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Privacy Policy 

Effective Date: 01/05/2025

At Hemisphere Freight and Brokerage Services, we are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring that your personal information is handled with transparency and care. This Privacy Policy outlines how we collect, use, disclose, and protect personal information in accordance with Canada’s Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) and other applicable privacy laws.

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For the purposes of EU data protection laws, Hemisphere is the controller of personal information collected from you on our website or otherwise for the purpose of conducting or developing our business with you. When we act as a data processor on behalf of another controller, we collect, use, and disclose the relevant personal information only under the controller’s instruction, and their privacy policy will apply to how they (and we on their behalf) process your personal information. Please note that this Privacy Policy only applies to us but not to third-party websites or plugins that may process, share, or disclose your personal information or other information.

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Additional Information and Rights. For information about the privacy choices you have regarding your personal information, review the section Your Privacy Choices & Rights below which includes additional information about privacy rights for residents of certain jurisdictions. If you are a resident of California (USA) please see the Additional Information for California Residents section below for important information about the categories of personal information we collect and disclose and your privacy rights and choices under California privacy laws. 

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1. What Personal Information We Collect​

Personal Data Collected Directly:
We may collect personal information directly from you during your interactions with us or while visiting our website (https://www.gohemisphere.ca), for example, when you contact us by email, phone, subscribe to a service, or register on our website. You are not required to provide personal information, but if you choose not to, we may be unable to offer certain services or features, including account registration. The type of information collected depends on how you use our services or otherwise engage with us, but generally includes:

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  • Account and profile information: Name, company name, industry, address, email address, telephone number, as well as usernames and passwords for access to our services.

  • Communications and interactions: When you communicate with us via email, phone, or other means, we collect and maintain a record of your contact details and correspondence, including responses. This also includes communications and information shared on our social media channels and any customer support inquiries.

  • Comments or feedback: We collect feedback from clients and prospective clients for service improvements.

  • Financial and billing information: When you make a purchase or payment, we collect relevant payment information, such as credit card numbers, expiration dates, billing addresses, and transaction history.

  • Demographic information: This includes education, occupation, and other relevant demographic details.

  • Events and requests: We collect personal information when you participate in our events or submit service-related requests. For example, registering for an event or filling out a "Contact Us" form will result in the collection and storage of your contact details and related records.

  • Information we collect from clients: In providing our services, we may collect information such as proof of identity (e.g., signature, passport, driver's license), vehicle information (e.g., VIN, license plate number), billing details, and shipping information (e.g., shipment contact details, proof of delivery, account number, and shipment contents).

 

Personal Data from Third Parties:
We may collect personal information about you from third-party sources, including public databases, social media platforms, or other third parties. This includes:

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  • Lead and prospect information: We may receive information about potential customers from third parties who believe you may be interested in our services.

  • Social media platforms: If you post information about us or interact with us on third-party platforms (e.g., social media), we may collect personal information from those platforms. The control over what information is shared rests with those platforms, so refer to their privacy policies for more details.

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Automatically Collected Information:
In addition, Hemisphere Freight and Brokerage Services may automatically collect information related to your use of our services and interactions, including data gathered through cookies and other tracking technologies. This may include:

  • Device and browsing information: We collect information such as your IP address, general location, domain name, page views, date/time stamp, browser type, device type, device ID, Internet service provider, referring and exit URLs, operating system, language, and similar information. For more details, refer to the "Cookies, Tracking, and Analytics" section below.

  • Activities and usage: We collect data about your activities, such as the links clicked, searches performed, features used, and time spent interacting with our services.

  • Location information: We may derive location information from your IP address or other device identifiers.

 

2. How We Use Your Personal Information​

We collect, use, disclose, and process your personal information with your consent, either implied or express, or as permitted or required by Canadian privacy laws, for the following purposes:

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  • Provide our services: To operate and deliver our freight forwarding, customs brokerage, and warehousing services, including management of logistics and business processes.

  • Customer support: To respond to and communicate with you regarding quotes, inquiries, support requests, and other service-related matters.

  • Process claims: To investigate and handle claims related to our services.

  • Customization and personalization: To develop and maintain our relationship with you by personalizing content, communications, and service recommendations based on your preferences and interactions with our services.

  • Marketing and promotions: To send newsletters, special offers, and other promotional materials related to Hemisphere Freight and Brokerage Services, based on your consent. You can opt out of these communications at any time. However, even if you opt out of marketing emails, we may still send you service-related communications, such as transaction confirmations.

  • Establishment and maintenance of your account: To create and manage your online account, provide access to our services, and invoice you for contracted products and services.

  • Analytics and improvement: To understand how users interact with our services, evaluate and improve our offerings, and develop new features and services. While we analyze usage data, we do not access specific content for these purposes.

