1. What Are Cookies?
Cookies are small text files that are placed on your computer, smartphone, or other device when you visit a website. They are widely used to make websites work efficiently, provide a better browsing experience, and supply information to site owners.
Cookies can be "first-party" (set by the website you are visiting) or "third-party" (set by a domain other than the one you are visiting). They can also be "session" cookies (deleted when you close your browser) or "persistent" cookies (remaining on your device for a set period or until you delete them manually).
This Cookie Policy applies to the website operated by Meridian Learning Inc., located at 1055 West Georgia Street, Suite 1500, Vancouver, BC V6E 3P3, Canada. If you have questions about this policy, please contact us at [email protected].
2. How We Use Cookies
We use cookies and similar tracking technologies for several purposes: to keep our website functioning properly, to understand how visitors interact with our content, and to deliver relevant advertising. The specific cookies we use fall into three categories described below.
3. Cookie Categories
Essential Cookies
These cookies are strictly necessary for the website to function. They enable core features such as page navigation, secure access to logged-in areas, and saving your cookie consent preferences. Without these cookies, the website cannot operate properly.
| Cookie Name | Purpose | Retention |
|---|---|---|
| session_id | Maintains your session state while browsing | Session |
| csrf_token | Prevents cross-site request forgery attacks on forms | Session |
| cookie_consent_status | Stores your cookie preference selections | 12 months |
Consent required: No. These cookies are activated automatically as they are essential for site operation.
Analytics Cookies
Analytics cookies help us understand how visitors interact with our website by collecting and reporting information anonymously. This data allows us to improve our content, page structure, and overall user experience. We use Google Analytics 4 for this purpose.
| Cookie Name | Purpose | Retention |
|---|---|---|
| _ga | Distinguishes unique visitors using a randomly generated number | 14 months |
| _ga_XXXXXXX | Maintains session state for Google Analytics 4 | 14 months |
| _gid | Distinguishes users within a 24-hour period | 24 hours |
| _gat | Throttles request rate to limit data collection on high-traffic sites | 1 minute |
Consent required: Yes. Analytics cookies are activated only after you click "Accept All" or enable them in your cookie preferences.
Marketing / Advertising Cookies
Marketing cookies are used to track visitors across websites and deliver advertisements that are relevant to individual users. These cookies enable remarketing, conversion tracking, and personalized ad delivery through platforms such as Google Ads and Meta (Facebook/Instagram).
Third-party vendors, including Google, use cookies to serve ads based on a user's previous visits to this website and other sites on the internet. We may work with advertising partners such as Google and Meta to deliver advertisements tailored to your interests across various websites and platforms.
We may use remarketing services to advertise to previous visitors of our website. After visiting our site, you may see our ads on other websites, apps, or platforms you visit. Advertisements may appear across Google services including YouTube, Gmail, and the Google Display Network.
Tracking Technologies Used
We use the following tracking technologies on this website:
- Cookies (first-party and third-party)
- Tracking pixels (Google Ads tag / gtag.js, Meta Pixel)
- Device identifiers (browser fingerprint, IP address)
- Conversion event tags
Advertising and Analytics Technologies Active on This Site
- Google Ads (gtag.js / Google Tag Manager)
- Google Analytics 4
- Google Remarketing Tag
- Meta Pixel (Facebook / Instagram)
Conversion Tracking and Measurement
We use conversion tracking to understand which advertisements lead to actions on our website, such as form submissions, calls, or purchases. This allows us to measure campaign effectiveness and allocate budget appropriately. Conversion data may be shared with Google Ads and Meta.
| Technology | Provider | Max Retention |
|---|---|---|
| Google Ads Conversion Tag | Google LLC | 540 days |
| Google Remarketing Tag | Google LLC | 540 days |
| Meta Pixel | Meta Platforms, Inc. | 180 days |
Consent required: Yes. Marketing cookies are activated only after you click "Accept All" or enable them in your cookie preferences.
4. Your Consent
When you first visit our website, a cookie consent banner appears at the bottom of the screen. You are presented with three options:
- Accept All: Activates essential, analytics, and marketing cookies.
- Reject Non-Essential: Activates only essential cookies. Analytics and marketing cookies remain inactive.
- Manage Preferences: Opens a panel where you can individually toggle analytics and marketing cookies on or off. Essential cookies are always active and cannot be disabled.
By clicking "Accept All Cookies," you consent to the storing of cookies on your device for analytics and advertising purposes, including personalized advertising delivered by Google and Meta. You may withdraw consent at any time through the cookie preferences panel without affecting the lawfulness of processing that occurred before withdrawal.
Your consent choice is stored in your browser's local storage for 12 months. After that period, the consent banner will appear again so you can make a new selection.
Users in the European Economic Area and the United Kingdom receive this consent notice in compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and UK GDPR. Marketing and analytics cookies are activated solely after explicit, informed, freely given consent under GDPR Article 6(1)(a). Consent is recorded with a timestamp and may be audited upon request.
5. Withdrawing Consent
You may withdraw consent at any time by clicking "Manage cookie preferences" in the website footer, or by clearing cookies via your browser settings. Withdrawal does not affect processing that occurred while consent was valid.
To manage your preferences right now, use the button below:
6. Opting Out of Personalized Advertising
You may opt out of personalized advertising at any time using the following tools provided by advertising industry organizations:
- Google Ads Settings: https://adssettings.google.com
- Your Online Choices (EU): https://www.youronlinechoices.eu
- Network Advertising Initiative: https://optout.networkadvertising.org
- Digital Advertising Alliance: https://optout.aboutads.info
Opting out does not remove ads entirely. You will continue to see non-personalized advertisements that are not based on your browsing history or interests.
