PRIVACY POLICY
Welcome to the Toronto Building Exchange web site (“TBX") operated by The Toronto Building Exchange Inc. under license from The Canadian Building Exchange Inc. TBX’s products and services (collectively, the "Services") are offered by TBX through web pages at the URL
http://www.tbxhome.com, and pages linked thereto which display TBX’s branding bars or logos.
This statement discloses the privacy practices of TBX. By using TBX or by agreeing to the Terms and Conditions in TBX’s
User Agreement, you consent and agree, without limitation or qualification, to the collection, use and disclosure of personal information and to the privacy practices set out in the Privacy Policy and to any other privacy or data collection policy which is displayed or is included as a link in any individual TBX web site.
The Privacy Policy contains detailed information about the following:
1. What information does TBX collect?
2. What are "cookies" and "beacons" and how are they used?
3. Who is collecting the information?
4. How does TBX use the information?
5. Does TBX share information that is collected?
6. Can you access, edit or delete your information?
7. Can you opt-out?
8. What security procedures are in place?
Questions or concerns regarding our use of your information and this statement should be directed to:
TBX Privacy Coordinator
The Toronto Building Exchange Inc.
411 Cranbrooke Ave.
Toronto, Ontario
M5M 1N4
Please note that TBX contains links to other sites. TBX cannot and does not represent or guarantee that their privacy practices will be the same as those set out in the Privacy Policy. So bear in mind that sites that are linked to TBX sites may have privacy policies which differ from that of TBX.
The Privacy Policy may be updated from time to time so please check back periodically. The updated policy will be displayed or linked to web pages at TBX. By using TBX after the updated policy has been so posted, you consent and agree, without limitation or qualification, to the collection, use and disclosure of personal information and to the privacy practices set out in the updated Privacy Policy. Personal information collected prior to the posting of the updated Privacy Policy will only be used or disclosed for new purposes set out in an updated Privacy Policy once you have consented to such use by using TBX after the updated policy has been posted to TBX.
1. What information does TBX collect?
TBX’s goal is to be your main destination on the Internet in connection with the building industry, by putting you in touch with information, services and product offerings ("Products and Services") that are most relevant to you. To achieve this goal, TBX needs to collect information to understand what differentiates you from its other unique members. TBX collects two types of information, "anonymous information" and "personal information".
Anonymous information refers to information that is not about an identifiable person. Each time a visitor comes to a TBX site, TBX may collect information that is necessary to improve the overall quality of the visitor's online experience. TBX may collect computer and connection information such as the visitor's IP address (e.g., whether the user is logged on from a .ca, .com, .gov or .edu domain), referral data (e.g., the address of the last URL a user visited prior to clicking through to the TBX site), and browser and platform type. TBX also collects aggregate search terms from its search services for internal reporting and targeted advertising. TBX collects this user information for purposes of product monitoring, product improvement, and targeted advertising.
In addition to this anonymous information, TBX may also collect information that is about an identifiable person or business ("Personal Information"). Personal Information includes information that tells TBX specifically who you are, such as your name and postal code. Wherever and whenever TBX collects personal information TBX makes an effort to include a link to this Privacy Policy on that page. If the page does not contain TBX’s branding bar or if it displays or contains a link to a privacy policy or to terms and conditions of an entity other than TBX then, except as otherwise provided herein, this Privacy Policy does not apply and the privacy practices of the entity that operates such site will apply.
TBX collects Personal Information in the following ways from different parts of TBX:
a. Personal information is gathered when you voluntarily register with TBX. While not all of this information is required, the more information you volunteer (and the more accurate it is), the better we are able to customize your experience. Once you register you are given a TBX Member Number and are able to take full advantage of the many offerings over TBX, including personalization services. The number and variety of useful services TBX provides continues to grow and so will your ability to make use of these services if you choose to register for them. If you choose not to provide the requested information, TBX may not be able to offer you some of the personalized services that depend on this type of information to function. However to register, you still have the option of providing only the minimum necessary information.
b. In addition to registration for various services on TBX, TBX may ask you for personal information at other times, including certain necessary information when you enter a promotion offered at a TBX site, or request, subscribe for or purchase a product or service through TBX.
c. If you contact TBX, we may keep a record of that correspondence. We do not collect any email addresses of those who communicate with TBX via email. We use the information provided only so that we may respond to the email.