  • Advertising: To promote our services on third-party platforms and social media services.

  • Event planning and management: To plan and manage events, including registration, attendance, and relevant communications.

  • Research and surveys: To administer surveys and questionnaires for market research and to improve customer satisfaction.

  • Protect our legal rights and prevent misuse: To protect our customers, employees, and services from unauthorized access, misuse, fraud, and illegal activities. We may take action to investigate or prevent such incidents.

  • Defending our legal rights: To manage and respond to legal disputes and claims, as well as to establish, defend, or protect our rights in legal proceedings.

  • Auditing, reporting, and internal operations: To carry out internal audits, financial reporting, corporate governance activities, and to comply with tax, legal, and operational obligations. This also includes actions related to potential mergers, acquisitions, or restructuring.

  • Comply with legal obligations: To comply with Canadian legal and regulatory requirements, including responding to legal orders such as subpoenas or warrants from law enforcement or regulatory agencies.

 

3. How We Disclose Your Personal Information​

At Hemisphere Freight and Brokerage Services, we prioritize your privacy and do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information for profit without your explicit consent. We may share your information for the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy and under the following circumstances:

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  • Client services: As a data processor, we handle personal information on behalf of our clients while providing services such as customs brokerage, freight forwarding, and warehousing. This information is processed only as instructed by our clients, who are responsible for the data.

  • Third-party service providers: We may disclose your information to trusted vendors and service providers who assist us in our operations. This includes roles such as payment processing, IT support, auditing, and customer service. We ensure that these parties adhere to strict confidentiality agreements to protect your data.

  • Affiliated entities: We may share your personal information with our affiliated companies, which will use it in compliance with this Privacy Policy.

  • External platforms: Certain features of our services may require us to share your information with third-party platforms and service providers. Additionally, we may disclose information to partners that provide advertising, analytics, and campaign management services to enhance our outreach and improve user engagement. These third parties may collect information about your interactions with our services. (Refer to the Cookies, Tracking, and Analytics section for details.)

  • Legal obligations: We may be required to share your information in response to legal requests, such as subpoenas or court orders, or when we believe it is necessary to comply with applicable laws, including those related to national security.

  • Protection of rights: Your information may also be disclosed if we need to address legal claims, enforce our terms and agreements, or prevent fraud and unauthorized access to our services. This is essential for safeguarding Hemisphere, our customers, and the public.

  • Business transitions: In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of all or part of our business, your information may be included as part of the transaction. We may also share your information with advisors during due diligence processes or restructuring efforts. After such a transition, the new entity will be required to manage your data in accordance with applicable laws.

 

4. Your Privacy Choices and Rights​

In accordance with applicable laws, you have certain rights regarding your personal information. This includes the ability to access, correct, or request the deletion of your data at any time. Additionally, you may object to the processing of your personal information under specific circumstances. We provide various options to help you manage your privacy preferences and submit requests related to your personal information:

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  • Content requests: If you wish to access, delete, or modify your personal information, please direct your requests to the client who owns the account. Provide the name of the client through whom your information was submitted to us, and we will refer your request to that client while offering support as needed.

  • Withdrawal of consent: You have the right to withdraw your consent regarding the use and sharing of your personal information.

  • Access and correction: To help us maintain accurate records, please notify us of any changes to your personal information. Clients can update their information by logging into their accounts. Alternatively, you can submit a privacy request through our Contact Us form or by emailing us at info@hfcan.com access or correct your personal information.

  • Cookie and advertising preferences: As detailed in the Cookies, Tracking, and Analytics section, you have several options for managing your cookie and advertising preferences. You can adjust your cookie settings on our website for non-essential cookies. Remember that cookie preferences are specific to each browser and device, so you will need to set them for each one you use. If you delete or block cookies, you may need to reapply your settings.

  • Opting out of direct marketing: You can opt out of receiving direct marketing or promotional communications by following the instructions included in those communications, such as clicking the unsubscribe link in our marketing emails. Please note that opting out will not affect transactional or service-related communications, such as service announcements and administrative messages.

  • Complaints: We are committed to resolving any complaints you may have regarding our handling of your personal information. You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the privacy authority in your jurisdiction.

 

5. Cookies, Targeting, and Analytics​

At Hemisphere Freight and Brokerage Services, we and our third-party providers utilize cookies, pixel tags, JavaScript, local storage, log files, and similar technologies to automatically gather information about your browsing activities and usage of our services. This data, known as “usage data,” may be combined with other personal information we collect about you. We use this information to:

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  • Understand how our services are utilized and to enhance their performance

  • Track and resolve bugs and errors

  • Facilitate account verification and logins

  • Prevent fraud and safeguard our services

  • Personalize content and improve marketing strategies

  • Conduct analytics to evaluate and enhance user experiences

 

Cookies

When you access our website, we may place a text file, referred to as a “cookie,” in your web browser’s directory. Cookies are alphanumeric identifiers that assist in record-keeping. They cannot be read by any other website apart from the one that set them.

