Privacy Policy

 
 

Last updated: September 20, 2025
Owner / Privacy Officer: Louis-Charles Fortier (Québec, Canada)
Email: lcf@louischarlesfortier.com

1) Who we are

This is the personal website of Louis-Charles Fortier. We publish editorial content and offer an email newsletter. The site serves readers in Canada (including Québec), the U.S., and the EU/UK.

Note for Québec Law 25: the person exercising the highest authority is the default “person in charge of the protection of personal information.” We designate Louis-Charles Fortier as Privacy Officer (contact above).

2) Scope & legal bases

  • Canada / Québec. While PIPEDA generally targets “commercial activity,” we apply these commitments voluntarily. Québec Law 25 obligations (e.g., transparency, officer designation, breach notice, cross-border disclosures) are reflected here.

  • EU/UK (GDPR). For EU/UK visitors, we rely on: consent (analytics/cookies), legitimate interests (security, core site operation), and contract (delivering the newsletter you request).

  • U.S. (state laws). We don’t sell or “share” personal information. If a U.S. law applies to you and grants specific rights, contact us and we’ll honor them where required.

3) What we collect

Information you provide

  • Contact form submissions (name, email, message).

  • Newsletter sign-ups (email address; optionally name) via ConvertKit (Kit). ConvertKit processes subscriber data under its Privacy Policy and Data Processing Addendum.

Information collected automatically

  • Squarespace provides hosting, forms, and built-in site analytics. Its analytics and cookies can collect device info, referrers, approximate location, and IP address in the Activity Log (7-day view). Squarespace’s own privacy/cookie policies describe its data uses.

  • Google Analytics 4 (GA4) (if enabled after consent) measures site usage. GA4 does not log or store IP addresses, and event/user data retention can be set to 14 months (default is shorter).

Search & downloads

  • Site search terms and download events may be measured for performance/anti-abuse and to improve content.

4) Cookies, consent & preferences

We use cookies for essential site operation and (with consent) for analytics.

  • Consent banner. We display a cookie banner on Squarespace and restrict non-essential cookies until you opt in (especially for EU/UK and Québec visitors). You can revisit choices via the banner’s “Manage cookies.”

  • Squarespace cookies. Details on categories are in Squarespace’s Cookie Policy and support articles.

  • GA4. We load GA4 only after consent and configure retention to 14 months (when available).

5) How we use personal information

  • Run and secure the site (fraud/abuse prevention, diagnostics).

  • Respond to messages you send.

  • Send the newsletter you request and manage subscriptions (via ConvertKit).

  • Analyze site performance and improve content (with consent for analytics).

6) Sharing & service providers

We share personal information with service providers who support the site and are bound by contract to use it only for us:

  • Squarespace, Inc. – hosting, forms, built-in analytics/cookies. See Squarespace’s Privacy Policy.

  • Google LLC (Google Analytics 4). See Google’s data/retention notes.

  • ConvertKit (Kit). Newsletter platform; see Privacy Policy and DPA.
    We do not sell or “share” personal information for targeted advertising.

7) International transfers

Our providers may process data in Canada, the U.S., and the EU. Providers commit to transfer safeguards in their terms (e.g., DPAs/SCCs). See ConvertKit’s DPA; Google publishes regional controls for GA4.

8) Retention

  • Contact form entries: 12 months (unless needed longer for a specific inquiry).

  • Newsletter data: until you unsubscribe; we keep a minimal suppression record to honor opt-outs.

  • Squarespace analytics / logs: we can view Activity Log details for the past 7 days; other server-side logs are retained per Squarespace’s policies (not under our direct control).

  • GA4: event/user data retained up to 14 months (setting dependent).

9) Your choices & rights

  • Cookies/analytics: use the cookie banner to Accept/Decline non-essential cookies at any time.

  • Email: every newsletter includes an unsubscribe link managed by ConvertKit.

  • Access/Correction/Deletion (Canada/Québec). Contact us to access or correct your data.

  • EU/UK rights: request access, rectification, erasure, restriction, portability, or objection; withdraw consent at any time (doesn’t affect prior processing).

  • CASL (Canada) – newsletters: we obtain consent and include identification and an unsubscribe mechanism in each message.

10) Security

We use HTTPS transport, least-privilege access to accounts, and reputable providers with industry-standard safeguards. No method is perfectly secure; please report any suspected incident to lcf@louischarlesfortier.com and we’ll investigate and notify as required by law.

11) Children

The site is for a general audience and not directed to children under 13 (or under 16 in the EU). We don’t knowingly collect children’s personal information.

12) Third-party links & embeds

Links or files we host may lead to third-party sites with their own policies and cookies. When you interact with provider pages (e.g., Google/ConvertKit), their policies apply.

13) Contact

Questions or requests about this policy: lcf@louischarlesfortier.com
(If you receive our newsletter, ensure your postal address appears in the email footer to support CASL compliance.)

14) Changes to this policy

We may update this policy from time to time. Material changes will be indicated by updating the “Last updated” date above; if changes are significant, we’ll highlight them on the site.