Safeguarding children and vulnerable people is our highest priority and we are dedicated to fostering an environment that empowers them. We promote leadership and governance that integrates safeguarding into every aspect of the YMCA.
Our commitment to establishing a safeguarding culture includes:
- Ensuring safeguarding is embedded within strategic and operational planning.
- Providing high quality safeguarding training for our staff and volunteers.
- Championing the rights of all children and vulnerable people.
- Empowering our staff and volunteers to speak up and take action.
- Working actively to prevent harm and abuse.
- Ensuring our staff and volunteers are informed and adhering to the safeguarding policy, procedures, and code of conduct.
- Taking proactive steps to ensure safety and accountability of our programs and facilities, including requiring all persons that access the YMCA to show photo identification before entering the premises.
- Reporting safeguarding incidents to the appropriate authority, the board of directors, and YMCA leaders.
- Analyzing safeguarding data to reduce risk and inform future practices.
- Conducting annual safeguarding self-assessments and audits.
- Continuously improving by learning from national and international best practices.
- Regularly reviewing our safeguarding policies, procedures, and practices.
- Requiring that all program participants, families and visitors adhere to their specific program guidelines in relation to safeguarding children.
- Implementing and monitoring strict policies for use of electronic communication, such as cell phones, text messages, emails, and social networking sites between staff/volunteers and children.
All YMCA staff, volunteers, members, program participants and visitors must report suspected child abuse to the RCMP and/or the Ministry of Child and Family Development (MCFD) immediately. For policy questions or concerns, email safeguarding@ymcasibc.ca.
Our YMCA uses modern information and communication technologies to support our program and membership-based activities. Our Privacy Statement covers our YMCA branches and our website.
Anonymous Access
You can access this website’s home page and browse our site without disclosing your personal information. The only personal information captured through our website is the information you volunteer, such as your email address or mailing address that will enable us to send you requested information.
Our website does use cookies to maintain the website state and session variables to improve your experience.
On-line Legal Policy
This site was created to be informative. Accordingly, we will permit you to download or photocopy material displayed on this site for your non-commercial personal use. Any content or graphics extracted from the site must prominently display copyright and other proprietary notices.
Terms and Conditions
This site is owned by the YMCA of Southern Interior BC. Any images, graphics, multimedia or content is copyrighted by YMCA of Southern Interior BC and may only be used in the manner provided for in these Terms and Conditions. In addition, the site contains names, logos, trademarks, service marks and other intellectual property, which are the property of YMCA of Southern Interior BC and may not be used for any purpose without the express written consent of YMCA of Southern Interior BC.
Links
The YMCA of Southern Interior BC website may contain links to other websites. YMCA of Southern Interior BC is not responsible for the privacy practices of those other websites nor do we endorse the materials presented on websites that are not owned and operated by YMCA of Southern Interior BC. We encourage visitors to review each site’s privacy policy before disclosing any personally identifiable information.
The YMCA of Southern Interior BC gathers personal information in accordance with the BC Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA). This is carried out to fulfill the YMCA's responsibilities as outlined in the YMCA Child Protection Standards. These standards necessitate the verified identification of all individuals using the facility.
Customers provide their consent for this personal information collection as mandated by the Act as a prerequisite for accessing YMCA facilities. It's important to note that this gathered information is exclusively used for the specific purpose for which it was initially collected.
YMCA of Southern Interior BC is committed to maintaining the privacy and accuracy of personal information entrusted to us by our participants, members, donors, parents/guardians, staff and volunteers. We manage your personal information in accordance with BC’s Privacy Act, Canada’s Anti-Spam Legislation and other applicable laws. This policy outlines the practices we follow in protecting your personal information. These practices are based upon the ‘Fair Information Practices’ set out by the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner and followed by our employees and volunteers.
What is personal information?
Personal information means information about an identifiable individual. This includes an individual’s name, home address and phone number, age, sex, marital or family status, an identifying number, financial information, educational history, etc. An individual’s name does not need to be attached to the information in order for it to qualify as personal information. Personal information does not include name, title, business address or business phone number of an employee or organization.
What personal information do we collect?
We collect only the personal information that we need for the purposes of providing services and programs, including personal information needed to:
- Verify an individual's identity
- Manage, develop, and enhance YMCA operations, programs, and services
- Acknowledge gifts, issue tax receipts, and other administrative requirements including information requests
- Determine program, service, employment, or volunteer eligibility and process and collect fees for service
- Assess participant needs and better understand the changing needs of communities we serve
- Collect data for statistical purposes and meet legal, regulatory, and contractual obligations
- Communicate a range of programs, services, and philanthropic opportunities that benefit people we serve
We normally collect personal information directly from individuals. We may collect your information from other persons with your consent or as authorized by law. For example, from prior employers, personal references or from other third parties having the right to disclose information. We inform individuals, before or at the time of collecting personal information, of the purposes for which we are collecting the information. The only time we don’t provide this notification is when an individual volunteers information for an obvious purpose (for example, producing a credit card to pay a membership fee when the information will be used only to process the payment).
