Privacy Policy
- Updated Febuary 24, 2026
Effective September 5, 2026
The Paris Museum & Historical Society (“the Museum”, “we”, “us”) is a volunteer-run registered Canadian charity in Paris, Ontario. This policy explains what information we collect through theparismuseum.com, why we collect it, who we share it with, and the choices you have. We follow the principles of Canada’s Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) and Canada’s Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL).
What we collect, and why
When you donate or become a member
To process a gift or membership we collect your name, email address and mailing address, the amount and frequency of your gift, the fund you chose, and, if you give on behalf of a business, the business name. Your mailing address is required because the Canada Revenue Agency requires it on official donation receipts.
We never see or store your card number. Payments are processed by Square; your card details are entered directly into Square’s secure payment fields. We keep only Square’s transaction reference so that we can issue receipts and resolve any problems with a payment. Memberships renew automatically each year; you can cancel at any time from the Donor Dashboard or by contacting us.
Donor Dashboard
Donors can view and download their receipts in the Donor Dashboard. Sign-in uses a one-time link sent to your email address; a cookie keeps you signed in on that device until you sign out or the link expires. There is no password to remember, and we never ask for one.
When you register for an event
Event registration asks for your name, email address, phone number and the number of tickets, and takes payment through Square when a ticket has a price. We use this to reserve your place, contact you about the event, and understand attendance.
When you contact us or volunteer
Our contact, volunteer and sponsorship forms collect the details you enter — typically your name, email address, phone number and message. We use them only to respond to you and to follow up on your enquiry.
Newsletter
Our email newsletter is currently paused. When it resumes we will only email people who have asked to receive it, every message will include an unsubscribe link, and we will not add you to the list without your consent.
Information collected automatically
Like most websites, our hosting provider keeps standard server logs (your IP address, browser type, the pages requested and the time of the request) to keep the site secure and running. We also use a privacy-friendly analytics tool that runs on our own website — it records the pages you visit, the site that referred you, your browser and device type and your IP address, so we can see which pages are useful. This data stays on our server, is not shared with advertising networks, and is kept for no more than 24 months.
Cookies
We use only the cookies the site needs to work:
- Security — our hosting network sets a short-lived cookie (about 30 minutes) to tell real visitors from automated bots.
- Donor Dashboard — cookies that keep you signed in after you use your sign-in link.
- Staff logins — standard WordPress cookies for volunteers who manage the site.
We do not use advertising or cross-site tracking cookies. Some pages embed a Google Map; when a map loads, Google receives your IP address and may set its own cookies under Google’s privacy policy. Square’s payment tools also load on the site to process payments and help prevent fraud.
Who we share information with
We do not sell, rent or trade personal information. We share it only with the service providers who help us run the site and the Museum, and only for that purpose:
- Square — payment processing for donations, memberships and tickets;
- WP Engine and Cloudflare — website hosting, performance and security;
- Microsoft 365 — the Museum’s email and correspondence;
- Google — the embedded maps on our visit and contact pages.
Some of these providers store data outside Canada (for example in the United States), where it may be subject to the laws of that country. We may also disclose information when the law requires it — for example, donation records to the Canada Revenue Agency.
How long we keep information
- Donation and membership records are kept for as long as the Canada Revenue Agency requires charities to keep them — generally at least six years after the end of the year they relate to.
- Event registrations, contact and volunteer messages are kept only as long as we need them to run the event or answer you, and are then deleted.
- Analytics and server logs are kept for no more than 24 months.
Your choices and rights
You can ask us at any time to see the personal information we hold about you, to correct it, or to delete it — except where we are legally required to keep it (such as donation receipts). You can withdraw consent to the newsletter by using the unsubscribe link in any message or by contacting us, and you can cancel a membership from the Donor Dashboard. Write to us at info@theparismuseum.com or the mailing address below; we will respond within 30 days. If you are not satisfied with our response, you may contact the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada.
Security
The site is served over an encrypted connection (HTTPS). Payment information is handled by Square, which is certified to the payment-card industry’s security standard (PCI DSS). Access to donor and member information is limited to the volunteers and board members who need it to do their work.
Children
Our website is not directed at children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from them. If you believe a child has given us personal information, please contact us and we will delete it.
Photographs at events
We sometimes take photographs at Museum events for our website, newsletter and social media. If you would prefer not to appear in a photograph, please tell a volunteer at the event, or contact us afterwards and we will remove the image.
Links to other websites
Our site links to other organizations, including our community partners and our Facebook, Instagram and YouTube pages. Those sites have their own privacy practices, which we do not control.
Changes to this policy
We will post any changes on this page and update the effective date at the top. Significant changes will be noted on our home page or in our newsletter.
Contact us
The Paris Museum & Historical Society
Mailing address: 66 Grand River St. N., Paris, ON N3L 2M2
Museum: 51 William St (Syl Apps Community Centre), Paris, ON N3L 1L2
Email: info@theparismuseum.com
Phone: (519) 442-9295