Privacy Policy

Member Information

Our commitment to privacy

• Respecting the privacy of personal information is important to us. This notice is
  published to explain our information practices and the options members can
  exercise about the way member information is collected and used.
• This notice is posted on is the APB website.

The information we collect

• In order to ensure that information can be relayed to members in a timely way,
  the APB collects contact information which may include present employer, and
  the member’s home address.
• Members have the right to not provide their home address and/or phone number
  for contact purposes.
• Member can provide information on their fields of expertise if they choose to
  advertise their services on the APB website.
• Member information is retained in the member database which is maintained by
  the APB office staff.
• Members are encouraged to update the information in their online APB Profile
  when needed.

The way we use information

• A member’s College registration number is used to ensure that member is a
  member of the College.
• Contact information is used to ensure information of concern can be relayed to
  members.
• Information on professional expertise is used to advertise member’s services on
  the APB website.
• Information on Institutions is used to confirm status of student members.
• Information on affiliations and interests is used to develop membership services
  tailored for Affiliate members.

What we do with requests for information

• A member can, at any time, login the APB website and view the information
  contained in its APB member’s profile; or contact the APB office staff in writing
  and request to know what information the APB has in the member’s file. Every
  attempt will be made to comply with the request in a reasonable time frame.
• The only information provided to those other than the individual who submitted
  the information is whether the individual is a member in good standing of the
  APB.
• Anyone requesting to contact a member is invited to leave their contact
  information with the office, and the office will forward the information to the
  particular member for the member to act upon.

Professional development information sharing 

• Where a member has successfully completed a CPD event hosted by the APB, the
  information will be shared with the applicable accrediting organization only with
  permission of the member.

Financial and Meeting Information

Minutes of regular meetings 

• Minutes of the Regular Meetings of the Board of Directors are available for review
  by any member of the APB upon sufficient notice being provided to the APB to
  comply with the request.
• Minutes of Regular Meetings of any committee that is not addressing matters that
  concern legal actions, land acquisition or personal matters, will be available for
  review by any person upon sufficient notice being provided to the APB to comply
  with the request.

Financial records

• The record of accounts will be available for review by the members of the APB
  upon sufficient notice being provided to the APB to comply with the request.
• The Annual Financial Statement of the APB and the auditor’s report will be
  available for review by the members of the APB upon sufficient notice being
  provided to the APB to comply with the request.
• The Annual Financial Statement of the APB and the auditor’s report will be posted
  to the APB website with other reports arising from the AGM.

General Provisions

Our commitment to information security

• To prevent unauthorized access, maintain data accuracy, and ensure the correct use
  of information, we have put in place appropriate physical, electronic, and managerial
  procedures to safeguard and secure the information we collect.
• The APB members database is hosted on a Canadian server and is subject to the
  Privacy laws in Canada set by the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada.
• The APB uses an online engagement management system that has been validated by
  the PCI Security Standards Council. Compliance with the Payment Card Industry Data
  Security Standard (PCI‐DSS) means that the APB adheres to requirements for
  security management, policies, procedures, network architecture, software design,
  and other critical protective measures. The necessary steps are taken to ensure our
  members’ and sponsors’ payment card data is kept secure through every transaction
  and that they — as well as the APB — are protected against data breaches. Mailing,
  email and membership lists are not provided to members or third parties.
• Data at rest vs data in transit. Personally identifiable information about APB or its
  members is stored on servers physically located in Canada; this is data at rest.
  However, APB cannot control whether this information crosses into foreign countries
  while travelling between the user’s device (computer or mobile device) and its final
  destination (the Canadian servers where the data is stored); this is data in transit.
  Consequently, APB ensures that all data in transit is encrypted using Transport Layer
  Security (for example: https) between the user and its final destination.

Office organization for information and privacy matters 

• Usual Initial Contact – APB Office (Managing Director or Office Manager)
• Privacy Officer – Member of the APB Board of Directors (i.e. the elected Director
  assigned the position following the AGM)
• Deputy Privacy Officer – Member of the APB Board of Directors (i.e. the elected
  Director assigned the position following the AGM)

Complaint process 

• Complaints will be handled in accordance with the Personal Information
  Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA). A person who is refused
  information, or a member who wishes to grieve the information retained in their
  file must place the objection in writing and direct the complaint to the Deputy
  Privacy Officer.
• Where after conducting a written hearing, the Deputy Privacy Officer does not
  address the concerns of the individual, the individual will be advised to forward
  the matter to the Privacy Officer.
• Where after conducting a written hearing, the Privacy Officer does not address
  the concerns of the individual, the individual will be advised to forward the matter
  to the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner.

How to contact us 

Should you have other questions or concerns about these privacy policies, please
contact APB Office, Privacy Officer or Deputy Privacy Officer via email at
info@professionalbiology.com