The Government Finance Officers Association of British Columbia (GFOABC) is committed to protecting the personal information of our members, event participants, and other individuals who engage with our services. This policy explains how we collect, use, and share personal information across all GFOABC activities, including membership, events, programs, communications, and digital platforms.
Purpose
This policy applies to information collected through gfoabc.ca, our online forum (forum.gfoabc.ca), event registrations, membership processes, newsletters, and any other GFOABC services. By using our website, registering for events, or becoming a member, you consent to the practices described below.
What information we collect
Depending on your engagement with GFOABC, we may collect:
- Name, job title, and organization
- Contact details (email, phone, mailing address)
- Membership and participation history
- Event registrations and session attendance
- Payment and billing information
- Communication and content preferences
- Forum posts, comments, and profile information
- Survey and Quarterly Question responses
- Website usage data collected through cookies and analytics tools (see below)
When you register others for events or membership, we collect their information as provided by you.
How we use your information
GFOABC uses this information to:
- Process membership applications and renewals
- Register you for events, webinars, workshops, and the Annual Conference
- Send newsletters, event updates, and other member communications
- Customize content and improve your experience on our website and forum
- Administer programs such as Boot Camp and Strategic Financial Leadership
- Conduct surveys and research to support local government finance professionals
- Provide customer support and respond to inquiries
- Improve our website, services, and program offerings
When we share your information
GFOABC does not sell your personal information. We share information only under specific, limited circumstances:
With your consent. You may be asked to opt in to share your information (such as name, title, organization, and email) with event sponsors, exhibitors, or partners. Consent is requested during the relevant registration process and can be withdrawn at any time.
With service providers. We work with trusted vendors to support our operations, including event registration platforms, email communications, payment processing, and conference applications. These providers may access your data strictly for the purpose of delivering contracted services on our behalf and are required to safeguard your information.
When legally required. We may disclose your information when required to do so by law or legal process, or if necessary to protect the rights, safety, or property of GFOABC or others.
Cookies and analytics
Our website uses cookies and analytics tools to understand how visitors use gfoabc.ca. This includes information such as pages visited, time spent on pages, browser type, and device type. We use this data to improve our website and services.
We use Google Analytics to collect anonymized website usage data. Google Analytics uses cookies to gather this information. You can learn more about how Google uses data at policies.google.com/technologies/partner-sites. Most browsers allow you to manage or disable cookies through your browser settings.
Third-party links
Our website may contain links to external sites whose privacy practices differ from ours. GFOABC is not responsible for the privacy practices or content of third-party websites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any external sites you visit.
Your rights
You have the right to:
- Request access to the personal information we hold about you
- Correct or update your information
- Withdraw consent for data sharing
- Request deletion of your data, where applicable
- Opt out of promotional communications at any time
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us.
Data security
GFOABC maintains appropriate physical, electronic, and organizational measures to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, disclosure, or misuse.
Policy updates
This policy may be updated periodically. We will notify you of significant changes by posting updates on our website and revising the effective date below.
Effective date: March 2026
Contact
For questions or concerns about this policy or your personal information, please contact us.