Cookie Policy

1. What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files that are stored on your device (computer, tablet, or mobile phone) when you visit a website. They are widely used to make websites work more efficiently and to provide information to website owners about how users interact with their site.

Cookies can be "persistent" (remaining on your device until deleted or expired) or "session" (deleted when you close your browser). They can also be "first-party" (set by the website you're visiting) or "third-party" (set by a different domain).

2. How We Use Cookies

MindWell Canada uses cookies to:

• Ensure our website functions properly
• Remember your preferences and settings
• Improve your browsing experience
• Analyze website usage and performance
• Provide personalized content and recommendations
• Measure the effectiveness of our marketing efforts
• Protect against fraud and security threats

3. Types of Cookies We Use

3.1 Necessary Cookies

These cookies are essential for the website to function properly. They enable basic features like page navigation, access to secure areas, and form submissions. The website cannot function properly without these cookies.

Examples of Necessary Cookies:

• Session ID: Maintains your session as you navigate through the site
• CSRF Token: Protects against cross-site request forgery attacks
• Cookie Consent: Remembers your cookie preferences
• Authentication: Keeps you logged in to secure areas
• Load Balancing: Ensures optimal website performance

Retention Period: Session cookies are deleted when you close your browser; persistent necessary cookies are retained for up to 1 year.

3.2 Analytics Cookies

These cookies help us understand how visitors interact with our website by collecting and reporting information anonymously. This data helps us improve our website's functionality and user experience.

Analytics Tools We Use:

• Google Analytics: Tracks website usage, page views, and user behavior patterns
• Internal Analytics: Our own tools for measuring website performance

Information Collected:

• Pages visited and time spent on each page
• How you arrived at our website (referral sources)
• Device and browser information
• General geographic location (country/city level)
• Click patterns and user interactions

Retention Period: Up to 26 months

Third Parties: Google (Google Analytics)

3.3 Marketing Cookies

These cookies are used to deliver relevant advertisements and measure the effectiveness of our marketing campaigns. They may be set by us or third-party advertising partners.

Marketing Purposes:

• Displaying relevant mental health resources and content
• Measuring advertising campaign effectiveness
• Retargeting visitors with relevant information
• Social media integration and sharing

Marketing Partners:

• Facebook Pixel: Measures ad effectiveness and enables retargeting
• LinkedIn Insight Tag: Provides campaign analytics and retargeting
• Google Ads: Conversion tracking and remarketing

Retention Period: Up to 2 years

3.4 Preference Cookies

These cookies remember your choices and preferences to provide a more personalized experience.

Preferences We Remember:

• Language and region settings
• Accessibility preferences
• Display preferences (text size, contrast)
• Newsletter subscription status

Retention Period: Up to 1 year

4. Cookie Consent and Your Choices

4.1 Consent Banner

When you first visit our website, you'll see a cookie consent banner that allows you to:

• Accept All: Consent to all cookie categories
• Necessary Only: Only allow essential cookies
• Customize: Choose which cookie categories to allow

4.2 Managing Your Preferences

You can change your cookie preferences at any time by:

• Clicking the "Cookie Settings" link in our website footer
• Clearing your browser cookies (this will reset all preferences)
• Using browser settings to block specific cookies

4.3 Browser Settings

Most web browsers allow you to control cookies through their settings. You can:

• Block all cookies
• Block third-party cookies only
• Delete existing cookies
• Receive notifications when cookies are set

Browser-Specific Instructions:

• Chrome: Settings > Privacy and security > Cookies and other site data
• Firefox: Preferences > Privacy & Security > Cookies and Site Data
• Safari: Preferences > Privacy > Cookies and website data
• Edge: Settings > Site permissions > Cookies and site data

5. Third-Party Cookies

5.1 Third-Party Services

Our website uses several third-party services that may set their own cookies:

Google Services:

• Google Analytics: Website usage analytics
• Google Fonts: Web font delivery
• Google Maps: Location services and maps

Social Media Platforms:

• Facebook: Social sharing and advertising
• Twitter: Social sharing and embedded content
• LinkedIn: Professional networking and advertising

5.2 Third-Party Privacy Policies

Third-party cookies are governed by the respective companies' privacy policies:

• Google Privacy Policy
• Facebook Privacy Policy
• Twitter Privacy Policy
• LinkedIn Privacy Policy

6. Opting Out of Third-Party Tracking

6.1 Industry Opt-Out Tools

You can opt out of interest-based advertising using these industry tools:

• Digital Advertising Alliance Opt-Out
• Network Advertising Initiative Opt-Out
• Your Online Choices (Europe)

6.2 Platform-Specific Opt-Outs

• Google: Google Ads Settings
• Facebook: Facebook Ad Preferences
• LinkedIn: LinkedIn Ad Preferences

7. Mobile App Tracking

If you access our website through a mobile app or browser, you may have additional options:

• iOS: Settings > Privacy & Security > Tracking
• Android: Settings > Google > Ads > Opt out of Ads Personalization

8. Do Not Track Signals

Some browsers include a "Do Not Track" feature that sends a signal to websites requesting that they not track users. Currently, there is no universally accepted standard for how to respond to these signals. We do not currently respond to Do Not Track signals, but you can use the cookie preference options described above to control tracking.

9. Impact of Blocking Cookies

9.1 Necessary Cookies

Blocking necessary cookies may result in:

• Inability to submit forms
• Loss of user preferences
• Security vulnerabilities
• Reduced website functionality

9.2 Analytics and Marketing Cookies

Blocking these cookies will:

• Prevent us from measuring website effectiveness
• Reduce personalization of content
• May result in less relevant advertisements
• Limit our ability to improve user experience

10. Cookie Security

We implement security measures to protect cookies from unauthorized access:

• Secure Flag: Cookies are transmitted only over encrypted connections
• HttpOnly Flag: Prevents access to cookies via client-side scripts
• SameSite Attribute: Protects against cross-site request forgery
• Encryption: Sensitive cookie data is encrypted

11. Data Retention

Cookie data is retained for different periods based on type:

• Session Cookies: Deleted when browser is closed
• Necessary Cookies: Up to 1 year
• Analytics Cookies: Up to 26 months
• Marketing Cookies: Up to 2 years
• Preference Cookies: Up to 1 year

12. International Transfers

Some of our third-party service providers are located outside Canada. When cookies are processed by these services, appropriate safeguards are in place to protect your data in accordance with Canadian privacy laws.

13. Children's Privacy

Our website is not intended for children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children through cookies. If you believe a child has provided information through our website, please contact us immediately.

14. Updates to This Policy

We may update this Cookie Policy to reflect changes in:

• Our use of cookies
• Legal requirements
• Technology developments
• Business practices

Significant changes will be communicated through our website and other appropriate channels.

15. Contact Information

For questions about this Cookie Policy or our use of cookies, please contact:

16. Cookie Settings

You can update your cookie preferences at any time using the button below: