Welcome to Life with Ruth and Gord (“Life with Ruth and Gord,” “we,” “us,” or “our”).
We respect your privacy and are committed to protecting the personal information of visitors to our website.
This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, store and protect information when you visit or interact with our website:
lifewithruthandgord.com
Because our website may be visited by people from many different countries, we have designed this Privacy Policy to provide information that is relevant to visitors internationally, including individuals in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Economic Area and other jurisdictions.
This Privacy Policy should be read together with any cookie notice or cookie-consent tools presented on the website.
1. Who We Are
Life with Ruth and Gord is a personal website and travel blog sharing our experiences, stories, photographs, observations and adventures.
For privacy purposes, Life with Ruth and Gord is responsible for the personal information collected through this website, except where a third-party service is independently responsible for information it processes under its own privacy policy.
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices, please contact us using the information provided at the end of this policy.
Information We Collect
We may collect information in two general ways:
1. Information you voluntarily provide to us; and
2. Information collected automatically when you visit or use the website.
The information we collect depends on how you interact with the website.
Information You Provide
You may voluntarily provide personal information when you:
* Contact us through a contact form;
* Subscribe to our email newsletter or other email communications;
* Leave a comment on a blog post;
* Respond to an email from us;
* Participate in an activity, promotion or other feature we may offer;
* Request information from us; or
* Otherwise communicate with us.
This information may include your:
* Name;
* Email address;
* Website address;
* Contact information;
* Message or other information you choose to provide; and
* Other information voluntarily submitted through the website.
Please do not submit sensitive personal information through contact forms, comments or other publicly accessible areas of the website unless it is specifically requested and appropriate to do so.
3. Information Collected Automatically
When you visit our website, certain information may be collected automatically through our website, hosting provider, WordPress installation, plugins, cookies and third-party services.
Depending on the technologies being used, this information may include:
* IP address;
* Approximate geographic location;
* Browser type and version;
* Device type;
* Operating system;
* Language preferences;
* Referring website;
* Pages visited;
* Links clicked;
* Date and time of visits;
* Approximate duration of visits;
* Website interaction information;
* Technical information about your device; and
* Other information relating to how you use the website.
Some of this information may be collected in aggregated or statistical form and used to understand how visitors use our website.
4. Google Analytics
We use Google Analytics, a web analytics service provided by Google, to help us understand how visitors use our website and to improve the website and the experience we provide.
Google Analytics may collect information such as:
* Number of users;
* Session information;
* Pages and content viewed;
* Approximate geographic location;
* Browser and device information;
* How visitors arrived at the website; and
* Certain interactions with the website.
Google Analytics may use cookies and similar technologies to distinguish users and sessions. For example, Google identifies the `_ga` cookie as a first-party cookie used to distinguish users. ([Google Help][3])
We use Google Analytics for website measurement and analysis and do not intentionally send information to Google Analytics that directly identifies you, such as your email address, telephone number or other information that Google prohibits customers from sending to Analytics. Google specifically advises website owners not to send personally identifiable information to Google Analytics. ([Google Help][4])
Google may process information collected through Google Analytics in accordance with its own privacy policies and terms.
Where required by applicable law, we will request your consent before placing non-essential Analytics cookies or otherwise activating Analytics technologies that require consent.
You can also control cookies through your browser settings and, where available, use Google’s mechanisms for opting out of Analytics.
5. Contact Forms
If you use a contact form on our website, we collect the information you choose to provide so that we can respond to your inquiry.
This may include your name, email address and the contents of your message.
We use this information to:
* Respond to your inquiry;
* Communicate with you about your request;
* Provide information you have requested; and
* Maintain appropriate records of communications.
We do not use information submitted through a contact form for unrelated marketing purposes unless you have separately consented to receive marketing or other communications.
Contact-form submissions may be processed or stored by WordPress and/or the third-party plugin or service used to operate the form.
6. Email Subscriptions
If you choose to subscribe to our email communications, we may collect your name and email address.
We use this information to send you the newsletters, updates, stories or other communications that you have requested.
You can unsubscribe from our email communications at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link included in our emails or by contacting us directly.
We will not sell or rent your email address to third parties.
Our email subscription service may be provided by a third-party email service provider. Where applicable, that provider may process your information on our behalf and in accordance with its own privacy policy and applicable contractual obligations.
7. Comments
Our website allows visitors to leave comments on certain blog posts.
When you leave a comment, information associated with the comment may be collected, such as your name, email address, website address, IP address and the content of your comment, depending on how our WordPress comment system and related plugins are configured.
Your comment may be publicly displayed on the website.
We may use information associated with comments to:
* Display and manage comments;
* Moderate comments;
* Prevent spam and abuse;
* Protect the security of the website; and
* Respond to comments where appropriate.
Please remember that information you voluntarily publish in a public comment may be visible to anyone who visits the website.
Do not include private, confidential or sensitive personal information in a public comment.
WordPress may also use cookies associated with commenting. Depending on the site’s configuration, commenters may be given the option to allow their name, email address and website to be remembered in a browser cookie for future comments. ([WordPress Developer Resources][5])
8. Cookies and Similar Technologies
Our website uses cookies and similar technologies.
