This page explains how we use cookies and similar technologies when you visit our website. By continuing to browse our pages, you agree to the practices set out below. If you would rather not accept cookies, you can adjust your browser settings at any time, though doing so may affect how parts of the site work for you.
What cookies actually are
A cookie is a small text file placed on your computer, tablet, or phone when you open a website. It holds a modest amount of data that lets the site recognise your device on later visits. Cookies cannot run programmes or carry viruses, and they do not give us access to anything else stored on your machine. Most of what they do is quiet and practical, such as keeping you logged in or noting that you have already seen a particular notice.
Why we rely on them
We use cookies to keep the site running without hiccups, to hold on to the choices you make, and to understand how visitors move through our pages. Without them, you would have to sign in repeatedly, reset your preferences on every visit, and lose items you had lined up during a session. In short, they let us give you a steadier and more personal service, and they help us spot problems and fix them faster.
The types we set
Not every cookie serves the same purpose. The ones we work with fall into a few clear groups:
- Strictly necessary cookies keep essential functions working, such as logging in, moving between secure pages, and holding your session together. The site cannot operate properly without them, so they cannot be switched off through our tools.
- Preference cookies retain settings you have chosen, including your language, your region, and how you like content displayed, so you do not have to set them again each time.
- Performance and analytics cookies gather anonymous information about which pages get visited and where people run into trouble. We use this to improve layout, speed, and general reliability.
- Functionality cookies support extra features, letting the site respond to how you use it and provide a more tailored visit.
- Targeting cookies may record your visit, the pages you opened, and the links you followed, so any advertising you see is more relevant to you.
Cookies set by others
Some cookies come from third parties whose services appear on our pages, rather than from us directly. These can include analytics providers, payment processors, and social or advertising partners. We do not control how those companies use the data they collect, so we recommend reading their own policies to understand their practices. Where the law requires it, we ask for your consent before such cookies are placed.
How long they stay
Cookies fall into two broad lifespans. Session cookies exist only while your browser is open and disappear the moment you close it. Persistent cookies stay on your device for a set period, or until you delete them by hand, so the site can recognise you when you return. The length varies with the job each cookie is doing.
Managing your choices
You are always in charge of the cookies on your device. Every major browser lets you block cookies, delete those already stored, or ask to be warned before new ones are set. The exact steps differ between browsers, and the help section of yours will walk you through them. Keep in mind that blocking certain cookies may stop parts of the site from loading correctly, and some features may not work for you at all.
If you want a broader way to limit tracking used for advertising, industry tools such as the Digital Advertising Alliance of Canada opt-out page at youradchoices.ca allow you to manage many networks in one place.
Changes to this policy
We may revise this policy from time to time to reflect changes in technology, our services, or the law. Any updates take effect as soon as they are posted here, so we suggest checking this page now and then. If you have questions about how we handle cookies, you are welcome to reach our support team, who will be glad to help.