Non-Discrimination
In the operation of Okanagan Folk School (OKFS) programs, no individual or group will be discriminated against because of race, sex, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, age, or disability.
Accessibility
We believe that craft and learned skills education should be accessible to anyone with an interest in learning, and that the mission of our school is made richer by welcoming a diverse range of students and participants to our campus.
Age
Due to the unique nature of each workshop, minimum age requirements are defined by the instructor. All workshops that are open for intergenerational learning are clearly defined by the workshop description. Please inquire at registration about restrictions.
Registration Deadlines
Registering early also gives our instructors adequate time to prepare workshop materials, which can be extensive. It also gives you time to acquire supplies you are required to bring to workshops (a materials list will be mailed after you register). For intermediate to advanced courses, you may have “homework” to do in advance.
Courses are intentionally kept small and often fill quickly, so registering as early as possible is encouraged. Registering at least three weeks prior to the workshop start date is especially advisable as workshops without a minimum number of registrations may be cancelled. That said, if you find a workshop you want to take close to the start date, give us a call. Last minute changes may have left a spot open just for you!
Workshop Payments
Tuition and materials fees must be paid in full to secure registration in a workshop. For workshops where the materials fee varies, the fee is paid directly to the instructor on the first day of workshops. Payments for workshop registration must be made via the OKFS website.
Waiting Lists
OKFS manages waiting lists for workshops that have filled. Individuals on the waiting list are contacted only if an opening becomes available.
Workshop Content
While we make every effort to verify their accuracy, workshop descriptions are provided by instructors, who are independent contractors, and cannot be warranted by the OKFS.
Privacy
We respect your privacy and will not sell or give your mailing address or e-mail address to another party. We use our mailing list to notify you of new workshops and current events here at OKFS. You may ask to be removed from our mailing list or e-mail newsletter list at any time by contacting us at info@okfolkschool.ca.
Membership Cancellations
Membership fees are based on an annual subscription. Once the fee has been paid it is non-refundable. Okanagan Folk School is a non-profit Society and must operate on a strict budget. Your interest and support are appreciated.
Workshop Cancellations
If OKFS must cancel a workshop, the student will receive a full refund or a credit towards a future workshop of their choosing. Students who wish a refund of any payments made for that workshop should contact the OKFS office at info@okfolkschool.ca.
Students who cancel their enrollment more than 7 days prior to the first day of the workshop and request a refund will receive a refund less a 4% cancellation fee to cover the credit card costs. In recognition of the time and energy instructors invest in preparing for workshops, students who cancel their enrollment 6 days or less prior to the first day of the workshop are not eligible for a refund. Students who do not show up to a workshop and have not notified OKFS are not eligible for a refund.
Cancellation Due to COVID
To prioritize the safety of our community, we have revised our cancellation policy to provide flexibility for COVID-19 related cancellations. For any student with a positive diagnosis, symptoms, or exposure to COVID-19 within two weeks of a workshop start, we will waive the cancellation fee and issue a full refund up to the day a workshop begins. Students should notify the Registrar immediately. Because of registration costs and other services, including faculty contracts, material acquisitions, and housing arrangements, the OKFS is required to charge cancellation fees to students who change their itineraries for non-COVID-19 reasons.
Missed Workshop Time Due to COVID-19
In the case of missed workshop time because a student or instructor experiences a positive COVID-19 test or the Folk School suspends or cancels a workshop, the student will receive a credit towards a future workshop. Once a workshop begins, there will be no refunds or credits for early departure, late arrival, or missed workshop for any other reason.
Building community is central to the mission of Okanagan Folk School. Staff, instructors, students, volunteers, and visitors are all part of creating a welcoming, positive environment that inspires life-long learning in a noncompetitive setting. Every individual contributes to the richness of the community whether they are here for years, days or just passing through. We ask that all who come here do so with openness towards people of differing backgrounds, identities, and ways of being in the world and conduct themselves with integrity, respect, and kindness towards all.
​
By choosing to participate in the Okanagan Folk School community, you are choosing to uphold this spirit and vision of community. Any person exhibiting behavior that is disruptive to the community learning environment may be asked to leave the course and/or venue and refused future participation. Specific policies detailing these expectations are included in the Shop Ethics, Course room, Non-Discrimination, and Sexual Harassment policies.