Cookies are small text files placed on your device when you visit a website. They can perform necessary functions, remember preferences, support website functionality, provide security and help us understand how visitors use our website.
The cookies used by the website may include:
Essential Cookies
These cookies may be necessary for the website to function properly, provide security or enable certain features.
Analytics Cookies
We may use analytics cookies, including Google Analytics cookies, to understand website traffic and visitor behaviour.
Comment Cookies
WordPress and its commenting functionality may use cookies to remember information entered by commenters, where the visitor has chosen to enable that functionality.
Plugin and Functionality Cookies
Certain WordPress plugins may use cookies or similar technologies to provide particular website functions.
Third-Party Cookies
Content, links, social-media features or other services provided by third parties may place their own cookies or similar technologies on your device.
The exact cookies used by the website may change as we add, remove or update website functionality and plugins.
You can control or delete cookies through your browser settings. Some browsers also allow you to block cookies from particular websites.
Where required by applicable law, we will provide a cookie-consent mechanism and obtain consent before using non-essential cookies or similar technologies.
Google notes that consent requirements vary by jurisdiction and that website operators are responsible for implementing an appropriate consent-management solution where required.
9. WordPress and Plugins
Our website is built using WordPress.
WordPress and the plugins, themes and other software used on our website may process certain information necessary to provide website functionality, security, commenting, contact forms, spam prevention, analytics, social-media features or other services.
The specific information collected may vary depending on the plugins and services installed and enabled on the website.
We periodically review the technologies used on the website and may add, remove or replace plugins and services.
Because individual plugins may collect or process information in different ways, their own privacy policies may also apply.
WordPress itself recommends that website owners review the specific data practices of their themes, plugins, analytics tools, social-media features and other technologies rather than relying solely on a generic WordPress privacy policy. ([WordPress.org][2])
10. Social Media and Social-Media References
Our website may contain links, references, buttons, icons, feeds or other features associated with social-media platforms.
These may include, but are not limited to:
* Facebook;
* Instagram;
* YouTube;
* X;
* Pinterest; and
* Other social-media platforms that we may use from time to time.
Clicking a social-media link may take you away from our website and to a third-party website.
Social-media platforms may collect information about your visit or interaction with their services, including through cookies and similar technologies.
We do not control the privacy practices of third-party social-media platforms. Your use of those services is governed by the privacy policy and terms of the applicable third party.
If social-media content is embedded directly into a page of our website, the applicable social-media provider may collect information about your interaction with that embedded content.
11. Links to Other Websites
Our website may contain links to third-party websites, including travel websites, tourism organizations, accommodations, transportation providers, attractions, restaurants, social-media platforms and other resources.
These links are provided for convenience and informational purposes.
When you leave our website and visit another website, that website’s privacy policy applies.
We are not responsible for the privacy, security or data-handling practices of third-party websites.
We encourage you to review the privacy policy of any third-party website before providing personal information.
12. How We Use Personal Information
We may use personal information for purposes including:
* Responding to inquiries;
* Providing information you request;
* Sending email communications you have requested;
* Managing comments;
* Preventing spam and abuse;
* Operating and maintaining the website;
* Improving website content and functionality;
* Understanding website traffic and visitor behaviour;
* Maintaining website security;
* Troubleshooting technical problems;
* Managing our communications with visitors;
* Complying with legal obligations;
* Protecting our rights and property; and
* Other purposes that are reasonably expected in connection with your interaction with our website.
We will not use personal information for materially different purposes without appropriate notice or consent where required by applicable law.
13. Legal Bases for Processing
Depending on where you are located and the circumstances in which your information is collected, we may process personal information on one or more of the following legal bases:
* **Consent:** You have given us permission to process your information for a specific purpose.
* **Legitimate interests:** Processing is reasonably necessary for purposes such as operating, securing and improving our website, provided those interests do not override your applicable privacy rights.
* **Contract or requested services:** Processing may be necessary to respond to a request or provide a service you have requested.
* **Legal obligations:** Processing may be necessary to comply with applicable laws or lawful requests.
* **Other lawful bases:** Where permitted by applicable law.
Where consent is the legal basis for processing, you may withdraw that consent at any time, subject to applicable legal or technical limitations.
14. Sharing Personal Information
We do not sell, rent or trade your personal information.
We may share or permit access to personal information with service providers that help us operate the website and provide services to you.
These may include providers of:
* Website hosting;
* WordPress functionality and plugins;
* Email delivery and subscription services;
* Contact-form services;
* Website analytics;
* Spam prevention and security;
* Website maintenance;
* Technical support; and
* Other services necessary to operate the website.
These service providers may process information on our behalf.
We may also disclose personal information:
* With your consent;
* Where required or permitted by law;
* In response to a valid legal process or government request;
* To protect the security or integrity of the website;
* To prevent fraud, abuse or unlawful activity; or
* To protect our rights, property or safety or the rights, property or safety of others.
