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Terms and Conditions

Terms and Conditions

Effective date: August 3, 2026
Last updated: August 3, 2026

1. Welcome to OsoyoosConnect

OsoyoosConnect is an independently operated community social network available at osoyoosconnect.ca. It gives people a local place to share information, discuss community issues, post photographs, join groups, organize events, ask for help and connect with neighbours.

The site is operated by OsoyoosConnect, operating as OsoyoosConnect. In these Terms, “OsoyoosConnect,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to the site and its operator.

OsoyoosConnect is not operated by, affiliated with or endorsed by the Town of Osoyoos, Meta, Facebook or the developers of the open-source software used to run the site.

By creating an account or using OsoyoosConnect, you agree to these Terms, our Privacy Policy and our Community Guidelines. If you do not agree, please do not create an account or use the site.

2. Who May Use OsoyoosConnect

You must be at least 16 years old to create or use an account. By registering, you confirm that you are 16 or older and legally able to agree to these Terms.

We may ask for reasonable information to confirm your age or identity. We may suspend an account while completing that check.

You may only create accounts that genuinely belong to you unless we have approved an account for an organization, community group or local business. You must provide accurate registration information and must not impersonate another person or organization.

OsoyoosConnect is intended primarily for Osoyoos and nearby South Okanagan communities. You do not have to live in Osoyoos unless a particular group requires it, but posts and groups may be required to have a genuine local connection.

3. Your Account and Security

You are responsible for activity under your account and for keeping your password confidential.

Tell us promptly at submit AT osoyoosconnect DOT ca if you believe someone has accessed your account without permission.

You must not sell, transfer, share or lend your account to another person.

We may require email confirmation before activating an account and may limit certain features until an account has been verified.

We may reject or change usernames, profile names or account information that are deceptive, abusive, unlawful or likely to create confusion.

4. Community Conduct

OsoyoosConnect is meant to feel like a shared front porch. Disagreement is allowed. Intimidation and abuse are not.

You must follow our Community Guidelines. You must not use OsoyoosConnect to:

  • Threaten, harass, stalk, bully, intimidate or deliberately humiliate another person.

  • Promote hatred or violence against a person or group based on a protected characteristic.

  • Publish another person’s home address, private messages, sensitive photographs or other private information without permission or a lawful reason.

  • Sexually exploit or endanger a minor, request sexual material from a minor, or publish intimate images without consent.

  • Commit fraud, run a scam, misrepresent goods or services, manipulate engagement, send spam or distribute malware.

  • Impersonate another person, create coordinated fake accounts or knowingly spread false information in a way likely to cause harm.

  • Infringe copyright, trademark, privacy or other legal rights.

  • Interfere with the operation or security of the site.

  • Scrape or collect site information using automated tools without written permission.

  • Bypass access controls, distribute malicious software or overload the site.

  • Encourage, organize or assist unlawful conduct.

  • Use the site in any other way that violates the law or creates a serious risk to another person, the community or OsoyoosConnect.

Context matters. Lawful criticism of public decisions, elected officials, businesses, public figures and community organizations is permitted. We will not remove something merely because it is unpopular, blunt or critical.

5. Local Businesses and Commercial Posts

Local businesses are welcome to participate in community conversations and answer genuine questions or requests for recommendations.

Advertising, repeated promotions, sales offers, discount codes and other primarily commercial posts are only allowed in groups or areas specifically designated for business promotion.

We may remove or relocate commercial content posted elsewhere. We may also limit repetitive promotions or suspend accounts that disguise advertising as an independent customer recommendation.

Anyone recommending a business, service or product should disclose any personal, financial or employment connection that might affect the recommendation.

Paying for a service, making a donation or otherwise supporting OsoyoosConnect does not purchase favourable moderation or additional reach.

6. What You Post

You keep ownership of the original content you post. You are responsible for that content and confirm that you have the rights and permissions needed to publish it.

To operate OsoyoosConnect, you give us a non-exclusive, worldwide and royalty-free licence to host, store, reproduce, format, resize, display, distribute and otherwise process your content through the site.

This permission is limited to operating, securing, moderating, maintaining, improving and promoting OsoyoosConnect. It allows us to show your content to the audience selected through the site’s available privacy and group settings. It also covers technical copies, backups, previews and thumbnails.

This permission normally ends when your content is deleted from our active systems. Copies may remain temporarily in backups or where:

  • Another user shared or copied the content before it was deleted.

  • We must retain it for legal or safety reasons.

