Last Updated: March 11, 2026
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1. Introduction
Niagara Falls Innovation Hub Inc. (formerly Spark Innovation Educational Center Inc.) (“NFIH,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) is committed to protecting the privacy and security of your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your personal information when you visit our website, use our services, participate in our programs, subscribe to our communications, or otherwise interact with us.
We operate in compliance with Canada’s Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA), Canada’s Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL), and all other applicable federal and provincial privacy laws.
By using our services, website, or providing us with your personal information, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Privacy Policy.
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2. About Us
Organization Name: Niagara Falls Innovation Hub Inc. (formerly Spark Innovation Educational Center Inc.)
Address: 4551 Zimmerman Ave., Niagara Falls, Ontario, L2E 3M5
Email: info@nfinnovationhub.ca
Phone: 289-650-1770
Website: www.nfinnovationhub.ca
Niagara Falls Innovation Hub Inc. is an independent nonprofit organization that supports entrepreneurs, innovators, and businesses through programming, workspace, mentorship, and community resources. We are governed by an independent board of directors and operate in alignment with applicable municipal and provincial frameworks.
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3. Our Commitment to the Ten PIPEDA Fair Information Principles
Our privacy practices are guided by the ten Fair Information Principles set out in PIPEDA:
1. Accountability – We are responsible for all personal information in our custody or control, including information transferred to third parties.
2. Identifying Purposes – We clearly identify why we are collecting personal information before or at the time of collection.
3. Consent – We obtain your consent before collecting, using, or disclosing your personal information, except where permitted or required by law.
4. Limiting Collection – We collect only the personal information necessary for the identified purposes.
5. Limiting Use, Disclosure, and Retention – We use or disclose personal information only for the purposes for which it was collected, and we retain it only as long as necessary.
6. Accuracy – We take reasonable steps to ensure personal information is accurate, complete, and up-to-date.
7. Safeguards – We protect personal information with security measures appropriate to its sensitivity.
8. Openness – We make information about our privacy practices readily available.
9. Individual Access – You have the right to access your personal information and request corrections.
10. Challenging Compliance – You may challenge our compliance with this Privacy Policy and PIPEDA.
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4. Accountability and Privacy Contact
Niagara Falls Innovation Hub Inc. is responsible for personal information in its custody or control and for ensuring compliance with this Privacy Policy and applicable privacy laws. Day‑to‑day management of privacy matters is handled by our management and marketing team, who coordinate responses to privacy questions, requests, and concerns.
Privacy Contact:
Email: info@nfinnovationhub.ca
Phone: 289-650-1770
Mailing Address: 4551 Zimmerman Ave., Niagara Falls, Ontario, L2E 3M5
If you have any questions, concerns, or complaints about our privacy practices, or if you wish to access or update your personal information, please contact us using the information above.
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5. What Personal Information We Collect
“Personal information” means information about an identifiable individual. The types of personal information we may collect include:
a) Information You Provide Directly
– Contact information: name, email address, phone number, mailing address
– Demographic information: age, gender, business sector, area of interest
– Account and membership information: username, password, membership status, program enrolment
– Program and event registration details: applications, forms, surveys, feedback
– Payment and billing information: credit card details, billing address (processed securely through third-party payment processors)
– Communications: emails, messages, inquiries, and correspondence with us
– Content you submit: testimonials, success stories, photos, videos, or other materials you share with us
b) Information Collected Automatically
When you visit our website or use our digital services, we may automatically collect:
– Technical information: IP address, browser type, device type, operating system
– Usage data: pages visited, time spent on site, links clicked, referring URLs
– Cookies and tracking technologies: see Section 12 for more details
c) Information from Third Parties
We may receive personal information from:
– Partners and sponsors who refer participants to our programs
– Social media platforms if you interact with us or log in via social media
– Digital advertising platforms when we run paid marketing campaigns (see Section 13)
– Publicly available sources such as business directories or LinkedIn profiles
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6. How We Use Your Personal Information
We collect and use personal information only for identified, legitimate purposes. We will not use your personal information for any other purpose without obtaining your consent, unless permitted or required by law.
Primary Purposes
We use your personal information to:
1. Provide and administer our services: including workspace access, programs, events, mentorship, and resources
2. Process registrations and applications: for programs, memberships, events, and other offerings
3. Communicate with you: to respond to inquiries, provide updates, send confirmations, and deliver customer support
4. Send newsletters and marketing communications: including program announcements, event invitations, success stories, community news, and opportunities (with your consent, as required by CASL)
5. Improve our services: through surveys, feedback, analytics, and performance monitoring
6. Operate our website and digital platforms: including technical administration, troubleshooting, and security
7. Conduct research and analysis: to better understand our community and improve our offerings
8. Fulfill legal and regulatory obligations: including compliance with applicable laws, reporting to funders, and responding to legal requests
9. Manage relationships with partners, sponsors, and funders: including reporting on outcomes and impact
10. Run digital advertising and marketing campaigns: to promote our programs, events, and services (see Section 13)
Secondary Purposes
With your consent, or where permitted by law, we may also use your personal information to:
– Feature your success story, testimonial, photo, or video in our communications, website, or social media
– Share aggregated, anonymized data for research, reporting, or advocacy purposes
– Participate in collaborative projects with partners or funders
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7. Consent
We obtain your consent before collecting, using, or disclosing your personal information, except where the law allows us to do so without consent (e.g., for legal compliance or in emergencies).