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Cookies serve various purposes, including making navigation easier, expediting logins, and improving security. For instance, we and our third-party service providers may use cookies to collect log information, such as visit times, previous visits, and referral sources. This information helps us analyze user behavior and generate statistical reports about website activity.

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Pixel Tags

​Pixel tags, also known as web beacons or clear GIFs, are tiny graphics with unique identifiers embedded in web pages. Unlike cookies, pixel tags are not stored on your hard drive. We may utilize these tags to manage ads and content and compile statistics regarding the usage of our services. They can also be found in HTML emails to help track response rates and engagement.

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Third-Party Analytics

With your consent, we may employ third-party tools, such as Google Analytics, to collect usage data about our services. These analytics providers utilize cookies and similar technologies to gather information that helps us improve performance and user experiences. If you wish to prevent data collection by Google Analytics, you can download the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on.

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Targeted Advertising

With your consent, we collaborate with third-party ad companies to personalize content and manage advertising across our services and on external sites. This may involve sharing certain information, including browsing behavior and identifiers, to deliver relevant ads and evaluate their effectiveness.

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6. How We Protect Your Personal Information​

At Hemisphere Freight and Brokerage Services, we implement commercially reasonable security measures to safeguard the personal information you provide against loss, theft, and unauthorized access, disclosure, copying, use, or modification. These protections apply to both electronic and physical records. Access to your personal information is limited to authorized employees and representatives only.

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To enhance security, we utilize widely accepted information security practices, including firewalls, access control measures, and encryption techniques. However, please be aware that no internet transmission can be guaranteed to be 100% secure or error-free. While we strive to protect your personal information, we cannot be held liable for any unauthorized access that occurs beyond our control.

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7. Links to Third-Party Sites​

Our services may contain links to external websites that have different privacy practices. Information submitted to websites not operated by Hemisphere is governed by those sites’ privacy policies, not this one. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any external sites you visit.

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Plugins and Social Media Widgets

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Our sites may include social media features and widgets, such as “share” buttons and other interactive programs. These widgets may collect personal information, such as your email address, and may set cookies to function correctly. Widgets displayed on our sites are managed by third-party companies, and their privacy practices apply, not this Privacy Policy.

Hemisphere is not responsible for how these third parties handle your personal information, so it’s important to familiarize yourself with their privacy policies before sharing your information.

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8. Retention and Storage of Your Personal Information​

We retain your personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected. This retention period aligns with the applicable statute of limitations for potential legal claims. Additionally, we may retain personal information to comply with legal, tax, and accounting requirements or as mandated by legal authorities.

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9. Changes to This Privacy Policy​

We may periodically update this Privacy Policy. If we make significant changes that affect how we handle your personal information, we will provide you with reasonable advance notice. This may include posting a prominent notice on our website or sending an email to your registered address. Where legally required, we will seek your consent or provide you with the opportunity to opt-out of such changes. The Privacy Policy available on our website at any given time will be considered the current version.

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10. Additional Information to California Residents​

In compliance with the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), Hemisphere Freight and Brokerage Services outlines below the categories of personal information it collects and discloses, along with the types of third parties with whom this information may be shared.

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We collect personal identifiers such as name, postal and email addresses, IP address, account name, and similar information. This data may be disclosed to service providers, advisors, law enforcement, our affiliates, advertising networks, analytics providers, and other authorized entities.

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We also collect other personal information as defined by California law, such as contact and financial details, when individuals use our services or register for an account. This information may be shared with service providers, business partners, legal authorities, and affiliates.

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Our commercial data collection includes records of services purchased or considered, and usage histories. These may be shared with business partners and service providers as needed.

Online activity information is gathered, including browsing and search history, clickstream data, and interaction metrics. This is shared with analytics and advertising networks, platform providers, and others supporting our digital services.

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We may collect audio or visual data such as call recordings or photographs, and share this with advisors, affiliates, or legal authorities if necessary.

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Employment and educational background information, as well as characteristics of protected classifications (such as age, gender, or medical status), may be collected for event or service accommodation purposes, and may be disclosed where legally required.

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Geolocation data and profiles based on inferred preferences or behaviors may also be used to deliver personalized experiences or services. These may be shared with marketing, analytics, or affiliated entities.

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Finally, we may collect sensitive personal information such as passport or driver’s license numbers under limited circumstances and share these with trusted parties for legal or operational purposes.

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11. Contacting Us​

If you have any questions regarding this Privacy Policy, wish to know the names and addresses of any third-party recipients of your personal information, believe we have not adhered to this policy, or want to exercise any of your rights, please contact our Chief Privacy Officer:

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