Privacy Policy
Last updated: August 5, 2026
Common Ground NS ("we", "our", "the directory") is operated by Nikita VanVessem, a sole proprietor based in Nova Scotia, Canada, who is the data controller for the personal information described here. It is a resource-navigation tool built for frontline workers in Nova Scotia — social workers, outreach workers, health-care providers, educators, and community members. This page explains what personal information the app collects, how it is used, and the choices you have.
Information we collect
- Account information. When you sign up, we store your email address and, if you provide them, a display name, organization, role or title, phone number, and short bio.
- Authentication data. When you sign in with Google, we receive your basic Google profile (name, email) from Google. We never receive your Google password.
- Favorites. Organizations you star are saved to your account so you can access them from any device.
- Reports. When you report outdated information, we store the report content, the organization it relates to, and your account ID so administrators can follow up.
- Technical data. Standard web-server logs (IP address, browser, timestamps) are processed by our hosting providers for security and reliability.
- Subscription data. If you subscribe, we store your subscription status, plan, and billing period. Card details are collected and held by Paddle, not by us.
Legal basis
We process account, favourites, report, and subscription data to perform our contract with you; technical and security data on the basis of our legitimate interest in running a safe and reliable service; and any other data with your consent or where required by law.
How we use it
- To authenticate you and keep your account secure.
- To personalize your view of the directory (your favorites, your profile).
- To let administrators triage user reports and keep resource information current.
- To operate, maintain, and improve the service.
We do not sell your personal information, and we do not use it for advertising.
Who can see your data
- You. You can see and edit your profile and favorites at any time.
- Administrators. Users with the administrator role can see all user profiles, all outdated-info reports, and manage the resource directory. Other signed-in users cannot see your profile, favorites, or reports.
- Service providers. Our hosting, database, and email providers process data on our behalf under their own privacy terms.
- Merchant of Record. Paddle.com acts as the Merchant of Record for all sales and receives the information needed to process payments, manage your subscription, handle tax compliance, and issue invoices and refunds.
- Professional advisers. Legal or accounting advisers, where necessary.
- Legal. We may disclose information if required by law or to protect the safety of a user or the public.
Data retention
We keep account, favourites, and report data for as long as your account exists, and delete or anonymise it when you delete your account. Records connected to a purchase are retained for as long as required by Canadian tax and accounting law.
Data security
Access to your data is protected by database row-level security policies so that, by default, only you (and administrators where noted above) can read it. Passwords are managed by our authentication provider and are never stored in plain text.
Your choices
- Update your profile from the Profile page.
- Remove favorites or reports at any time.
- Delete your account and associated data from the Profile page, or by contacting an administrator.
- Request access to, correction of, or a copy of your personal information, withdraw consent, or complain to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada.
Children
Common Ground NS is intended for adults working in or with human-services organizations. It is not directed at children under 16.
Changes
We may update this policy from time to time. Material changes will be reflected in the "Last updated" date above.
Contact
Questions about this policy or your data can be sent to the directory administrator through the "Report outdated info" button on any organization page.