When we provide services, information, or entertainment, we want to make the platform and user experience easy, useful, reliable, and safe. To optimise services delivered over the internet we sometimes place small amounts of information on users devices. These small amounts of information are known as cookies. We do not sell the information collected by cookies, nor do we disclose the information to third parties, except where required by law. This portion of our privacy policy covers the use of tracking technologies between user devices and our sites. Below is a basic overview of 3rd-party services we may use which may also use cookies as part of their service, though they are subject to change outside of our control, and thus are not covered by this policy. If a user does not want to accept cookies from us, the browser can be set to refuse cookies from this website, with the understanding that we may be unable to provide these users with some of the expected functionality, content and services.

WHAT ARE COOKIES?

Cookies are small data containers that a website uses to store information on a user’s device upon visit which typically contain information about the website itself, a unique identifier that allows the site to recognise the user’s browser upon return, data that serves the purpose of the cookie, and the expiry date of the cookie. Cookies enable certain features (for example login status), to track site usage (for example analytics), to store a user’s settings (for example timezone, notification preferences), and to personalise content (for example advertising, language, closed alerts). Cookies set by a website are referred to as “1st-party cookies”, and typically only track a user’s activity on that respective site. Cookies set by other sites (ie. 3rd parties) are called “3rd-party cookies”, and can be used to track a user on other websites that use the same 3rd-party service.

TYPES OF COOKIES AND THEIR USAGE

CRITICAL COOKIES

Some cookies are crucial to the user experience of a website, enabling core features like user logins, account management, shopping carts, and payment processing.

PERFORMANCE COOKIES

Performance cookies are used in the measuring of how visitors use a website during their visit, without collecting personal information about them. In most cases this information is anonymous, and aggregated with information tracked across all website users to help website managers to understand visitor usage patterns, technologies, identify and diagnose problems or errors users may encounter, and to make better strategic decisions in improving our audience’s overall website experience. These cookies may be set by the website or by 3rd-party services.

FUNCTIONALITY COOKIES

Functionality cookies are used in collecting data about devices and any settings a user may configure on the website (for example language and timezone settings). Websites can provide users using cookies with customised, enhanced or optimised content and services. These cookies may be set by the website or by 3rd-party service.

TARGETING AND ADVERTISING COOKIES

Targeting/advertising cookies are used in determining what promotional content is most relevant and appropriate to a user’s interests. Websites may use them to deliver targeted advertising or to limit the number of times users see an advertisement. This helps companies improve the effectiveness of their campaigns and the quality of content presented to the end user. These cookies may be set by the website or by 3rd-party services. Targeting/advertising cookies set by 3rd-parties may be used to track you on other websites that use the same 3rd-party service.

3RD-PARTY COOKIES ON OUR SITES

We use 3rd-party services on our websites, including analytics providers, content partners, and partner platforms. We grant these 3rd parties access to select information for services to help us serve our users. They may also set 3rd-party cookies in order to deliver the services they are providing. 3rd-party cookies can be used to track you on other websites that use the same 3rd-party service. As we have no control over 3rd-party cookies, they are not covered by our cookie policy.

OUR 3RD-PARTY PRIVACY POLICY

We review the privacy policies of all our 3rd-party providers before enlisting their services to ensure their practices align with ours. We will never knowingly include 3rd-party services that compromise or violate the privacy of our users.

COMMON 3RD-PARTY COOKIES

ANALYTICS

Our websites use analytics tools to measure how many people are using our web pages and to help us understand how people interact with our web pages so we can make them better. These tools use a cookies to enable us to gather this information.

CMS

Our websites are build on platforms which use cookies to store preferences and user information.

CHAT UTILITY

Our websites may feature a 3rd party embedded chat widget.

MAPS

Our website may contain some pages that display a map from a provider. When viewing these pages Google uses a cookie to store preferences and information.

SOCIAL MEDIA

Our website may contain pages that allow you to post to various Social Media platforms like Twitter, Instagram, Facebook etc. This functionality will occasionally use a cookie to facilitate this.

IFRAMES

Our website may use iFrames to display third party content, such as Facebook, within a web page. In some cases, this third party content may place a cookie on your device.

OPTING OUT OF COOKIES

If a user does not wish to accept cookies on a given website, the browser can be set to refuse cookies for specific domains. Most browsers are configured to accept cookies by default, but can be configured to either refuse cookies altogether, or to notify users when a website is trying to set or update a cookie. The ‘Help’ function within most browsers likely documents the necessary steps to do this. Alternatively, you may wish to visit www.aboutcookies.org which contains comprehensive information on how to block cookies on a wide variety of browsers. You will also find details on how to delete cookies from your device as well as more general information about cookies. Users likely need to update these settings on each individual device used to access a given domain. Although some cookies can be blocked with little impact to user experience of a website, blocking all cookies may reduce or remove ability access certain features and content across all websites.

CONTACT US

Questions, concerns or inquiries relating to the cookies policy for Crossroads Christian Communications Inc. (CCCI), Crossroads Family of Ministries and/or any of their associated programs and events or about any treatment of personal information should be emailed to privacyofficer@crossroads.ca or submitted by telephone to 1-800-265-3100 or you may leave a message at (905) 332-6400 ext 3308. Attention: Privacy Officer OUR ADDRESS 1295 North Service Road PO Box 5100 Burlington, ON L7R4M2 24/7 Prayer Lines 1-866-273-4444 Partner Inquiries: 1-800-265-3100 Product Orders: 1-800-265-3100 Local Switchboard: 1-905-335-7100 Fax: 1-905-332-6655 General inbox: crossroads@crossroads.ca Last updated May 1, 2019.