Introduction
Look, we get it - nobody loves reading privacy policies. But here at Glaiven Valor Forge, we're pretty serious about keeping your info safe. We're not some faceless corporate gym chain, we're your neighbors on Commercial Drive, and we treat your personal data the same way we'd want ours treated.
This policy breaks down what info we collect when you train with us, join our programs, or just browse our site. We've tried to keep the legal jargon to a minimum 'cause honestly, we'd rather be lifting heavy stuff than writing legal docs.
By using our services, training at our facility, or signing up for anything we offer, you're agreeing to this privacy policy. If something doesn't sit right with you, let's talk about it - shoot us an email or come by the front desk.
Information We Collect
Personal Details You Give Us
When you sign up for membership or book a session, we'll need the basics:
- Name, email address, phone number
- Home address (mainly for billing and emergency contact stuff)
- Date of birth (gotta make sure you're old enough to throw around heavy weights)
- Payment info - credit card details, billing address
- Emergency contact information (hope we never need it, but it's there just in case)
Health & Fitness Data
Since we're dealing with strength training and athletic performance, we collect some health-related stuff:
- Medical history and any conditions we should know about before you start lifting
- Fitness assessments and performance testing results
- Training logs, workout progress, personal records
- Body composition measurements if you're doing our nutrition programs
- Injury history and physical limitations
This info helps us keep you safe and design programs that actually work for YOUR body, not some generic template.
Automatically Collected Data
Our website collects some technical stuff automatically:
- IP address and browser type
- Pages you visit on our site and how long you hang around
- Device information and screen resolution
- Referral sources (how you found us)
How We Use Your Data
We're not selling your info to sketchy marketers or spamming you with nonsense. Here's what we actually do with it:
- Running the gym: Processing memberships, scheduling sessions, billing you for services
- Keeping you safe: Making sure our coaches know about any health concerns before you start deadlifting
- Program design: Creating personalized training plans based on your goals and current fitness level
- Communication: Sending class schedules, program updates, and yeah, the occasional promotion (but we keep it reasonable)
- Improvement: Analyzing what's working and what's not so we can make our programs better
- Legal stuff: Meeting Canadian privacy laws and keeping proper records
Data Sharing & Disclosure
We don't just hand out your info to anyone who asks. Here's who might see it:
Service Providers
We work with a few third parties to keep things running smoothly - payment processors, scheduling software, email platforms. They only get access to what they need to do their job, and they're contractually bound to keep it confidential.
Legal Requirements
If the law says we gotta hand over info (court orders, legal processes, that kind of thing), we will. We're not trying to fight the government here.
Emergency Situations
If there's a medical emergency, we'll share relevant health info with paramedics or hospital staff. Your safety comes first.
We will NEVER sell your personal information to third parties for marketing purposes. Period.
Cookies & Tracking Technologies
Our website uses cookies - not the protein cookie kind, unfortunately. These are small text files that help the site remember you and work properly.
Types of Cookies We Use
- Essential cookies: Keep the site functioning - login sessions, shopping cart stuff
- Analytics cookies: Help us understand which pages people actually read and which ones nobody cares about
- Preference cookies: Remember your settings so you don't have to re-enter everything each visit
You can disable cookies in your browser settings, but some parts of the site might not work as well. Your call.
Data Security Measures
We take security seriously 'cause nobody wants their credit card info floating around the internet. Here's what we do:
- SSL encryption for all data transmission on our website
- Secure, encrypted storage for sensitive information
- Limited access - only staff who actually need your info can see it
- Regular security audits and updates
- Secure payment processing through PCI-compliant providers
- Staff training on privacy and data protection
That said, no system is 100% hack-proof. We do our best, but can't guarantee absolute security. If we ever have a data breach, we'll let you know ASAP as required by Canadian law.
Your Privacy Rights
Under Canadian privacy laws (PIPEDA and BC's PIPA), you've got some solid rights:
- Access: You can request a copy of all the personal data we have on you
- Correction: If something's wrong or outdated, let us know and we'll fix it
- Deletion: Want us to delete your info? We'll do it, unless we legally have to keep it
- Opt-out: Don't want marketing emails? Unsubscribe anytime - no hard feelings
- Portability: You can request your data in a format you can take elsewhere
- Withdraw consent: Changed your mind about something? You can withdraw consent for certain uses of your data
To exercise any of these rights, just email us at info@glaivenvalorforge.info or come talk to us at the front desk. We'll handle it within 30 days.
Data Retention
We don't keep your info forever - that'd be weird and unnecessary. Here's our general approach:
- Active members: We keep your data as long as you're training with us, plus what we need for ongoing service
- Former members: After you leave, we keep basic records for 7 years (mostly for tax and legal requirements)
- Health records: Retained for 7 years as required by BC regulations
- Marketing data: If you unsubscribe, we'll remove you from active lists but might keep a record that you opted out (so we don't accidentally re-add you)
- Financial records: Kept for 7 years per Canadian tax requirements
After retention periods expire, we securely delete or anonymize the data.
Minors & Youth Programs
We train athletes under 18 through our youth strength programs, but we need parental consent first. If you're under 19 in BC, your parent or legal guardian needs to sign off on membership and provide emergency contact info.
For youth members, we collect the same basic info but we're extra careful with it. Parents have the right to review, correct, or delete their kid's information at any time.
We don't knowingly collect data from anyone under 13 without explicit parental consent and involvement.
Third-Party Links & Services
Our site might link to other websites - supplement companies, nutrition resources, equipment vendors, that kind of thing. Once you click those links, you're on their turf and their privacy policies apply.
We try to only link to reputable sites, but we can't control what they do with your info. Do your own homework before sharing personal data on external sites.
Changes to This Policy
We might update this policy from time to time - new laws, new services, new technology, whatever. When we make significant changes, we'll let you know through email or a notice on our website.
The "Last Updated" date at the top tells you when we last modified things. It's worth checking back occasionally, especially if it's been a while.
Continued use of our services after changes means you're cool with the updated policy. If you're not cool with it, let's talk.