Bringing Your Own Tools
Student tools are welcome on campus, but OKFS cannot guarantee their safety and is not responsible for loss or damage.
Student Projects
Inspiring and beautiful student-built projects are the satisfying outcomes of OKFS workshops. At the close of the workshop, these projects are the responsibility of the student and need to leave the workshop room or venue.
Workshop Room Hours
Workshop rooms serve as a place of inspiration and engagement, offering students and instructors a setting to explore the joy of hands-on learning together. In the interest of student safety, workshop rooms are only open to students with instructor supervision.
Cell Phones
Out of respect for the OKFS learning community, students and visitors are encouraged to turn off or silence their cell phones prior to participation in any program or workshop. If you do need to take a call, please step out of the workshop room. Students are welcome to use their phones in a respectful manner to take photos of their own work in workshops. Please ask before taking photos of the instructor’s or other students’ work.
Drugs and Alcohol
Alcohol is not permitted in studios or public areas unless the workshop specifies the alcohol consumption may be part of the workshop. To take a workshop that involves the consumption of alcohol the student must be of legal drinking age. Use of illegal drugs is prohibited. Alcohol may not be consumed during the operation of tools or power equipment.
Smoking
Smoking is not allowed inside any building at the workshop room or venue of the OKFS. There are no indoor smoking facilities.
Personal Property
The Folk School is not responsible for the security of property belonging to students and instructors.
Studio Safety
The Folk School is not responsible for injuries sustained because of improper or careless use of studio tools or equipment.
OKFS strives to be a student-centered learning environment. The Venues and workshop rooms are designed to support that mission as well as create a gathering space for community.
Practice Safety First
-
Always wear appropriate personal protective equipment (i.e. earmuffs or earplugs, safety glasses, dust mask, etc.) when using machinery, regardless of what you would wear in your own shop.
-
You’re not alone. Be aware of others when using equipment and transporting materials.
-
Say something. If you see anyone doing something unsafe, speak up.
Respect Equipment and Tools
-
Know how to operate a tool properly before using or ask for guidance if you don’t.
-
Return and store tools properly. If you don’t know the proper location, please ask.
-
Turn off and unplug equipment when not in use.
-
Report any missing, broken, or damaged equipment to your instructor.
Respect Workshop Rooms and Shop Space
Leave a workshop room or venue cleaner than you found it. Assume that a workshop is being taught in the same space the next day…as is often the case.
General Guidelines:
-
Wipe tables with shop brush or hand towel.
-
Sweep floor.
-
Return and wash coffee cups/dishes.
-
Put waste, recycling, and wood chunks in respective bins.
-
Leave nothing behind.
Be Considerate
-
Community is at the core of the OKFS mission.
-
Workshops and students are a priority. Projects, prep work, and informal gatherings must respect workshops in session.
-
Be aware of other workshops happening in adjoining workshop rooms.
-
Pets are not welcome in workshop rooms.
-
Students, staff, and visitors are encouraged to turn off or silence cell phones.
That’s it!
Browse our course listings
Okanagan Folk School Privacy Policy – April 20, 2022
Okanagan Folk School ("us", "we", or "our") operates the https://okfolkschool.ca/ website (the "Service").
This page informs you of our policies regarding the collection, use, and disclosure of personal data when you use our Service and the choices you have associated with that data.
We use your data to provide and improve the Service. By using the Service, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy. Unless otherwise defined in this Privacy Policy, terms used in this Privacy Policy have the same meanings as in our Terms and Conditions, accessible from https://okfolkschool.ca/.
Definitions
· Service
Service is the https://northhouse.org website operated by Okanagan Folk School
· Personal Data
Personal Data means data about a living individual who can be identified from those data (or from those and other information either in our possession or likely to come into our possession).
· Usage Data
Usage Data is data collected automatically either generated by the use of the Service or from the Service infrastructure itself (for example, the duration of a page visit).
· Cookies
Cookies are small pieces of data stored on your device (computer or mobile device).
