Cookie Policy
Welcome to Sparkfestival.ca's comprehensive Cookie Policy. We're thrilled you're here, and we want to keep things simple, honest, and easy to understand. This page isn't just a legal formality it's our way of explaining how and why we use cookies to make your experience on our site smoother, safer, and more personal. By sticking around, you're okay with how we use cookies, but don't worry, you're always in the driver's seat.
Introduction
At Sparkfestival.ca, we believe trust starts with clarity. This policy is designed to explain: what cookies actually do, how they make your experience better, your rights to manage them. We follow privacy laws like the GDPR (for our EU visitors) and Canada's PIPEDA, but more importantly, we want you to feel informed and in control.
We're not like other websites that quietly trade your data with advertisers. Here's what you should know:
- We only use first-party cookies (meaning we create them, not third-party advertisers).
- No sneaky stuff: Cookies here don't collect personal details like your name or address unless you explicitly share them (e.g., in a form).
What cookies do we use?
- Session cookies: Like a sticky note for your browser, they remember things temporarily and vanish when you close the tab.
- Persistent cookies: These stick around longer (up to a year) to save preferences like language or dark mode settings.
- Security cookies: Think of these as digital id they keep your account and data safe.
Our website exclusively employs standard first-party cookies-small, non-invasive text files designed to optimize functionality and performance. These cookies are stored directly by Sparkfestival.ca and differ from third-party cookies, which are created by external domains (e.g., advertisers or social media platforms) to track behavior across multiple sites.
What Are Cookies?
Cookies are tiny text files that your device (phone, laptop, tablet) saves when you visit a site. They're like digital sticky notes that help Sparkfestival.ca remember you, so you don't have to start from scratch every visit.
What they do:
- Remember your preferences (like language or dark mode).
- Keep you logged in while you browse (no password retyping).
Cookies cannot extract personal information from your device or access files unrelated to our website. They only interact with data you voluntarily provide (e.g., form entries) or generic technical details (e.g., browser type, IP address). For instance, a cookie may track that a user from Montreal prefers English content, but it will not capture their name unless explicitly entered into a registration form.
Key privacy protections:
- Consent: Non-essential cookies (e.g., analytics) are only activated after you accept them via our cookie banner.
- Anonymization: Performance-related cookies aggregate data, ensuring individual users cannot be identified.
- Expiration: Persistent cookies automatically delete after their set lifespan (e.g., 12 months).
How and Why We Use Cookies
Cookies play a vital role in delivering a smooth, secure, and tailored experience. Here's how we use them:
- Maintaining Session Integrity
- Keep you logged in while navigating between pages.
- Prevent form data loss if you accidentally refresh the page.
- Optimizing Performance
- Analyze traffic patterns using tools like Google Analytics (anonymized data only).
- Identify and resolve slow-loading pages or broken links.
- Monitor server performance during high-traffic events.
- Personalizing Interactions
- Remember language, currency, or regional preferences.
- Display content relevant to your interests (e.g., recommendations).
- Save accessibility settings (e.g., font size adjustments for visually impaired users).
- Strengthening Security
- Detect and block suspicious login attempts.
- Encrypt data during transactions to prevent interception.
- Verify user authenticity during password changes.
Your Rights
You retain full control over how cookies are stored and used. Below are your options:
Browser Settings. Adjust permissions or delete cookies directly through your browser:
- Chrome: Settings > Privacy and Security > Cookies and Other Site Data
- Safari: Preferences > Privacy > Manage Website Data
- Firefox: Options > Privacy & Security > Cookies and Site Data
Cookie Consent Banner. During your first visit, our banner lets you:
- Accept all cookies.
- Reject non-essential cookies.
- Customize preferences (e.g., allow analytics but block advertising).
Direct Requests. Email us at [email protected] to:
- Request deletion of personal data linked to cookies.
- Opt out of specific cookie categories.
- Ask questions about our practices.
Note: Disabling strictly necessary cookies may disrupt critical features like checkout processes or account logins.
This policy complements our broader Privacy Policy, which details how we collect, store, and share data. For example, while cookies may track your site navigation, our Privacy Policy explains how we protect this data and your right to access or erase it.
Contact Information
For inquiries or requests related to cookies or data practices, contact us via:
- Email: [email protected] (responses within 72 business hours).
Effective Date and Updates
This policy was last updated on 2025. Changes whether minor clarifications or significant adjustments will be:
- Posted on this page with revised effective dates.
- Highlighted via website banners for 14 days post-update.
- Summarized in email newsletters for registered users.
We recommend reviewing this page frequently. Archived versions of previous policies are available upon request by emailing [email protected].
By continuing to use Sparkfestival.ca, you acknowledge this Cookie Policy. We strive to balance innovative user experiences with rigorous privacy protections. Thank you for being part of our community!