7. Data Sharing with Advertising Partners
We share certain data with advertising partners for campaign delivery and measurement. Recipients and the data categories shared include:
-
Google LLC
Cookie identifiers, conversion events, anonymized behavioral data, and remarketing lists. Governed by Google's Privacy Policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy
-
Meta Platforms, Inc.
Pixel events, conversion data, and custom audiences. Governed by Meta's Data Policy: https://www.facebook.com/privacy/policy
We do not sell personal data. All transfers to Google and Meta operate under Standard Contractual Clauses where applicable. Data is processed for ad targeting and campaign measurement only and is not resold to unaffiliated third parties.
Google and Meta may use this data across their own platforms in accordance with their respective policies. We encourage users to review those policies directly.
8. Google Services and Advertising
This website uses the following Google services:
- Google Analytics 4: Collects anonymized usage data, device info, and behavioral signals. IP anonymization is enabled. Data retention is set to 14 months. Users may opt out via the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on: https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout
- Google Ads Conversion Tracking: Records when a user completes a defined action (form submission, call, purchase) after clicking one of our ads. This data is used solely for measuring ad campaign performance.
- Google Remarketing: Allows us to show ads to previous visitors across Google's network. Remarketing lists are not created from sensitive data categories (health, finance, religion, sexual orientation).
- Google Tag Manager: Deploys tracking tags on our behalf. No personal data is collected by GTM itself; it acts as a container for the tags listed above.
Google's advertising products are governed by: https://policies.google.com/technologies/ads
9. Meta Advertising Services
This website uses the Meta Pixel to measure the effectiveness of our advertising on Facebook and Instagram. The pixel may record:
- Page views and time on site
- Specific conversion events (form submissions, purchases)
- Custom audience membership for retargeting purposes
We do not use the Meta Pixel to collect sensitive personal data, nor to target users based on health status, financial situation, religion, political views, sexual orientation, or any other special-category attribute prohibited under Meta's advertising policies.
Meta acts as an independent data controller for data collected via its Pixel and processed within its own platform. Refer to Meta's Data Policy: https://www.facebook.com/privacy/policy
To manage your ad preferences on Meta platforms, visit: https://www.facebook.com/adpreferences/
10. Managing Cookies in Your Browser
In addition to using our cookie preferences panel, you can control and delete cookies through your web browser settings. Most browsers allow you to:
- View all cookies currently stored on your device
- Delete individual cookies or all cookies at once
- Block all cookies or only third-party cookies
- Set your browser to notify you before a cookie is placed
Please note that blocking or deleting cookies may impact the functionality of our website. Some features may not work correctly if essential cookies are disabled. Refer to your browser's help documentation for specific instructions on managing cookies.
11. Similar Technologies
In addition to cookies, we may use other tracking technologies such as:
- Web beacons (tracking pixels): Small transparent images embedded in web pages or emails that track whether a page or email has been viewed.
- Local storage: Used to store your cookie consent preferences and other non-sensitive data on your device.
- Device fingerprinting: Collecting information about your browser type, operating system, screen resolution, and other settings to recognize your device across visits.
All of these technologies are governed by the same consent mechanisms described in this policy. Marketing and analytics technologies are only active when you have given explicit consent.
12. Retention Periods Summary
| Category | Maximum Retention |
|---|---|
| Essential cookies | Session duration or up to 12 months |
| Analytics cookies (Google Analytics 4) | Up to 14 months |
| Marketing cookies (Google Ads) | Up to 540 days |
| Marketing cookies (Meta Pixel) | Up to 180 days |
| Cookie consent records | 12 months (auto-refreshed) |
13. Children's Privacy
This website is not directed at individuals under the age of 16. We do not knowingly set cookies or collect personal data from minors. If we discover that data has been collected from a person under 16 without verifiable parental consent, we will delete it promptly. Contact us at [email protected] if you believe we have received data from a minor.
14. International Data Transfers
Data collected through cookies on this website may be transferred to and processed in countries outside Canada and the European Economic Area, including the United States, where Google LLC and Meta Platforms, Inc. are based. These transfers are conducted under Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) approved by the European Commission, which provide appropriate safeguards for personal data. A copy of the applicable SCCs can be requested by contacting us directly.
15. Your Rights
Under applicable privacy legislation (including PIPEDA in Canada, GDPR for EEA/UK users), you have the right to:
- Access data we hold about you through cookies and tracking technologies
- Request correction of inaccurate data
- Request deletion of your data ("right to be forgotten")
- Restrict or object to processing of your data
- Withdraw consent at any time without penalty
- Lodge a complaint with your local supervisory authority
To exercise any of these rights, contact us at [email protected]. We will respond within 30 days.
16. Landing Page Integrity
The content of this website accurately represents the products and services advertised. No bait-and-switch practices are employed. The experience delivered to users arriving from paid advertisements is identical to the experience for all other visitors. Cloaking, automatic redirects, and content variation by traffic source are not used on this website.
17. Changes to This Cookie Policy
We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect changes in technology, legislation, or our business practices. Any changes will be posted on this page with a revised "Last Updated" date. Material changes will be announced via a homepage banner at least 14 days before taking effect.
We encourage you to review this page periodically to stay informed about how we use cookies.
18. Related Policies
This Cookie Policy should be read in conjunction with our other legal documents:
19. Contact Information
If you have any questions about this Cookie Policy, how we use cookies, or wish to exercise your data rights, please contact us:
Meridian Learning Inc.
1055 West Georgia Street, Suite 1500, Vancouver, BC V6E 3P3, Canada
+1 604 273 8041