· Data Controller
Data Controller means the natural or legal person who (either alone or jointly or in common with other persons) determines the purposes for which and the manner in which any personal information are, or are to be, processed.
For the purpose of this Privacy Policy, we are a Data Controller of your Personal Data.
· Data Processors (or Service Providers)
Data Processor (or Service Provider) means any natural or legal person who processes the data on behalf of the Data Controller.
We may use the services of various Service Providers in order to process your data more effectively.
· Data Subject (or User)
Data Subject is any living individual who is using our Service and is the subject of Personal Data.
Information Collection and Use
We collect several different types of information for various purposes to provide and improve our Service to you.
Types of Data Collected
Personal Data
While using our Service, we may ask you to provide us with certain personally identifiable information that can be used to contact or identify you ("Personal Data"). Personally identifiable information may include, but is not limited to:
· Email address
· First name and last name
· Phone number
· Address, State, Province, ZIP/Postal code, City
· Cookies and Usage Data
Use of Data
We may use your Personal Data to contact you with newsletters, marketing or promotional materials and other information that may be of interest to you. You may opt out of receiving any, or all, of these communications from us by following the unsubscribe link or instructions provided in any email we send or by contacting us.
Usage Data
We may also collect information how the Service is accessed and used ("Usage Data"). This Usage Data may include information such as your computer's Internet Protocol address (e.g. IP address), browser type, browser version, the pages of our Service that you visit, the time and date of your visit, the time spent on those pages, unique device identifiers and other diagnostic data.
Tracking & Cookies Data
We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to track the activity on our Service and hold certain information.
Cookies are files with small amount of data which may include an anonymous unique identifier. Cookies are sent to your browser from a website and stored on your device. Tracking technologies also used are beacons, tags, and scripts to collect and track information and to improve and analyze our Service.
You can instruct your browser to refuse all cookies or to indicate when a cookie is being sent. However, if you do not accept cookies, you may not be able to use some portions of our Service.
Examples of Cookies we use:
· Session Cookies. We use Session Cookies to operate our Service.
· Preference Cookies. We use Preference Cookies to remember your preferences and various settings.
· Security Cookies. We use Security Cookies for security purposes.
Okanagan Folk School uses the collected data for various purposes:
· To provide and maintain our Service
· To notify you about changes to our Service
· To allow you to participate in interactive features of our Service when you choose to do so
· To provide customer support
· To gather analysis or valuable information so that we can improve our Service
· To monitor the usage of our Service
· To detect, prevent and address technical issues
· To provide you with news, special offers and general information about other goods, services and events which we offer that are similar to those that you have already purchased or enquired about unless you have opted not to receive such information
Sharing of Data
We never share or sell your Personal Data with any third-party organizations, except for Service Providers used to support our day-to-day operations (e.g. mailing list services for delivering newsletters, database services for storing and retrieving data). The Privacy Policies of these Service Providers are accessible below.
Processing Data
Okanagan Folk School may process your Personal Data because:
· We need to perform a contract with you
· You have given us permission to do so
· The processing is in our legitimate interests, and it's not overridden by your rights
· For payment processing purposes
· To comply with the law
Retention of Data
Okanagan Folk School will retain your Personal Data only for as long as is necessary for the purposes set out in this Privacy Policy. We will retain and use your Personal Data to the extent necessary to comply with our legal obligations (for example, if we are required to retain your data to comply with applicable laws), resolve disputes, and enforce our legal agreements and policies.
Okanagan Folk School will also retain Usage Data for internal analysis purposes. Usage Data is generally retained for a shorter period of time, except when this data is used to strengthen the security or to improve the functionality of our Service, or we are legally obligated to retain this data for longer time periods.
Transfer of Data
Your information, including Personal Data, may be transferred to — and maintained on — computers located outside of your state, province, country or other governmental jurisdiction where the data protection laws may differ than those from your jurisdiction.
If you are located outside Canada and choose to provide information to us, please note that we transfer the data, including Personal Data, to Canada and process it there.
Your consent to this Privacy Policy followed by your submission of such information represents your agreement to that transfer.
