Introduction
(Updated July 2026)
Discover Surrey is committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring you have a positive experience on our website and when using our services. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and otherwise process personal information in connection with our website (discoversurreybc.com), email communications, online contests, mobile applications, and other digital services.
By accessing our website or using our services, you consent to the collection, use, and disclosure of your personal information as described in this policy. If you do not agree with these practices, please do not use our website or services.
Who We Are
Discover Surrey is a not-for-profit destination marketing organization that promotes Surrey, British Columbia as a travel and tourism destination. We operate the website discoversurreybc.com and provide tourism services, event information, partner resources, and visitor experiences.
What Personal Information We Collect
Personal information means information about an identifiable individual, including name, email address, phone number, postal address, and any other information that identifies you personally.
We collect personal information in the following ways:
Information you provide directly: When you fill out a form on our website, subscribe to our email lists, enter a contest, provide feedback, contact us through our website, or communicate with us by phone or email.
Website analytics: When you visit our website, our servers automatically collect information such as your Internet Protocol (IP) address, browser type, operating system, pages visited, referring URL, time and date of access. This information is used to evaluate website performance and understand visitor behaviour.
Cookies and tracking technology: We use cookies (small data files stored on your device) to enhance your browsing experience, understand which content is most useful, and to personalize tourism recommendations. We also use Google Tag Manager to track user interactions with our website.
Email communications: When you subscribe to our email lists (such as golf newsletters, tourism updates, or event notifications), we track open rates and click-through rates to understand which content is most relevant to our subscribers.
Third-party service providers: Our service providers may provide us with information about your interactions with their platforms (such as email engagement metrics).
How We Use Your Personal Information
We use personal information for the following purposes:
To send tourism-related communications: We use your email address to send newsletters, event announcements, and promotional content about Surrey tourism experiences, subject to your consent and applicable marketing legislation.
To respond to inquiries: When you contact us with questions, we use your information to provide a response.
To improve our website and services: We analyze user behaviour to make our website more useful, to understand which tourism products and services are of interest, and to personalize content.
To conduct contests and promotions: We may use your information to administer contests, sweepstakes, or other promotions.
To comply with legal obligations: We may use your information where required by law, court order, or as part of an investigation.
Marketing Communications and CASL Compliance
Discover Surrey respects Canada's Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL) and all other applicable marketing laws. We collect explicit consent before sending commercial electronic messages. You may unsubscribe from any mailing list at any time by:
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Clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any email we send
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Contacting us directly using the contact information below
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Using the preference settings in your account (if applicable)
Your unsubscribe request will be processed within 10 business days. Note that even if you unsubscribe from marketing communications, we may still send you service-related messages (such as confirmations of your registration or password reset requests).
Service Providers and Data Disclosure
To deliver our services and operate our website, Discover Surrey uses the following third-party service providers. We share necessary personal information with these organizations to facilitate their services on our behalf. All service providers are contractually bound to protect your personal information and use it only for the purposes we specify.
Service Providers:
Mailchimp (email marketing): Processes email list subscriptions, sends newsletters and promotional communications, and tracks email engagement metrics. Data stored in the United States.
Simpleview (business partner relationship management): Stores contact information for tourism businesses and industry partners. Simpleview is used only for business and organizational contacts and does not receive consumer personal information.
Google Analytics and Google Tag Manager (website analytics and tracking): Tracks website visits, user behaviour, and advertising performance. Data stored by Google and may be transferred to the United States.
SilverStripe CMS (website content management): Hosts website content and may store visitor information submitted through web forms.
Data stored outside of Canada may be subject to disclosure laws in the jurisdiction where it is stored. By providing personal information to Discover Surrey, you consent to the transfer, storage, and processing of your information outside of Canada where necessary to provide our services.
Cookies and Tracking Technology
Cookies are small data files stored on your computer or device when you visit a website. Discover Surrey uses cookies to:
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Understand how you use our website and which content is most popular
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Remember your preferences and login information
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Provide personalized tourism recommendations based on your interests
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Track the effectiveness of our marketing campaigns
You can control cookies through your browser settings. Most browsers allow you to refuse cookies or alert you when cookies are being set. Please note that disabling cookies may limit your ability to access certain features of our website. For more information about cookies and how to manage them, visit: https://www.allaboutcookies.org
Google Analytics and Tag Manager Disclosure
Discover Surrey uses Google Tag Manager and Google Analytics to analyze website traffic and user behaviour. These tools use cookies to track your interactions with our website. If you would prefer not to be tracked by Google Analytics, you can install the Google Analytics opt-out browser add-on at: https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout
Data Retention
We retain personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected. The following retention periods apply:
Email list subscribers: Retained for the duration of subscription plus 12 months. Inactive subscribers (no engagement for 12 months) may be removed from the list.
Contest or form submissions: Retained for the duration necessary to fulfill the contest/service plus 1 year.
Website analytics: Retained for 26 months by Google Analytics.
Support inquiries (email): Retained for 2 years.
Business partner records (stored in Simpleview): Retained for the duration of the business relationship plus 3 years.
Once the retention period expires, we securely delete or anonymize personal information. In some cases, we may retain information if required by law or to defend against legal claims.
Your Rights
Under the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) and applicable provincial privacy laws, you have the right to:
Access your personal information: Request to see what personal information Discover Surrey holds about you.
Correct your information: Request that we update or correct any inaccurate personal information.
Withdraw consent: Withdraw consent to the collection, use, or disclosure of your personal information at any time, subject to legal and contractual restrictions.
Unsubscribe from communications: Opt out of marketing emails and promotional communications.
Request deletion: Request deletion of your personal information, subject to legal and operational requirements.
Lodge a complaint: File a complaint with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada if you believe your privacy rights have been violated.
To exercise any of these rights, contact us using the information provided in the Contact Us section below.
Security of Your Personal Information
Discover Surrey implements reasonable technical and organizational safeguards to protect personal information against unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, and destruction. These measures include encryption, secure password protocols, and restricted access to personal information by authorized personnel only.
While we are committed to protecting your information, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is completely secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security, and your use of our website is at your own risk.
Data Breach Notification
In the event of a data breach that poses a real risk of significant harm to your privacy, Discover Surrey will:
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Notify affected individuals without unreasonable delay
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Provide information about the nature of the breach and the personal information involved
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Advise steps you can take to protect yourself
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Notify the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada as required by law
Links to External Websites
Our website contains links to external websites operated by other organizations, including government agencies, non-profit organizations, and private businesses. Discover Surrey is not responsible for the privacy practices or content of external websites. We encourage you to review the privacy policy of any external site before submitting personal information.
Modifications to This Policy
Discover Surrey may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, and applicable laws. We will post any changes on this page with an updated "Last Updated" date. Your continued use of our website following the posting of changes constitutes your acceptance of those changes. We encourage you to review this policy regularly to stay informed about how we protect your personal information.
Contact Us
If you have questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy, our privacy practices, wish to access or correct your personal information, or would like to unsubscribe from our communications, please contact:
Discover Surrey
Privacy Officer
7455 132 Street, Suite 110
Surrey, British Columbia V3W 1J8
Phone: 604-531-6646
Email: info@discoversurreybc.com
Privacy Commissioner Information
If you are not satisfied with Discover Surrey's response to a privacy concern, you have the right to file a complaint with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada:
Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada
30 Victoria Street
Gatineau, Quebec K1A 1H8
Phone: 1-800-282-1376
Website: www.priv.gc.ca