage the program, facilitate introductions, match mentors and mentees, communicate about mentorship, and improve the program.

Mentors and mentees are expected to respect confidentiality and not disclose private information shared during mentorship sessions without permission, unless required by law or necessary to prevent harm. IWEC is not responsible for unauthorized disclosures made by participants, but we may take action if community standards are violated.

13. Events, Photography, Video, and Media

IWEC events, workshops, webinars, networking sessions, and community activities may be photographed, filmed, recorded, livestreamed, or documented for organizational, educational, promotional, reporting, fundraising, grant, website, social media, sponsor, or archival purposes.

By attending an IWEC event, you acknowledge that your image, voice, name, business name, comments, or likeness may appear in photos, videos, recordings, or promotional materials, unless you notify us in advance and we are able to reasonably accommodate your request.

If you do not wish to be photographed or recorded, please contact us before the event and inform event staff upon arrival. We will make reasonable efforts to accommodate your request, but we cannot guarantee exclusion from wide-angle, background, group, livestream, or public event footage.

14. How We Share Personal Information

We do not sell personal information. We may share personal information only when reasonable, necessary, consented to, or permitted by law. This may include sharing information with:

• Newcomer Success Network Canada team members, directors, authorized staff, contractors, and volunteers who need the information to perform their duties;
• service providers that support website hosting, CRM, email marketing, payment processing, event registration, forms, analytics, design, IT, security, accounting, and administrative functions;
• mentors or mentees for the purpose of facilitating mentorship introductions or program participation;
• event partners, venues, speakers, sponsors, or facilitators where necessary to manage event participation or logistics;
• grant providers, funders, auditors, regulators, or government bodies where reporting is required, generally using aggregated or limited information where possible;
• professional advisors such as lawyers, accountants, consultants, insurers, or auditors;
• third parties where required by law, court order, legal process, or to protect rights, safety, security, or prevent fraud or harm.

When we use third-party service providers, we expect them to protect personal information and use it only for the services they provide to us, subject to their own terms and privacy practices.

15. Third-Party Services and Links

Our website may link to or integrate with third-party websites and services, including payment processors, social media platforms, event platforms, video platforms, forms, analytics tools, email systems, grant websites, partner websites, and resource links.

We are not responsible for the privacy practices, security, content, or policies of third-party websites or platforms. Please review their privacy policies before submitting personal information to them.

16. Payment Information

If you purchase a membership, register for a paid event, make a donation, sponsor a program, or pay for another IWEC service, payment may be processed by a secure third-party payment provider. The payment provider may collect and process payment details such as credit card information, billing details, transaction information, and authentication data.

IWEC may receive confirmation of payment, payment amount, invoice details, contact information, and transaction status. We do not intend to store full credit card information on our own systems.

17. Data Storage, Security, and Safeguards

We use reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect personal information against unauthorized access, use, disclosure, loss, alteration, or destruction. These safeguards may include access controls, password protection, secure systems, limited access permissions, data minimization, service provider controls, and staff or volunteer confidentiality expectations.

No website, email, online platform, or electronic storage system is completely secure. While we work to protect personal information, we cannot guarantee absolute security. If you believe your information has been compromised, please contact us immediately.

18. Retention of Personal Information

We retain personal information only as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes described in this Privacy Policy, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law, accounting requirements, grant reporting requirements, audit obligations, dispute resolution, program records, or organizational needs.

Retention periods may vary depending on the type of information. For example, event registration records, membership records, payment records, consent records, mentor applications, volunteer records, and communication history may be retained for different periods based on operational and legal requirements.

When personal information is no longer required, we will take reasonable steps to delete, anonymize, archive, or securely dispose of it.

19. Accessing, Correcting, or Updating Your Information

You may request access to personal information we hold about you, ask us to correct inaccurate information, update your profile, withdraw consent, unsubscribe from communications, or request deletion where appropriate.

To make a request, contact us at info@immigrantwomenentrepreneur.ca. We may need to verify your identity before processing your request. In some cases, we may not be able to provide access or deletion if the information is subject to legal, security, confidentiality, operational, or recordkeeping limitations.

20. Your Choices and Rights

Depending on the situation and applicable law, you may have the ability to:

• ask what personal information we hold about you;
• request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information;
• withdraw consent for certain uses or disclosures;
• unsubscribe from marketing or newsletter communications;
• ask us to remove or update your member directory profile;
• request deletion of certain information where appropriate;
• ask questions or make a complaint about our privacy practices.

We will respond to reasonable requests within a reasonable time, subject to verification and any applicable legal or operational limitations.

21. Children and Minors

IWEC is intended primarily for adults, entrepreneurs, professionals, mentors, volunteers, and community members. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under the age of 13. If we become aware that we have collected personal information from a child without appropriate consent, we will take reasonable steps to delete it.

If minors participate in a specific youth-related event or program, additional consent, registration, and safeguarding procedures may apply.

22. International or Cross-Border Processing

Some of our service providers, software platforms, cloud systems, email tools, payment processors, analytics tools, or data storage providers may process or store information outside Canada. This means your personal information may be subject to the laws of other jurisdictions where service providers operate.

By using our website or services, you understand that personal information may be processed or stored in Canada or other countries, depending on the technology platforms we use.

23. Testimonials, Stories, and Community Features

IWEC may invite members, entrepreneurs, mentors, volunteers, speakers, sponsors, or partners to share testimonials, business stories, photos, videos, or quotes. We will generally seek consent before publishing identifiable testimonials, stories, or media materials.

If you provide a testimonial or story for publication, you grant IWEC permission to use it on our website, social media, presentations, newsletters, sponsor materials, grant reporting, or promotional content, unless otherwise agreed in writing.

24. Aggregated and De-Identified Information

We may use aggregated, anonymized, or de-identified information to understand community needs, measure program impact, improve services, report to funders or sponsors, and share organizational results. This information does not identify individuals directly.

25. Data Breach and Security Incidents

If we become aware of a privacy or security incident involving personal information, we will take reasonable steps to assess the incident, contain it, reduce potential harm, and notify affected individuals or authorities where required by law.

26. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our website, programs, services, technology, legal obligations, or organizational practices. When updates are made, we will revise the “Last Updated” date at the top of this page.

Your continued use of the website or participation in IWEC programs after changes are posted means you accept the updated Privacy Policy.

27. Contact Us

If you have questions, concerns, requests, or complaints about this Privacy Policy or our handling of personal information, please contact us:

Organization	Immigrant Women Entrepreneur Canada
Operated by	Newcomer Success Network Canada
Email	info@immigrantwomenentrepreneur.ca
Phone	+1-437-774-8787

Website: immigrantwomenentrepreneur.ca

28. Suggested Website Footer Notice

By using this website, joining our community, registering for events, applying for mentorship, downloading resources, or becoming a member, you acknowledge that Immigrant Women Entrepreneur Canada, operated by Newcomer Success Network Canada, may collect and use personal information in accordance with this Privacy Policy.

Important Note

This Privacy Policy is a professional working draft prepared for website publishing purposes. It should be reviewed by a qualified Canadian legal professional before final publication, especially if IWEC collects payments, manages public member profiles, works with third-party platforms, hosts events, or collects sensitive information.