Although you may choose to not share your Personal Information with the YMCA, if you choose not to do so, your involvement in YMCA activities and the YMCA community may be limited.
Consent
We do not sell personal information we collect.
We will not disclose your personal information to anyone without your prior knowledge or consent, except when required by a government body or agency, or as permitted by law.
We ask for consent to collect, use or disclose personal information, except in specific circumstances where collection, use or disclosure without consent is authorized or required by law.
We ask for your express consent for some purposes and may not be able to provide certain services if you are unwilling to provide consent to the collection, use or disclosure of certain personal information. Where express consent is needed, we ask members to provide their consent verbally (in person, by telephone) or in writing (by signing a consent form).
We take into account the sensitivity of personal information when determining what form of consent is appropriate for the circumstance. An individual may withdraw or opt out of consent to the use and disclosure of personal information at any time, subject to certain service, legal or contractual restrictions.
How do we ensure accuracy?
We make every reasonable effort to ensure that personal information is accurate and complete. We rely on individuals to notify us if there is a change to their personal information that may affect their relationship with our organization. If you are aware of an error in our information about you, please let us know and we will correct it on request wherever possible.
How do we safeguard personal information?
We protect personal information in a manner appropriate for the sensitivity of the information. We make every reasonable effort to prevent any loss, misuse, disclosure or modification of personal information, as well as any unauthorized access to personal information. The more sensitive the personal information is, the more security is required to access it. Employees and volunteers protect personal information in their control against such risks as loss or theft, unauthorized access, disclosure, copying, use, modification, or destruction through appropriate safeguards.
We use appropriate security measures to retain and securely dispose of personal information. This includes locked file cabinets, limited access to secure areas, computer passwords and security software. We retain personal information only as long as is reasonable to fulfil the purposes for which the information was collected or for legal or business purposes.
Access to records containing personal information
Individuals have a right to access their own personal information in a record that is in the custody or under the control of the YMCA of Southern Interior BC, subject to some exceptions. Request for access to records containing personal information must come in writing and will be forwarded to a Supervisor or General Manager. The YMCA of Southern Interior BC has 30 days to respond to written requests. Individuals may be asked to provide identification in order to safeguard the release of personal information.
The YMCA of Southern Interior BC may not be able to provide an individual with access to some or all of the personal information if:
- Doing so would likely reveal personal information about a third party
- Disclosure would reasonably be expected to threaten the life or security of another individual information was collected in relational to the investigation of a breach of an agreement, or a contravention of law, or otherwise permitted by law
To opt-out, update personal information or request your personal info, contact us at 250-491-9622 or social@ymcasibc.ca.
The YMCA is committed to handling complaints promptly, fairly, and confidentially. A complaint is an expression of dissatisfaction or concern about the YMCA’s services, policies, staff, or actions, made by a participant, member, or other stakeholder, which requires a response or resolution.
Informal complaints involve raising concerns directly with staff or management, aiming for a quick and flexible resolution without a written record or formal investigation. These are usually handled verbally and resolved at the earliest opportunity, often without escalation unless the issue persists or is significant. Formal complaints require a written submission, are officially recorded, and follow a structured process including investigation, documentation, and review by senior management. Formal complaints can be made to:
Complaints, Association Services
YMCA of Southern Interior BC
375 Hartman Road, Kelowna, BC V1X 2M9
Please provide your contact information, as the YMCA will not respond to anonymous complaints.
If dissatisfied, you may appeal in writing to the CEO or designate within 10 business days of the decision. For complaints about the CEO or membership suspension/expulsion decisions, appeals may be directed to the Board of Directors. These decisions are final.
Confidentiality will be maintained to the extent possible. Complaints may be shared with partner agencies as needed. No one acting in good faith will face retaliation. If you are unable to register the complaint in this manner due to a disability, you may contact the YMCA to request accommodation, which will be provided appropriate to your needs and circumstances.
YMCA of Southern Interior BC is committed to the highest standards of ethical conduct. A whistleblower is any employee, volunteer, or member who reports suspected violations of law, policy, or ethics in good faith. Whistleblowers help protect the integrity of the organization by bringing concerns to light.
YMCA of Southern Interior BC prohibits retaliation against anyone who reports a concern in good faith. Retaliation will result in disciplinary action, up to termination.
Reports must be made honestly and with reasonable grounds. Malicious or knowingly false reports are a serious offense.
Reports of suspected violations should be made directly to the Director of Governance, Risk and Compliance. If you wish to remain anonymous, please submit your report using this confidential form. All reports will be kept confidential to the extent possible, consistent with the need for a thorough investigation.
The Director of Governance, Risk and Compliance will confirm receipt, conduct an investigation in a timely manner, and implement corrective measures as appropriate. Results will be communicated to the Senior Leadership Team and the Board of Directors for annual compliance review purposes.