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Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Gardinou places great importance on the protection of your personal information.

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This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, store, and protect your personal information in accordance with the laws of the Province of Quebec, including Law 25, and the applicable federal laws of Canada, including PIPEDA, where applicable.

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Gardinou is a Canadian platform and is committed to protecting the personal information of its users in accordance with applicable laws.

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By using the platform, you acknowledge that you have read this Privacy Policy. Where consent is required by law, such consent will be obtained in accordance with applicable requirements.

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2. Collection of Personal Information

We collect only the personal information necessary to provide our services, including:

  • First and last name

  • Email address

  • Phone number

  • Mailing address (if applicable)

  • Information relating to your pets or services offered

  • Platform usage and navigation data

  • Technical identifiers associated with user accounts and information relating to account logins, including the date and time of the last login.

  • Payment information (processed securely by third-party payment providers)

 

In certain cases, additional information may be required, particularly for identity verification (see Section 12).

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3. Purposes of Use

Personal information is used to:

  • Create and manage user accounts

  • Facilitate connections between pet owners and sitters

  • Provide, operate, and improve the Platform

  • Ensure user safety and trust

  • Manage and secure user accounts, including by recording the date and time of the last login.

  • Communicate with users

  • Comply with legal and regulatory obligations

 

We do not use your personal information for purposes incompatible with those described in this Policy.

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4. Disclosure of Personal Information

Gardinou does not sell or rent personal information.

 

However, personal information may be disclosed:

  • To other users as part of a service connection

  • To service providers (hosting, security, maintenance, payment processing)

  • To specialized identity verification providers (see Section 12)

  • To competent authorities where required by law

 

These third parties have access only to the information necessary to perform their services and are bound by contractual confidentiality and security obligations.

 

5. Transfers Outside Québec or Canada

Some service providers may process or host personal information outside Quebec or Canada.

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Where personal information is disclosed or entrusted to a service provider located outside Quebec, Gardinou takes the measures required by applicable laws, including the necessary assessments and agreements where required, in order to ensure adequate protection of personal information.

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6. Security Measures

We implement reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect personal information against:

  • Unauthorized access

  • Loss

  • Misuse

  • Disclosure

 

Access to personal information is limited to individuals whose functions require it.

 

7. Confidentiality Incidents

In the event of a confidentiality incident involving personal information, we will take reasonable measures to reduce the risk of harm.

Where an incident presents a risk of serious injury, we will provide the required notifications in accordance with Law 25, including:

  • Notification to affected individuals

  • Notification to the Commission d’accès à l’information du Québec, where required

 

We maintain a confidentiality incident register as required by law.

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8. Retention of Personal Information

Personal information is retained only for as long as necessary for the purposes for which it was collected, including to manage and secure user accounts, or to comply with applicable legal obligations. Retention periods are determined based on the nature of the information and the purpose for which it is retained.

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Once this period expires, the information is securely deleted or anonymized.

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9. Your Rights

In accordance with applicable laws, you have the right to:

  • Access your personal information

  • Request correction of inaccurate information

  • Request deletion, subject to legal obligations

  • Withdraw your consent

  • Receive your personal information in a structured, commonly used technological format (data portability, where applicable)

  • File a complaint with the Commission d’accès à l’information du Québec

 

Any request will be processed in accordance with the time limits provided by applicable laws.

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Withdrawal of consent may limit access to certain services requiring the processing of the relevant information.

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​10. Third-Party Services

The Platform may contain links to third-party websites or services.


Gardinou is not responsible for their privacy practices.

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11. Minors

Gardinou does not accept minor users. Use of the platform and creation of an account are restricted to individuals who have reached the age of majority applicable in their province or territory of residence.

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All users must be of the age of majority to create an account or use Gardinou’s services.

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12. Identity Verification 

To ensure the safety and reliability of pet sitter profiles, Gardinou uses the services of Didit, a third-party provider specialized in automated identity verification.

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The verification process may include:

  • Facial recognition

  • Automated validation of identity documents

  • Liveness detection (“liveness check”)

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Data Processing

The required information is collected and processed directly by Didit through its secure interface, in accordance with its own privacy policy and legal obligations.

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Gardinou:

  • Does not retain identity documents

  • Does not retain biometric data

  • Receives only a verification status (approved / not approved)

 

Didit acts as a specialized third-party service provider for this verification. Gardinou does not control the processing activities carried out by Didit.

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Certain data may be used by Didit in aggregated or anonymized form to improve its fraud detection and prevention systems, in accordance with its legal obligations.

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Information may be hosted or processed outside Québec or Canada, subject to appropriate safeguards.

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Consent

By choosing to proceed with identity verification, the user consents to the transmission of their information to Didit for this specific purpose.

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A link to Didit’s privacy policy is made available at the time of verification.

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13. Person Responsible for the Protection of Personal Information

Responsibility for the protection of personal information rests with the management of the Platform.

 

For any request:

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Person Responsible for the Protection of Personal Information
Montréal (Québec), Canada
Email: contact@gardinou.ca

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14. Modifications

This Privacy Policy may be modified at any time.

 

The current version is accessible at all times on the Platform and comes into effect upon publication.

 

We encourage you to review it regularly.

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