15. International Data Transfers
Because our website is accessible internationally and we may use service providers located in different countries, personal information may be processed or stored outside the country in which you live.
This may include countries such as Canada, the United States or other countries where our service providers operate.
Privacy laws may differ between countries. Where required by applicable law, we will take reasonable steps to ensure that international transfers of personal information are subject to appropriate safeguards.
For individuals in jurisdictions with specific international-transfer requirements, such as the European Economic Area or United Kingdom, applicable safeguards may include contractual protections or other lawful transfer mechanisms.
16. Your Privacy Rights
Depending on where you live and the laws applicable to you, you may have certain rights concerning your personal information.
These rights may include the right to:
* Know whether we hold personal information about you;
* Request access to personal information we hold about you;
* Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information;
* Request deletion of personal information in certain circumstances;
* Object to or restrict certain processing;
* Withdraw consent where processing is based on consent;
* Request portability of certain information;
* Opt out of certain marketing communications;
* Request information about how your personal information is processed; and
* Lodge a complaint with a relevant privacy or data-protection authority.
These rights are not absolute and may be subject to exceptions under applicable law.
For example, we may need to retain certain information to comply with legal obligations, protect our rights or maintain appropriate records.
If you wish to exercise a privacy right, please contact us using the contact information provided below.
We may need to verify your identity before responding to certain requests.
17. European Economic Area and United Kingdom
If you are located in the European Economic Area, United Kingdom or another jurisdiction with similar data-protection laws, additional rights may apply to you under laws such as the **General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)** or **UK GDPR**.
Where applicable, we will process personal information in accordance with those laws.
You may have rights including access, correction, deletion, restriction, objection, data portability and withdrawal of consent.
Where we rely on consent, you may withdraw your consent at any time.
You may also have the right to lodge a complaint with the data-protection authority in the country where you live, work or believe that a privacy violation has occurred.
18. California and Other U.S. State Privacy Rights
If you are located in the United States, privacy rights may vary depending on your state of residence.
Certain U.S. states provide residents with rights relating to access, correction, deletion, portability, objection, consent and the use or disclosure of personal information.
We do not sell personal information in the conventional sense, and we do not rent your personal information to third parties.
If a state privacy law applies to you, you may contact us to exercise any applicable rights.
We will respond to verified requests in accordance with applicable law.
19. Children’s Privacy
Our website is intended for a general audience.
We do not knowingly collect personal information from children in circumstances where parental or guardian consent is required by applicable law.
If you believe that a child has provided personal information to us in circumstances where collection was not appropriate, please contact us.
If we become aware that we have collected personal information from a child in circumstances where it should not have been collected, we will take reasonable steps to delete it.
20. Data Security
We take reasonable administrative, technical and organizational measures to protect personal information against unauthorized access, loss, misuse, alteration or disclosure.
However, no website, internet transmission or electronic storage system can be guaranteed to be completely secure.
You should therefore take appropriate precautions when transmitting personal information over the internet.
21. Data Retention
We retain personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes for which it was collected, including to:
* Provide requested services or communications;
* Maintain appropriate records;
* Manage our website;
* Resolve disputes;
* Prevent abuse or fraud; and
* Comply with legal obligations.
The length of time information is retained may vary depending on the type of information and the reason it was collected.
When information is no longer required, we will take reasonable steps to delete, securely destroy or anonymize it, subject to applicable legal requirements.
22. Email Marketing Choices
If you subscribe to our email communications, you can unsubscribe at any time.
Every marketing or newsletter email should include an appropriate unsubscribe mechanism where required by applicable law.
Please note that even after unsubscribing from marketing communications, we may continue to send essential administrative or transactional communications where reasonably necessary.
23. Your Choices Regarding Cookies
You can generally control cookies through your browser.
Depending on your browser and location, you may be able to:
* Block cookies;
* Delete existing cookies;
* Allow cookies only from certain websites;
* Receive a notification before cookies are placed; or
* Use private or incognito browsing.
Blocking certain cookies may affect website functionality.
Where required, we will also provide a cookie-consent mechanism allowing visitors to make choices regarding non-essential cookies.
24. Third-Party Privacy Policies
This Privacy Policy applies to Life with Ruth and Gord and our website.
It does not apply to third-party websites, applications or services that we link to, reference or embed.
Third parties may have their own privacy policies and terms of use.
We encourage you to read those policies before providing personal information to third parties.
25. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time.
Changes may be necessary because of:
* Changes to our website;
* Changes to WordPress, plugins or other technologies;
* Changes to Google Analytics or other third-party services;
* Changes to our information practices;
* Changes to applicable privacy laws; or
* Other operational or legal developments.
When we make changes, we will update the **Last Updated** date at the top of this Privacy Policy.
We encourage you to review this page periodically.
26. Contact Us
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, want to exercise a privacy right, or have a concern about how we handle personal information, please contact us:
Life with Ruth and Gord
Email
We will make reasonable efforts to respond to privacy inquiries within the time required by applicable law.
If you are not satisfied with our response, you may have the right to contact the privacy or data-protection authority in your country or region.