Female Forward Collective

Privacy Policy

Effective date: July 3, 2024. Last updated: October 26, 2026.

Female Forward Collective, operated by Ready to Launch Consulting ("we", "us"), is a community for women in business in the Tri-Cities and Metro Vancouver, British Columbia. We respect your privacy and collect only what we need to run our events, directory and programs.

This policy applies to femaleforwardcollective.org, every page and form on it, and the events we host. It explains what we collect, why, who we share it with, and the choices you have. We follow British Columbia's Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA) and, where it applies, Canada's Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) and Canada's Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL).

Our Privacy Officer is Meghan Simington, Founder. You can reach her at info@meghansimington.com.

1. Information we collect

We collect information you give us through our forms, and a limited amount of information collected automatically when you visit the site.

Your phone number is never shown publicly. We do not collect more than we need, and we do not sell your information.

2. How we use your information and your consent

We use your information only for the purpose you gave it to us, as listed above, and to:

• Run our breakfasts, programs and member directory
• Respond to questions and send you the information you request
• Keep records needed for accounting and tax purposes
• Improve our website and events

By submitting a form, you consent to us using your information for that form's purpose. If we want to use it for something new, we will ask you first.

Email. We send marketing emails, such as our newsletter and event announcements, only if you have opted in or have an existing business relationship with us as allowed under CASL. Every email includes an unsubscribe link, and we act on unsubscribes within 10 business days. You will still receive messages tied to something you signed up for, such as your event ticket or program details.

You can withdraw your consent at any time by emailing us. Some services, such as a directory listing, cannot continue without the information they need.

3. Member directory, photos and testimonials

Directory. If you request a directory listing, the details you choose to include are published on our website for the public to see: typically your name, business name, role, industry, bio, social media links, logo and headshot. Your phone number and email are not published unless you ask us to. You can update or remove your listing at any time by emailing us.

Event photography. We hire photographers at many of our events. Photos and video may appear on our website, social media, emails and promotional materials, and may identify you by name and business with a link to your website. If you would rather not be photographed, tell the host or photographer at check-in. If you would like a photo of you removed, email us and we will take it down from the channels we control.

Testimonials. We only publish your name with a quote or testimonial if you have given it to us for that purpose or agreed to it being shared.

4. Who we share it with

We share your information only with the service providers that help us run Female Forward Collective, and only what each one needs. They are required to protect it and may not use it for their own purposes beyond providing their service.

We may also share information if the law requires it. We never sell or rent your personal information.

Storage outside Canada. Some of these providers store and process information in the United States and other countries. While it is there, it may be subject to the laws of those countries, including lawful access by their authorities.

Links to other sites. Our site links to member websites, social media and other sites we do not control. This includes booking pages run by our partners, such as headshot sessions with Anita Alberto Photography. Their privacy practices are their own.

5. Cookies and analytics

Cookies are small files your browser stores when you visit a website. We use them to keep the site working and to understand how visitors use it.

• Necessary cookies keep the site secure and working, and remember your cookie choice
• Analytics cookies from Squarespace, Google Analytics and Microsoft Clarity tell us which pages are visited, how far people scroll and where they click. Clarity may record anonymized sessions; it masks text you type into forms

When you first visit, our cookie banner lets you accept or decline non-essential cookies. You can change your choice at any time by clearing cookies in your browser, and most browsers let you block cookies entirely. You can also opt out of Google Analytics with Google's browser add-on.

6. How long we keep it

We keep your information only as long as we need it for the purpose you gave it, then delete it or make it anonymous.

• Contact form messages: up to 2 years after our last exchange
• Directory listings: while your listing is active, and removed within 30 days after it ends or you ask
• Applications that do not go ahead: up to 1 year
• Payment and accounting records: 7 years, as required for tax purposes
• Newsletter contacts: until you unsubscribe

7. How we protect it

We use reputable providers with industry-standard security, limit access to the people who need it to run our programs, and never ask for card numbers through our own forms. No website or email is completely secure, so please do not send sensitive information, such as health or banking details, through our contact form.

8. Your rights

You have the right to:

• Ask what personal information we hold about you and how we have used it
• Ask us to correct anything that is inaccurate
• Withdraw your consent, unsubscribe, or ask us to remove your directory listing or photos
• Ask us to delete your information, unless we must keep it by law

Email info@meghansimington.com with your request. We will respond within 30 days. If you are not satisfied with our response, you can contact the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner for British Columbia.

9. Children

Our events and programs are for adults. We do not knowingly collect information from anyone under 19, the age of majority in British Columbia.

10. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy as our programs and tools change. We will post the new version here with a new "last updated" date, and tell members by email about any significant change.

11. Contact us