Information Privacy Policy

The Ontario Science Centre is committed to respecting the privacy and protecting the personal information of individuals who visit our website at https://www.ontariosciencecentre.ca/. The Ontario Science Centre is an institution under the Ontario Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. F.31 (FIPPA) and is subject to the obligations under the Act.  Additionally, as an Agency of the Government of Ontario, the Ontario Science Centre is required to protect any personal information we collect from you while it is in our custody or under our control.  

This page sets out our information privacy policy and describes why and how we collect, use and disclose personal information which you choose to provide to us on our website.  

Links to other websites and social media platforms

This policy does not apply to websites that are not under the control or management of the Ontario Science Centre. The Ontario Science Centre does not own, manage, endorse or control the content, privacy policies, terms of conditions or language options for independent, third-party websites. The Ontario Science Centre is not responsible for the usefulness, appropriateness or reliability of the content or experience on independent websites.

Personal Information

The Ontario Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. F.31 defines "personal information" to mean recorded information about any identifiable individual, including name, address, telephone number, email address, age, gender, marital status, personal views, preferences and opinions.

Ontario Science Centre's Authority to Collect Personal Information

The Ontario Science Centre is authorized to collect personal information necessary to the proper administration and furtherance of its objects as set out in section 6 of the Centennial Centre of Science and Technology Act.

You are under no obligation to disclose any personal information to us at any time.  
The information you choose to give us will enable us to provide you with information, assistance and services personalized to your preferences, such as name, email address and mobile number for site visits, camps, exhibitions, films, programs, events, discount offers, customer feedback, etc. and to better tailor our website and our marketing initiatives to the individuals who use the site.

How We Use Personal Information

We keep personal information stored securely on our system and will not release it to any third party without your prior consent. Any personal information you give us will only be used for the purpose of sharing the Ontario Science Centre’s programs and events information.  

None of your personal information will ever be shared, rented, sold or otherwise released to any third party or where you have consented to release your information to the Ontario Science Centre and the parties it hires to promote the Ontario Science Centre in accordance with the Terms of Use and Consent for the information. The Ontario Science Centre is legally obligated to ensure we only retain your personal information for the minimum period required to serve the purpose for which it was collected.

Ontario Science Centre Cookie Policy

Our site uses "cookies" which are small files containing pieces of information that are stored on your device when you visit a website. Most web browsers automatically accept cookies, but if you prefer, you can set your browser to block them. Our cookies cannot read data off your device or read cookie files created by other sites.  

Cookies collect information anonymously, allowing us to collect statistical information that provides you with a better user experience. We use web analytics services such as Google Analytics to help analyze the use of our websites. These tools use cookies to collect and generate information about your visits to our sites (including your IP address) that is transmitted to their servers in an anonymous form for processing.

Information about your web visit that we collect includes, but is not limited to:

  • how you got to the site (from a search engine, third-party link, etc.)
  • the pages you visit on the site
  • how long you spend on each page
  • what you click on while you are visiting the site
  • what device and browser you use to access the pages

We study patterns of website activity so we can improve the experience of visitors to our sites. The use of these tools does not allow us or our analytics service providers to identify individuals.

Industry Partner Online Behavioural Advertising / Targeted Advertising

The Ontario Science Centre engages in Online Behavioural Advertising (OBA) and uses cookies for targeted advertising activities. As you browse our website, cookies will be placed on your device. Cookies help personalize and maximize your online experience. The cookie has a unique identifier assigned to the device but does not contain information about you personally. Nonetheless the Ontario Science Centre treats all this information as your personal information to ensure it is properly protected. Targeted ads displayed to you are based on the activity associated with the cookie ID during your visit to our website.  

When showing you tailored ads, we do not associate an identifier from cookies (or similar technologies) with personal information such as ethnicity, religion or health.

Opt-Out Process

You can opt out of analytics activity by setting your browser to notify you when a cookie is sent and block analytics cookies if desired. Please consult your browser’s Help Menu for instructions.  

Please note that turning off cookies may adversely affect your use of the Ontario Science Centre website. To opt out of this type of internet-based advertising, you can choose to:  

  • Set your browser to decline third-party cookies
  • Delete the advertiser’s cookie each time you get it
  • Make use of Google’s cookie management processes

Please note that cookies are specific to your browser and device. If you change browsers and/or devices, your settings will not carry over.  

Opting out does not mean you will no longer receive advertisements. It does mean that the Ontario Science Centre will no longer customize ads based on your interests and web usage patterns using cookie-based technology.

Questions About this Information Privacy Policy

If you have any questions about our Information Privacy Policy, send us your queries on this page - Contact Us, clearly stating that your inquiry is a privacy question.  

For more general inquiries please call 416-696-1000.

Questions About the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA)

For more information about making a privacy complaint to the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario (IPC), see the IPC website Filing a Privacy Complaint. For more information about appealing an access or correction decision to the IPC, see the IPC website Filing an Appeal.  

In addition to the privacy rules of FIPPA, the Government of Ontario has also established privacy policies and practices that also govern how we manage personal information including:  

  • the management of privacy breaches  
  • conducting privacy and security assessments when we change the way we provide programs and services or when we use contractors or agents to assist us in providing programs and services  
  • consultations with the IPC when we develop legislation or regulations, or change programs, that involve the management of personal information  

Questions or comments regarding these practices, the collection of personal information that you provide, or the administration of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) in Government of Ontario ministries and agencies, may be directed to the Information, Privacy and Archives Division, Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement (MPBSDP) by e-mailing access.privacy@ontario.ca or calling 416-327-1600 (select option 9) or 1-800-668-9933.  

Changes to this Information Privacy Policy

Updates and revisions will be made to the Ontario Science Centre website and to the Information Privacy Policy, with the most recent revision date identified at the bottom of the Information Privacy Policy page. Continued use of the website after each revision shall qualify as user consent to policy changes.  

Government of Ontario’s Privacy Statement

Get more information about the Government of Ontario’s Privacy Statement.

Last Updated: October 30, 2024