Types of Consent
– Express consent: You provide clear, explicit permission (e.g., by signing a form, checking a box, or verbally agreeing).
– Implied consent: Your consent is reasonably inferred from your actions or the context (e.g., providing your email address to receive a program confirmation).
How We Obtain Consent
We may obtain consent in various ways depending on the circumstances and sensitivity of the information, including:
– Membership agreements and program enrolment forms
– Newsletter and email subscription checkboxes
– Website cookie consent banners
– Event registration and photo/video release forms
– Verbal consent during in-person or phone interactions
Withdrawing Consent
You may withdraw your consent at any time, subject to legal or contractual restrictions, by contacting us at info@nfinnovationhub.ca. Please note that withdrawing consent may limit our ability to provide certain services to you.
For marketing emails, you can unsubscribe at any time using the “unsubscribe” link in any email or by contacting us directly.
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8. Newsletter and Marketing Communications (CASL Compliance)
We send commercial electronic messages (CEMs), including newsletters, program announcements, event invitations, and promotional emails, in compliance with Canada’s Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL).
What You Can Expect
When you subscribe to our newsletter or marketing emails, you will receive:
– Updates about our programs, events, and services
– Success stories, community news, and resources for entrepreneurs
– Occasional information about partners, sponsors, or businesses connected to our community
– Invitations to participate in surveys or provide feedback
Our newsletters are intended to inform and support the entrepreneurial community. We do not engage in deceptive or misleading marketing practices.
Consent and Unsubscribe
– Express consent: By subscribing to our newsletter or providing your email for marketing purposes, you are giving us express consent to send you CEMs.
– Implied consent: If you are a current or recent member, program participant, or have an existing business relationship with us, we may rely on implied consent to send you relevant information for a limited period.
– Unsubscribe mechanism: Every marketing email we send includes a clear and easy way to unsubscribe at no cost. You may unsubscribe at any time by clicking the “unsubscribe” link in any email, or by contacting us at info@nfinnovationhub.ca. We will process your unsubscribe request within 10 business days.
Identification and Contact Information
All our marketing emails clearly identify:
– The sender (Niagara Falls Innovation Hub Inc.)
– Our mailing address and contact information
– A functioning unsubscribe mechanism
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9. Third-Party Content, Featured Businesses, and Disclaimers
No Endorsement or Guarantee
From time to time, our website, newsletters, events, and communications may reference, feature, or provide links to third-party businesses, products, services, tools, resources, or success stories (collectively, “Third-Party Content”). Any such Third-Party Content is provided for general information, community awareness, and educational purposes only.
Unless we expressly state otherwise in writing, the inclusion of any Third-Party Content does not constitute or imply an endorsement, recommendation, guarantee, or approval by Niagara Falls Innovation Hub Inc., or any of our partners. We do not control and are not responsible for the content, accuracy, quality, policies, or practices of any third parties, and your interactions with them are solely between you and the applicable third party.
No Advice
The information provided in our communications, website, and events is for general informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal, financial, business, tax, technical, or professional advice, and it should not be relied upon as such. You are responsible for conducting your own due diligence and obtaining appropriate professional advice before making any business, financial, or legal decisions based on information we provide or Third-Party Content we feature.
Limitation of Liability
To the fullest extent permitted by law, NFIH is not liable for any loss, damage, harm, or expense (including direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, or punitive damages) that may arise from:
– Your use of or reliance on Third-Party Content
– Your interactions with third-party businesses or services referenced in our communications
– Any inaccuracies, errors, or omissions in information we provide
– Actions you take based on information obtained through our services, website, or communications
You acknowledge and agree that you use Third-Party Content and act on information we provide at your own risk.
Accuracy and Completeness
While we strive to ensure that information we provide is accurate, current, and complete, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, regarding the accuracy, reliability, completeness, or timeliness of any information or Third-Party Content.
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10. How We Share Your Personal Information
We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties for their own marketing purposes. We may share your personal information in the following circumstances:
a) Service Providers and Processors
We may share personal information with trusted third-party service providers who assist us in operating our website, delivering our services, processing payments, sending emails, hosting data, or conducting analytics. These service providers are contractually obligated to use your personal information only for the purposes we specify and to protect it with appropriate safeguards.