Okanagan Folk School will take all steps reasonably necessary to ensure that your data is treated securely and in accordance with this Privacy Policy and no transfer of your Personal Data will take place to an organization or a country unless there are adequate controls in place including the security of your data and other personal information.
Disclosure of Data
Disclosure for Law Enforcement
Under certain circumstances, Okanagan Folk School may be required to disclose your Personal Data if required to do so by law or in response to valid requests by public authorities (e.g. a court or a government agency).
Legal Requirements
Okanagan Folk School may disclose your Personal Data in the good faith belief that such action is necessary to:
· To comply with a legal obligation
· To protect and defend the rights or property of Okanagan Folk School
· To prevent or investigate possible wrongdoing in connection with the Service
· To protect the personal safety of users of the Service or the public
· To protect against legal liability
Security of Data
The security of your data is important to us but remember that no method of transmission over the Internet, or method of electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect your Personal Data, we cannot guarantee its absolute security.
"Do Not Track" Signals
We do not support Do Not Track ("DNT"). Do Not Track is a preference you can set in your web browser to inform websites that you do not want to be tracked.
Service Providers
We may employ third party companies and individuals to facilitate our Service ("Service Providers"), to provide the Service on our behalf, to perform Service-related services or to assist us in analyzing how our Service is used.
These third parties have access to your Personal Data only to perform these tasks on our behalf and are obligated not to disclose or use it for any other purpose.
Mailing Lists
We may use third-party Service Providers to deliver physical and electronic mailings. You may opt out of any mailings at any time by contacting us.
MailChimp
MailChimp is a service used to deliver eNewsletters to subscribers. We only deliver eNewsletters to subscribers who have opted-in to receive them. You may opt-out at any time by contacting us or clicking the Unsubscribe link in the email. Their Privacy Policy can be viewed here: https://mailchimp.com/legal/privacy/
Analytics
We may use third-party Service Providers to monitor and analyze the use of our Service.
· Google Analytics
Google Analytics is a web analytics service offered by Google that tracks and reports website traffic. Google uses the data collected to track and monitor the use of our Service. This data is shared with other Google services. Google may use the collected data to contextualize and personalize the ads of its own advertising network.
You can opt-out of having made your activity on the Service available to Google Analytics by installing the Google Analytics opt-out browser add-on. The add-on prevents the Google Analytics JavaScript (ga.js, analytics.js, and dc.js) from sharing information with Google Analytics about visits activity.
For more information on the privacy practices of Google, please visit the Google Privacy & Terms web page: http://www.google.com/intl/en/policies/privacy/
Payments
We may provide paid products and/or services within the Service. In that case, we use third-party services for payment processing (e.g. payment processors).
We will not store or collect your payment card details unless you agree. That information is provided directly to our third-party payment processors whose use of your personal information is governed by their Privacy Policy. These payment processors adhere to the standards set by PCI-DSS as managed by the PCI Security Standards Council, which is a joint effort of brands like Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover. PCI-DSS requirements help ensure the secure handling of payment information.
The payment processors we work with are:
· Stripe - Their Privacy Policy can be viewed at https://stripe.com/us/privacy
· PayPal - Their Privacy Policy can be viewed at https://www.paypal.com/webapps/mpp/ua/privacy-full
Links to Other Sites
Our Service may contain links to other sites that are not operated by us. If you click on a third party link, you will be directed to that third party's site. We strongly advise you to review the Privacy Policy of every site you visit.
We have no control over and assume no responsibility for the content, privacy policies or practices of any third party sites or services.
Children's Privacy
Our Service does not address anyone under the age of 18 ("Children").
We do not knowingly collect personally identifiable information from anyone under the age of 18. If you are a parent or guardian and you are aware that your Children has provided us with Personal Data, please contact us. If we become aware that we have collected Personal Data from children without verification of parental consent, we take steps to remove that information from our servers.
Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update our Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any changes by posting the new Privacy Policy on this page.
You are advised to review this Privacy Policy periodically for any changes. Changes to this Privacy Policy are effective when they are posted on this page.
Contact Us
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact us:
· By email: info@okfolkschool.ca · By visiting this page on our website: https://okfolkschool.ca/contact/
· By phone number: 1-604-786-9908