Privacy Policy
Rail Fans Canada – Privacy Policy
Last Updated: 2025-12-03
Rail Fans Canada (“we”, “us”, or “our”) respects your privacy and is committed to protecting the personal information you provide when using our website and forum (the “Service”). This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and disclose your personal information and your rights in relation to that information. By using the Service, you agree to the terms of this Privacy Policy.
1. Information We Collect
We may collect the following categories of personal information:
a) Account Information
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Display name
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Email address
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Password (securely hashed)
b) Technical Information
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IP address
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Browser type and version
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Operating system
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Device information
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Login dates and times
c) Cookies and Tracking Data
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Session cookies for login authentication
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Preference cookies to enhance user experience
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Analytics data to monitor site performance and usage
d) User-Generated Content
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Posts, comments, images, and other content you submit
e) Other Information
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Any information you voluntarily provide in communications with us
Children’s Privacy
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Users under 13 years of age may not create an account.
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We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13.
2. How We Use Your Information
Your information is used for the following purposes:
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To create, manage, and authenticate your account
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To provide and improve the Service, including security and performance
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To enforce our Terms of Use and forum rules
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To communicate updates, announcements, or policy changes
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To monitor and prevent abuse, spam, or other harmful activity
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To comply with legal obligations
3. Sharing of Information
We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information. We may share information in the following limited circumstances:
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Service Providers: Third parties assisting us with hosting, analytics, security, or other operational services
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Legal Compliance: When required by law, court order, or legal process
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Safety and Security: To protect the rights, property, or safety of Rail Fans Canada, our users, or the public
Third-party service providers are bound to protect your information and use it only for the purpose of providing services to us.
4. Data Retention
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Account information and forum posts are retained as long as your account is active.
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Deleted posts, backups, or logs may be retained for up to 12 months for moderation, security, or legal purposes.
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After the retention period, your data will be permanently deleted or anonymized.
5. Security of Information
We take reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information:
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Passwords are stored using secure, irreversible hashing
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Access to personal information is restricted to authorized personnel
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Data is stored on secure servers with regular monitoring for unauthorized access
Note: No system can be completely secure; we cannot guarantee absolute protection against all security threats.
6. Cookies and Tracking
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Cookies are used to authenticate sessions, remember preferences, and collect analytics
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Users may disable cookies via their browser, but certain features may be limited
7. User Rights
Users have the following rights regarding their personal information:
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Access: Request information we hold about you
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Correction: Update or correct inaccurate information
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Deletion: Request deletion of your account and associated personal data
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Withdrawal of Consent: Withdraw consent to processing where applicable
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Questions or Complaints: Contact our support team at support@railfans.ca
We will respond to requests in accordance with applicable Canadian privacy laws.
8. Third-Party Services
Our Service may use third-party providers for:
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Website hosting
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Analytics and performance monitoring
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Security services
These third parties are bound to protect your personal information and use it only for their contracted purpose. We are not responsible for their privacy practices.
9. Legal Compliance
We comply with Canadian privacy laws, including the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) and applicable provincial legislation.
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Users under 13 are prohibited from registering
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We respond to legal requests for personal information only when required by law
10. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Material changes will be posted on the website with an updated “Last Updated” date. Your continued use of the Service constitutes acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy.
11. Contact Information
If you have questions, concerns, or wish to exercise your privacy rights, contact us at:
Email: support@railfans.ca
Third Parties
Spam Defense
The IPS Spam Defense Service passes the email address and IP address of the registering member to the service to determine the likelihood a registering account is a spam source.