Privacy Policy

Who we are

The West Kelowna Economic Development Corporation (WKEDC) is a municipal corporation wholly owned by the City of West Kelowna. This policy explains how we collect, use, share and protect personal information when you visit wkedc.ca, contact us, or subscribe to our updates.

We handle personal information in line with the privacy law that applies to us in British Columbia. If anything here is unclear, contact us and we'll explain.

Information we collect

We only collect what we need to answer you and to understand how the website is used.

When you contact us: your name, email address and message, and anything else you choose to share, such as your organization, phone number and the kind of help you need. When you subscribe: your email address and your consent to receive updates. When you browse: with your consent, analytics cookies record the pages you visit, how you arrived, the device and browser you use, and your approximate location at the city or region level. Technical logs: our website host keeps standard server logs, such as IP addresses and error reports, to keep the site secure and running.

How we use it

To reply to your enquiry and connect you with the right people or programs. To send updates you have asked for. Every email includes a link to unsubscribe. To understand which pages help visitors most, and to report visitor numbers and regions to our Board. These reports use combined figures, never individual names. To keep the website secure and fix problems.

We don't sell personal information, and we don't use it for purposes you haven't agreed to.

Cookies and analytics

Essential cookies keep the site working and remember your cookie choice. They are always on.

Analytics cookies only run if you accept them in the cookie banner:

Google Analytics 4 measures visits and page views. Hotjar shows, in aggregate, how people scroll and click, so we can improve pages. It is set to hide what you type into forms.

You can change your choice at any time by clearing cookies for wkedc.ca in your browser, which brings the cookie banner back.

The map on our home page is provided by Google Maps. When it loads, your browser connects to Google, which receives your IP address and may set its own cookies. Google’s use of that information is covered by the Google Privacy Policy.

We share personal information only when it's needed to help you, or when the law requires it.

With your permission, we may pass your enquiry to a partner who can help, such as a City department, a funding agency or a business advisor. We'll tell you first. With service providers who run parts of the website for us: our website host, our email newsletter tool, and our analytics tools. They may only use the information to provide their service to us. When required by law, for example in response to a valid legal request.

Where it is stored

Some of our service providers, such as Google Analytics and our newsletter tool, may store information outside Canada, where it may be subject to the laws of that country. We choose providers that protect information to a standard comparable to ours.

How long we keep it

Enquiries: for up to two years after our last contact with you, then deleted, unless an active project needs them longer. Newsletter subscriptions: until you unsubscribe. Analytics data: kept in Google Analytics for up to 14 months.

How we protect it

The site runs over a secure (HTTPS) connection. Access to enquiries and subscriber lists is limited to the people who need it, and our website is monitored and updated to guard against security threats.

Your choices and rights

Ask to see the personal information we hold about you, or ask us to correct it. Withdraw your consent, for example by unsubscribing or turning off analytics cookies. Ask us to delete your information, where the law allows.

We'll answer requests within 30 days. If you're not satisfied with our answer, you can contact the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner for British Columbia.

Contact us about privacy

For privacy questions or requests, contact us and choose "Other" in the enquiry form, or write to us at the mailing address on our contact page.

Changes to this policy

We'll update this page when our practices change, and change the date at the top. Significant changes will also be announced on the site.