2. What are "cookies" and "beacons" and how are they used?
TBX also collects anonymous information using "cookies." A cookie is a small text file containing a unique identification number that is transferred from a web site to the hard drive of your computer so that the web site may identify you. This unique number identifies your browser, but not you, to the TBX servers whenever you visit TBX. A cookie will not let a web site know any personal information about you, such as your real name and address. The coding in the cookies lets us know that you are using a particular computer but nothing more. Since cookies are only text files, they cannot run on your computer, search your computer for other information or transmit any information to anyone.
To help serve you better TBX uses cookies to:
a. Help us remember who you are through your browser settings so that TBX can offer and provide personalized services. TBX uses cookies to store and sometimes track information about what is done and seen across TBX. Cookies also allow us to save passwords and preferences for you so that you will not have to re-enter them the next time you visit.
b. Measure traffic patterns. Without cookies, it could be difficult for TBX to know that certain services are more popular than others are. This information helps us to better understand when to offer new services.
c. Estimate audience size. Cookies help us know whether or not users have seen particular displays, including advertisements.
d. Displaying advertisements. TBX and third party advertising networks used by TBX may use cookies when serving advertisements.
Nowadays, cookies are used on most major web sites. Most browsers are initially set up to accept cookies. If you prefer, you can reset your browser either to notify you when you have received a cookie, or to refuse to accept cookies. You should understand that while TBX does not require you to use cookies, certain pages may not function properly if you set your browser to not accept cookies.
TBX may contain electronic images known as Web beacons, which are sometimes called single-pixel gifs, that allow TBX to count users who have visited those pages and to deliver co-branded services. Web beacons are not used to access your personal information on TBX. They are a technique used to compile statistics about TBX usage. Web beacons collect only a limited set of information including a cookie number, time and date of a page view, and a description of the page on which the Web beacon resides. TBX web pages may also contain Web beacons placed there by our advertising partners to help TBX determine the effectiveness of our Internet advertising campaigns.
3. Who is collecting the information?
When you provide personal registration information at any TBX site, that information is collected by TBX. It may be disclosed to other organizations in the circumstances described in Section 5 below.
Be aware that TBX sponsors and other advertisers have links on our sites that take you to other sites that may collect personal information about you. This Privacy Policy does not cover third party data collection practices and TBX does not assume any responsibility for the actions of such third parties.
4. How does TBX use the information?
Any personal information you provide to TBX is maintained and accessible only by TBX, unless specifically stated otherwise. TBX requests information from its users so that users can enjoy customized experiences across TBX. TBX may use the information it collects as follows:
a. To offer its users the ability to customize or personalize content on TBX.
b. To deliver products and services requested.
c. TBX uses the anonymous, aggregate data collected to inform our sponsors and advertisers as to numbers of people who have certain demographic characteristics and the number of those people who have seen and "clicked" on their advertisement(s). TBX will also disclose to those third-party sponsors and advertisers the overall demographics available regarding who saw and "clicked" on their advertisement. No personal information will be disclosed to these sponsors and advertisers as part of this process; only information in an anonymous, aggregate form will be disclosed.
d. TBX also uses the anonymous, aggregate data to perform statistical analyses of the collective characteristics and behavior of our registered users and visitors, to measure user demographics and interests regarding specific areas of TBX, to describe our services to third parties such as prospective business partners and advertisers and to analyze how and where best to use our resources. Without such data, we would not know what the most popular areas of TBX are, and we would not be able to change and update the content and services appropriately. TBX also uses such data to monitor and improve the operation of TBX and to maintain the quality of the Products and Services made available through TBX. No personal information will be disclosed during these activities.
e. TBX may, from time to time, use your personal information to contact you about changes or enhancements to Products and Services on TBX. If you indicated that you were interested in receiving offers or information from selected TBX sponsors and advertisers, TBX will send you email publications and mailings about products and services that we feel may be of interest to you. For those who elect to receive such materials from TBX or third parties, and who indicate that they do in their profile, TBX will release personal information. Personal information released includes name, email address and other necessary information supplied in TBX registration process. If at any time you would like to end your subscription to any email materials, follow either the directions posted at the bottom of the email material, or the directions at the email newsletter company's web site.
f. If you enter a contest on TBX, we will use the personal information you provided to contact you in the event you win. All TBX contest entry forms provide a way for you to opt-out of any communications that is not related to awarding prizes for the promotion. These entry forms also provide users with a choice on whether to receive email marketing materials from third parties. Any information you provide will not be shared with such third parties unless you agree through the appropriate consent box on the entry form. If you enter a contest, you may be asked, under the rules of the promotion, to agree that the promotion sponsor may use your name in relation to announcing and promoting the winners of the promotion.