Examples include:
– Email marketing platforms (e.g., Mailchimp, Constant Contact)
– Payment processors (e.g., Stripe, PayPal)
– Website hosting and cloud storage providers
– Customer relationship management (CRM) systems
– Digital advertising platforms (e.g., Google Ads, Facebook Ads) – see Section 13
b) Partners, Sponsors, and Funders
We may share aggregated, anonymized, or statistical information (not identifying individuals) with partners, sponsors, and funders for reporting, evaluation, and advocacy purposes. With your consent, we may share your contact information with program partners, mentors, or sponsors to facilitate your participation in specific programs or opportunities.
c) Legal and Regulatory Authorities
We may disclose personal information if required or permitted by law, including to:
– Comply with a subpoena, court order, or legal process
– Respond to lawful requests from government authorities
– Protect our rights, property, or safety, or the rights, property, or safety of others
– Detect, prevent, or address fraud, security issues, or technical problems
d) Business Transfers
In the event of a merger, acquisition, reorganization, or sale of assets, your personal information may be transferred to the successor organization, subject to the same privacy protections outlined in this Privacy Policy.
e) With Your Consent
We may share your personal information with other parties when you provide explicit consent for us to do so.
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11. Cross-Border Data Transfers
Your personal information may be transferred to, stored, or processed outside of Canada, including in the United States or other jurisdictions where some of our service providers or cloud infrastructure are located (for example, certain email, productivity, or analytics tools). We also use Canadian‑based service providers, including Canadian web hosting, so that some personal information is stored and processed within Canada.
When personal information is transferred outside Canada, it may be subject to the laws of those other jurisdictions, including lawful access by courts, law enforcement, and national security authorities in accordance with those laws. We take reasonable steps to ensure that any third‑party service providers processing personal information, whether inside or outside Canada, provide a comparable level of protection and handle your information in accordance with this Privacy Policy and applicable Canadian privacy laws.
By using our services and providing us with your personal information, you consent to such transfers and processing in Canada and other countries, as described in this Privacy Policy.
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12. Cookies and Tracking Technologies
Our website uses cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your experience, analyze usage, and support our marketing efforts.
What Are Cookies?
Cookies are small text files placed on your device by a website. They help the website recognize your device on future visits and remember your preferences.
Types of Cookies We Use
– Essential cookies: Required for the website to function properly (e.g., session management, security)
– Analytics cookies: Help us understand how visitors use our website (e.g., Google Analytics)
– Marketing cookies: Used to deliver targeted advertising and measure the effectiveness of our marketing campaigns (e.g., Google Ads, Facebook Pixel)
Managing Cookies
You can control or disable cookies through your browser settings. Please note that disabling certain cookies may limit your ability to use some features of our website. For additional information about cookies, web beacons, and other tracking technologies, including how to manage or disable them, please consult your browser’s help documentation or other trusted online resources regarding managing cookies and online tracking.
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13. Digital Advertising and Marketing
We run paid digital advertising campaigns on platforms such as Google Ads, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and other online channels to promote our programs, events, and services. These campaigns may involve the collection and use of personal information as described below.
How Digital Advertising Works
Digital advertising platforms collect data about users (including personal information such as browsing behaviour, demographics, interests, and device information) to deliver targeted ads. When you see or interact with our ads, these platforms may collect information about you.
Our Use of Advertising Platforms
We use digital advertising platforms to:
– Promote our programs, events, and services to specific audiences
– Measure the performance and effectiveness of our marketing campaigns
– Retarget website visitors who have shown interest in our offerings
– Build awareness within the entrepreneurial and business community
These platforms operate under their own terms of service and privacy policies, which are subject to PIPEDA and/or other applicable privacy legislation.
Data Collection and Tracking
When you interact with our digital ads or visit our website after clicking an ad, the advertising platforms and their partners may collect:
– Device and browser information
– IP address and location data
– Interaction with ads (views, clicks, conversions)
– Browsing behaviour and interests
We receive only aggregated, anonymized, or de-identified data from these platforms for statistical, analytical, and campaign optimization purposes. We do not receive personally identifiable information from advertising platforms unless you voluntarily provide it (e.g., by filling out a form on our website).
Third-Party Platform Policies
The advertising platforms we use are independent third parties operating under their own privacy policies and terms of service. We encourage you to review their privacy policies to understand how they collect and use your information:
– Google Ads: www.policies.google.com/privacy
– Facebook/Meta: www.facebook.com/privacy/policy
– LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/legal/privacy-policy
Your Choices
You can control how advertising platforms track your activity and deliver targeted ads by:
– Adjusting your privacy settings on each platform
– Using browser privacy settings and ad blockers
– Opting out of interest-based advertising through industry tools such as:
– Digital Advertising Alliance of Canada: www.youradchoices.ca
– Network Advertising Initiative: www.optout.networkadvertising.org
Please note that opting out of targeted advertising does not mean you will stop seeing ads; it means the ads you see may be less relevant to your interests.
