PRIVACY NOTICE

Last updated: November 2, 2025

This privacy notice for Gillian Hestad (doing business as Divergent North) (“Divergent North”, “we”, “us”, “our”) explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your personal information when you use our website and related services (the “Services”).

Website: https://www.divergentnorth.ca (and any page that links to this notice)
Contact: Gillian Hestad - hello@divergentnorth.ca
Mail: Divergent North, 2430 Butler Ave Unit 8, Box 1371, Houston, BC V0J 1Z0, Canada

Questions or concerns?
If you have questions or concerns, email us. If you disagree with this notice, please do not use the Services.

TL;DR (Plain-language summary)

We collect only what we need to run our website, respond to you, book sessions, take payment, and meet legal/ethical duties.
We do not sell your personal information.
If you become (or inquire about becoming) a client, we may process health-related information to provide care—handled with heightened confidentiality.
You can ask us to access, correct, or delete your data (subject to legal/ethical limits).
We aim for accessible communications and can provide this notice in alternative formats (large print, plain text, audio).
Cookies are explained in our Cookies Policy. You can change your cookie settings.
We follow privacy laws that apply to a BC private practice, including BC’s Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA) and, where applicable, PIPEDA.

For the full details, keep reading.

What information do we collect?

How do we use your information?
What legal bases apply? (BC & Canada)
When do we share information?
Cookies and similar technologies
How long do we keep information?
How we keep information safe
Information about minors
Your privacy rights & how to exercise them
Do-Not-Track & Global Privacy Controls
Accessibility & alternative formats
Updates to this notice
How to contact us

1) What information do we collect?

Information you provide

Contact details: name, email, phone, preferred contact method.
Booking & payment: appointment details, billing address, payment confirmations (we do not store full card numbers on our servers; payments are handled by third-party processors).
Intake/clinical (if you pursue services): information you choose to share that may include health-related details, goals for therapy, background, emergency contacts.
Communications: emails, messages, consent forms, and notes you provide.

Automatically collected (website)

Limited technical data such as IP address, device/browser type, pages viewed, time on site, and similar analytics (see Cookies Policy).

Sensitive information

If you engage in counselling, we will process health-related information to provide care.
We handle this information with strict confidentiality and only for appropriate purposes.
We collect only information necessary to fulfill these identified purposes.

2) How do we use your information?

We use your information to:

Provide and improve the website and Services.
Respond to inquiries, schedule sessions, and deliver counselling services.
Manage billing, receipts, accounting, and regulatory requirements.
Send administrative notices (policy changes, appointment confirmations).
Maintain security, prevent fraud, and comply with law and professional standards.
With your consent, send newsletters/updates (you can unsubscribe anytime).
We will not use your personal information for a new purpose without your consent.

3) What legal bases apply? (BC & Canada)

We are a private practice in British Columbia. Our handling of personal information is primarily governed by BC’s Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA). In certain cross-provincial circumstances, PIPEDA (federal) can also apply to commercial activities. We collect, use, and disclose personal information only for purposes a reasonable person would consider appropriate and with consent (express or implied), except where an exception in the law applies (e.g., safety, legal reporting, court orders). Under BC’s Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA), we rely on your consent and the reasonableness of purpose as the legal foundation for collecting, using, and disclosing personal information.

References: PIPA (BC private sector); PIPEDA (Canada, private sector/commercial activity). See official resources for details. Justice Laws Website+3oipc.bc.ca+3bclaws.gov.bc.ca+3

4) When do we share information?

We do not sell your personal information.

We will disclose your personal information only with your consent or as otherwise permitted or required by law (e.g., court order, serious safety concern).

We may disclose information to:

Service providers / processors who help us operate the website, schedule appointments, deliver communications, process payments, host data, or provide IT/security. They must protect your information and may only use it to provide services to us. All web hosting and electronic record systems we use are located in Canada, so your personal information is stored and processed within Canadian jurisdiction.
Professional/regulatory or legal recipients if required by law, court order, investigation, or to protect safety.

5) Cookies and similar technologies

We use cookies and similar tools to operate the site and understand how it is used. Details and your choices are in our Cookies Policy. You can adjust browser settings to refuse or remove cookies; some features may not work without essential cookies.

6) How long do we keep information?

We keep personal information only as long as needed to:

provide Services and run our business,
meet legal, tax, professional, and regulatory requirements, and
resolve disputes or enforce agreements.

When information is no longer required, we securely delete or de-identify it. (Clinical records are retained in accordance with professional and legal standards.)

7) How we keep information safe

We use reasonable organizational, technical, and physical safeguards appropriate to the sensitivity of the information (access controls, encryption in transit where applicable, need-to-know access, secure storage, etc.). No method is 100% secure; please use caution when transmitting information online.

8) Information about minors

Our website is not intended for children under 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from minors through the website. If we learn that we have collected such information without appropriate consent, we will delete it. If you believe a child has provided us personal information, contact hello@divergentnorth.ca.

9) Your privacy rights & how to exercise them

Subject to applicable law, you may request to access, correct, or delete your personal information, and to withdraw consent to processing (where processing is based on consent). Some requests may be limited by legal, regulatory, safety, or professional obligations (e.g., clinical record retention).

How to make a request: email hello@divergentnorth.ca.
If you need accommodations or an alternative format to make a request (phone, large-print, plain-text, audio), we will work with you.

For guidance about your rights under BC or federal law, consult the BC Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner (OIPC) or the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (OPC).

10) Do-Not-Track & Global Privacy Controls

Standards for browser Do-Not-Track (DNT) signals are not uniform. At this time, we do not respond to DNT signals. If we adopt a standard in the future, we will update this notice. Where feasible, we will honour widely adopted user-enabled privacy signals that clearly indicate your preferences for cookies/analytics.

11) Accessibility & alternative formats

We strive to make our website and policies accessible and aligned with recognized standards (e.g., WCAG 2.1 Level AA). If you experience a barrier (screen-reader issues, keyboard navigation, contrast, etc.) or require this notice in an alternative format (large print, plain-text, audio), email hello@divergentnorth.ca and we will accommodate your request.

References: Accessible Canada Regulations (requiring WCAG AA conformance for covered organizations), Accessible British Columbia Act (barrier reduction framework), WCAG 2.1 (W3C).

12) Updates to this notice

We may update this notice to reflect changes in our practices, services, or the law. The “Last updated” date shows the most recent version. For material changes, we may post a banner on the site or contact you directly when appropriate. Accessible/alternative-format copies are available on request.