g. TBX may also use personal information if it has reasonable grounds to believe the information could be useful when investigating a contravention of a federal, provincial or foreign law; for an emergency that threatens an individual's life, health or security; if the use is clearly in the individual's interest and consent is not available in a timely way; or if knowledge and consent would compromise the availability or accuracy of the information and collection is required to investigate a breach of an agreement or contravention of a federal or provincial law.
h. TBX may disclose personal information: (i) to a lawyer who is representing it; (ii) if required to comply with a subpoena or warrant issued or an order made by a court, person or body with jurisdiction to compel the production of information, or to comply with rules of court relating to the production of records; (iii) to a government institution or part of a government institution that has made a request for the information, identified its lawful authority to obtain the information and indicated that: (A) it suspects that the information relates to national security, the defence of Canada or the conduct of international affairs, (B) the disclosure is requested for the purpose of enforcing any law of Canada, a province or a foreign jurisdiction, carrying out an investigation relating to the enforcement of any such law or gathering intelligence for the purpose of enforcing any such law, or (C) the disclosure is requested for the purpose of administering any law of Canada or a province; (iv) to a person who needs the information because of an emergency that threatens the life, health or security of an individual; (v) for purposes related to investigating a breach of an agreement or a contravention of the laws of Canada or a province; or (vi) where otherwise required by law.
5. Does TBX share the information that is collected?
In order to provide you with content and services that match your interests, TBX has relationships with services and other companies on the Internet. Many of these also require registration to make them function properly. You can recognize most of these sites by the joint branding of TBX and such companies. As well, if you see a logo on the page that says 'Powered by third party"', you are on a co-branded site. Other third-party relationships are "private label" relationships where another entity provides TBX with technology, services and/or content under TBX branding. These sites form part of TBX if pages at the site display TBX branding bar and a link to the Terms and Conditions or to this Privacy Policy. If you provide, or if TBX collects, personal information on a co-branded or private label site that forms part of TBX, that data may be shared with the partners for the purpose of providing the products and services available at the site.
In addition to finding co-branded sites that form part of TBX, you will find direct links on TBX to sites offered by third parties that are not part of TBX. Some of these sites are authorized to use TBX brands and/or logos. In some cases the operators of such sites may disclose personal information collected by them to TBX. Such information will be used by TBX solely in connection with the products and services of such third party. This Privacy Policy does not, however, apply to the privacy practices of such sites
TBX may disclose personal information to its agents, suppliers and service providers in conjunction with providing you with Products and Services or operating portions of TBX. Such entities will be required to use personal information provided solely for such purposes. In addition, TBX may share data with trusted partners to help us perform statistical analysis. All such third parties are prohibited from using your personal information except to provide these services.
TBX does not sell, rent or lease its customer lists to third parties. TBX may, from time to time, contact you on behalf of external business partners about a particular offering that may be of interest to you. In those cases, your personal information (e-mail, name, address, telephone number) is not disclosed to the third party.
6. Can you access, edit or delete your information?
TBX provides its registered users the ability to access and edit the personal information in their user profiles. TBX also offers all users who have volunteered any personal information to TBX, the opportunity to review the information provided and to rectify any inaccuracies. Please contact the TBX Privacy Coordinator, for more details.
7. Can you opt-out?
You can opt-out of providing personal information and from receiving information on TBX updates and new services, as well as direct email offers from selected TBX partners and sponsors. This is done either at the point of initial collection of information or during the editing or updating process. The process to opt out of most TBX email materials is the same as the process for editing user information profiles described above. In addition, all such email materials have easy-to-follow unsubscribe directions posted at the bottom of the email. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us.
8. What security procedures are in place?
TBX has security measures in place to attempt to protect against the loss, misuse and alteration of your user data under our control. TBX attempts to keep such information in secure facilities, protected from unauthorized access and kept only as long as is reasonably required. Only persons who have a need to know your personal information for the purposes described in this Privacy Policy have access to the user data you choose to provide to us. TBX has imposed strict rules on TBX employees who have access to the databases that store user personal information or to the servers that host our services. While TBX cannot guarantee that loss, misuse or alteration to data will not occur, we make reasonable efforts to prevent such occurrences. Any other particularly sensitive information, such as credit card numbers, is encrypted prior to transmission. TBX is not liable for any use or disclosure of your personal information that is beyond its reasonable control.
You are responsible for the security of your TBX login ID and password. Please take care when using and storing them. TBX recommends that you do not divulge your password to anyone. You should log out of your browser at the end of each computer session to ensure that others cannot access your personal information and correspondence, especially if you share a computer with someone else or are using a computer in a public place like a library or Internet cafe.