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14. Data Security and Safeguards
We are committed to protecting your personal information from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, alteration, or destruction.
Security Measures
We implement administrative, technical, and physical safeguards appropriate to the sensitivity of the personal information we collect, including:
– Secure servers and encrypted data transmission (SSL/TLS)
– Password protection and access controls
– Regular security assessments and updates
– Employee training on privacy and data security
– Contracts with third-party service providers requiring them to protect your information
No Guarantee
While we take reasonable precautions, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security, and you provide personal information at your own risk.
Data Breach Notification
In the event of a data breach that poses a real risk of significant harm, we will notify affected individuals and relevant authorities in accordance with applicable privacy laws.
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15. Retention of Personal Information
We retain personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce our agreements.
Retention Periods
Typical retention periods include:
– Membership and program records: Duration of participation plus 7 years for reporting and compliance
– Newsletter subscribers: Until you unsubscribe, plus a reasonable period to process your request
– Website cookies and analytics:Varies by cookie type (see Section 12)
– Financial records: 7 years as required by law
– General correspondence: As long as reasonably necessary for business purposes
When personal information is no longer needed, we securely delete or anonymize it in accordance with our data retention and destruction policies.
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16. Accuracy of Personal Information
We take reasonable steps to ensure that the personal information we use and disclose is accurate, complete, and up-to-date.
Your Responsibility
You are responsible for providing accurate information and notifying us of any changes. If your contact information, membership details, or other personal information changes, please update it by contacting us at info@nfinnovationhub.ca.
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17. Your Privacy Rights
Under PIPEDA and applicable privacy laws, you have the following rights:
a) Right to Access: You have the right to request access to the personal information we hold about you. We will provide you with a copy of your personal information in a commonly used format, subject to limited exceptions permitted by law.
b) Right to Correction: If you believe your personal information is inaccurate, incomplete, or out-of-date, you have the right to request corrections. We will make reasonable efforts to correct or complete the information.
c) Right to Withdraw Consent: You may withdraw your consent to our collection, use, or disclosure of your personal information at any time, subject to legal or contractual restrictions. Withdrawing consent may affect our ability to provide you with certain services.
d) Right to Complain: If you have concerns about our privacy practices or believe we have not complied with PIPEDA, you have the right to file a complaint with:
Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada
30 Victoria Street
Gatineau, Quebec K1A 1H3
Toll-free: 1-800-282-1376
Website: www.priv.gc.ca
How to Exercise Your Rights
To exercise any of these rights, please contact our team at info@nfinnovationhub.ca. We will respond to your request within 15 days or as otherwise required by law. We may require you to verify your identity before processing your request to protect your personal information from unauthorized access.
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18. Children’s and Students’ Privacy
Our general online services and marketing communications are not primarily directed at children under the age of 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information directly from children under 13 through our public-facing website or newsletter signups. If we become aware that we have inadvertently collected personal information from a child under 13 through our online channels without appropriate consent, we will take steps to delete that information as soon as reasonably possible.
Niagara Falls Innovation Hub Inc. does, however, deliver structured, in-person programs for students and youth, including the E=STEAM field trip program for classes and youth groups in grades 7–13. For these programs, we work primarily with school boards, teachers, and authorized group leaders, and we rely on them to obtain any necessary parental or guardian consents in accordance with their own policies and applicable laws before sharing student information with us or bringing participants onsite. Any personal information about students that we receive in this context is used only for the purposes of delivering, administering, and evaluating the relevant program, ensuring participant safety, and meeting our reporting obligations, and is handled with safeguards appropriate to the sensitivity of the information.
If you are a parent or guardian and have questions about how your child’s information is handled in connection with one of our youth programs, please contact us at info@nfinnovationhub.ca or speak with your child’s teacher or group leader.
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19. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors. When we make changes, we will:
– Update the “Last Updated” date at the top of this Privacy Policy
– Post the revised Privacy Policy on our website
We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically to stay informed about how we protect your personal information.
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20. Contact Us
If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices, please contact us:
Niagara Falls Innovation Hub Inc.
4551 Zimmerman Ave.
Niagara Falls, Ontario, L2E 3M5, Canada
Email: info@nfinnovationhub.ca
Phone: 289-650-1770
We are committed to working with you to resolve any privacy concerns in a fair and timely manner.
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Thank you for trusting Niagara Falls Innovation Hub Inc. with your personal information. We are committed to protecting your privacy and using your information responsibly.
