Last updated November 12, 2018
How Waterloo EDC uses Cookies
This Cookie Policy explains how Waterloo Region Economic Development Corporation (“Waterloo EDC”, “Company”, “we”, “us”, and “our”) uses cookies and similar technologies to recognize you when you visit our website at waterlooedc.ca. It explains what these technologies are and why we use them, as well as your rights to control our use of them.
Whenever you visit or interact with our website, services, or tools (referred collectively as the “Website”), Waterloo EDC may use cookies for storing information to help provide you with a better experience.
Our cookies are either necessary for the functioning of our services or to help us improve our performance. We use cookies that only remain on your device for as long as you keep your browser active (session) and cookies and similar technologies that remain on your device for a longer period (persistent). You are free to block, delete, or disable these cookies if your device permits you to do so. You can manage your cookies and your cookie preferences in your browser or device settings as indicated in the Adjust Cookies section below.
Where possible, security measures are set in place to prevent unauthorized access to our cookies. A unique identifier ensures that only Waterloo EDC have access to your cookie data.
What are cookies?
Cookies are small text files containing a string of characters that can be placed on your computer or mobile device that uniquely identify your browser or device.
What are cookies used for?
Cookies allow a site or services to know if your computer or device has visited that site or service before. Cookies can then be used to help understand how the site or service is being used, help you navigate between pages efficiently, help remember your preferences, and generally improve your browsing experience. Cookies can also help ensure marketing you see online is more relevant to you and your interests.
What types of cookies does Waterloo EDC use?
Our Website uses both 1st party cookies (which are set by the Website being visited) and 3rd party cookies (which are set by a server located outside the domain of a Site). We use 1st party and 3rd party cookies for several reasons. Some cookies are required for technical reasons in order for the Website to operate, and we refer these as “strictly necessary” cookies. Some cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our Website, and we refer to these as “Performance” cookies. Some cookies enable us to provide enhanced functionality and personalization on the Website and we refer to these as “Functional” cookies. Finally, some cookies enable us and our partners to serve targeted advertisements and we refer to these as “Targeting” cookies. The specific types of 1st and 3rd party cookies served through the Website and the purposes they perform are described in the table below.
Below we list the different types of cookies that may be used on the Website. To the extent any Personal Information is collected through cookies, the Privacy Notice [https://www.waterlooedc.ca/en/our-services/privacy.aspx] applies and compliments this Cookies Policy. Waterloo EDC uses Google Tag Manager to manage its cookies.
Strictly Necessary Cookies
These cookies enable you to navigate the Website and to use their services and features. These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the Website will not work. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable information.
Performance Cookies
These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our Website. They help us to know which pages are popular and see how visitors move around the Website. If you do not allow these cookies, we will be less able to optimize the Websites’ performance. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and anonymous.
Functional Cookies
These cookies enable the Website to provide enhanced functionality and personalization. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies some services may not function properly. These cookies do not directly store personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device.
Targeting Cookies
These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant advertisements on other sites. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising. These cookies do not directly store personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device.
How to control and delete cookies
If you want to delete cookies follow the instructions at http://www.wikihow.com/Clear-Your-Browser%27s-Cookies. If you wish to disable your browser from receiving cookies follow the instructions at http://www.wikihow.com/Disable-Cookies. Note that if you set your browser to disable cookies, you may not be able to access certain parts of our Services and other parts of our Services may not work properly. You can find out more information cookie settings at third-party information sites, such as www.allaboutcookies.org.
Web Beacons
Cookies are not the only way to recognize or track visitors to a website. We may use other, similar technologies from time to time, like web beacons (sometimes called “tracking pixels” or “clear gifs”). These are tiny graphics files that contain a unique identifier that enable us to recognize when someone has visited our Website or opened an e-mail that we have sent them. This allows us, for example, to monitor the traffic patterns of users from one page within our Website to another, to deliver or communicate with cookies, to understand whether you have come to our Website from an online advertisement displayed on a third-party website, to improve site performance, and to measure the success of e-mail marketing campaigns. In many instances, these technologies are reliant on cookies to function properly, and so declining cookies will impair their functioning.
Social Media Features
Our Website may use social media features, such as the Twitter ‘share’ button (“Social Media Features”). These features may collect your IP address and which page you are visiting on our Website, and may set a cookie to enable the feature to function properly. You may be given the option by such Social Media Features to post information about your activities on our Website to a profile page of yours that is provided by a third party social media network in order to share with others within your network. Social Media Features are either hosted by a third party or hosted directly on our Website. Your interactions with these features are governed by the privacy policy of the company providing the relevant Social Media Features.
Flash cookies or Local Shared Objects
Our Website may also use so-called “Flash Cookies” to, among other things, collect and store information about your use of our services, fraud prevention and for other site operations.
If you do not want Flash Cookies stored on your computer, you can adjust the settings of your Flash player to block Flash Cookies storage using the tools contained in the Website Storage Settings Panel. You can also control Flash Cookies by going to the Global Storage Settings Panel and following the instructions (which may include instructions that explain, for example, how to delete existing Flash Cookies (referred to “information” on the Macromedia site), how to prevent Flash Cookies from being placed on your computer without your being asked, and (for Flash Player 8 and later) how to block Flash Cookies that are not being delivered by the operator of the page you are on at the time).
Please note that setting the Flash Player to restrict or limit acceptance of Flash Cookies may reduce or impede the functionality of some Flash applications, including, potentially, Flash applications used in connection with our services or online content.
Targeted Online and Mobile Advertising
Waterloo EDC has engaged one or more third party service providers to track and analyze both individualized usage and volume statistical information from interactions with our Website. Third party service providers may also serve cookies on your computer or mobile device to serve advertising through our Website and provide other personalization services in accordance with this Cookie Policy. These companies may collect and use information about your visits to our Website and other websites in order to provide relevant advertisements about services that may interest you. They may also employ technology that is used to measure and track the effectiveness of advertisements. This can be accomplished by the use of cookies or web beacons to collect information about your visits to our Website and other sites in order to provide relevant advertisements about goods and services of potential interest to you. The information collected through this process does not enable us or them to identify your name, contact details or other personal information that directly identifies you unless you choose to provide these.
Any personal information that we collect and store through use of cookies are based on your consent, obtained through a conspicuous disclosure on our Website during your first visit. You can withdraw this consent through your browser settings as explained below.
Adjust Cookies
For browser-specific information on how to adjust cookie configurations on the following browsers, please click on the relevant link below:
If you disable or refuse cookies, please note that some parts of our Website may become inaccessible or not function properly.
Tracking
Some Web browsers may be configured to send Do Not Track signals to websites, or users may use similar mechanisms, to indicate a user’s preference that certain web technologies not be used to track the user’s online activity.