  • It forms part of a record needed to investigate misuse or resolve a dispute.

Do not assume that something will remain private simply because it is posted in a limited group. Other users may copy, screenshot or redistribute it. Think carefully before posting personal, financial, medical or location information.

7. Moderation

We may review reports and content, but we cannot promise to monitor everything posted on OsoyoosConnect.

Depending on the circumstances, we may:

  • Leave content in place.

  • Add context or a warning.

  • Move content to a more suitable group.

  • Limit its visibility.

  • Lock comments.

  • Remove content.

  • Preserve content as evidence.

  • Warn or restrict a member.

  • Temporarily suspend an account.

  • Permanently close an account.

We may take these steps when we reasonably believe they are necessary to enforce these Terms, protect people or the site, comply with the law, or respond to a credible safety or security risk.

Moderation requires judgment. Two situations that appear similar may involve different evidence, context or risks.

We may act without advance warning in urgent or serious cases. Where practical, we may explain a decision and allow the affected member to request another review. We are not required to offer an appeal in every case.

If you see an immediate threat or emergency, contact 911 or the appropriate emergency service. A report submitted through OsoyoosConnect is not an emergency response.

8. Groups and Events

Group administrators and event organizers are users. They are not employees, agents or official representatives of OsoyoosConnect.

Group administrators may create additional rules for their groups as long as those rules do not conflict with these Terms or our Community Guidelines.

Statements and decisions made by group administrators or event organizers do not necessarily represent OsoyoosConnect.

9. Listings, Recommendations and Transactions

Listings, recommendations, job opportunities, rentals, volunteer positions, event details and marketplace posts are provided by users.

OsoyoosConnect does not verify every:

  • User identity.

  • Product or service.

  • Business licence.

  • Professional qualification.

  • Price.

  • Rental listing.

  • Job opportunity.

  • Safety or performance claim.

  • Event description.

Transactions are strictly between the people involved. Inspect items carefully, verify credentials, meet in safe public places and never send money or sensitive information merely because someone has an OsoyoosConnect account.

OsoyoosConnect is not a party to transactions between users and does not handle warranties, returns, employment disputes, tenancy disputes, payment disputes or contracts between members.

10. Copyright and Other Complaints

You may only post material you created or have permission or a legal right to use.

If you believe something on OsoyoosConnect infringes your copyright, privacy or other legal rights, contact us at submit AT osoyoosconnect DOT ca.

Your notice should include:

  • Your name and contact information.

  • A description of the protected work or legal right.

  • The exact location of the material on OsoyoosConnect.

  • An explanation of why you believe it violates your rights.

  • A statement that the information in your complaint is accurate.

We may request more information, preserve relevant records, restrict the material, notify the person who posted it or take other appropriate action.

Do not knowingly make a false complaint. The complaint process must not be used to suppress lawful criticism or an honest difference of opinion.

11. Privacy

Our Privacy Policy explains:

  • What personal information we collect.

  • Why we collect it.

  • How it is used.

  • Where it may be processed or stored.

  • When it may be disclosed.

  • How long it may be retained.

  • How you can request access or correction.

Operating a social network necessarily involves processing account information, technical records and content submitted by members. This processing remains subject to applicable privacy law and our Privacy Policy.

12. Open-Source Software

OsoyoosConnect uses open-source software. The licences applying to that software continue to govern the software.

The fact that our software is open source does not make members’ posts, photographs, private information, messages or other content free for the public to take or reuse.

It also does not place the OsoyoosConnect name, logo, original design elements or locally created materials into the public domain.

Except for user content and third-party or open-source material, the original content, branding and organization of OsoyoosConnect belong to us or our licensors.

You may not use the OsoyoosConnect name, logo or branding in a way that falsely suggests affiliation, approval or endorsement.

13. Site Availability

We may change, suspend or discontinue any feature or the entire site.

We do not promise:

  • Uninterrupted availability.

  • Permanent storage of content.

  • That every feature will always remain available.

  • That the site will work with every browser or device.

  • That the site will always be free from defects or security incidents.

Keep your own copy of anything important. Maintenance, software problems, Internet failures, security incidents and circumstances beyond our reasonable control may cause outages or data loss.

14. Disclaimers

OsoyoosConnect is provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis to the fullest extent permitted by law.

We do not guarantee that:

  • User content is accurate, complete, safe or lawful.

  • The site will be uninterrupted, secure or error-free.

  • Every user is who they claim to be.

  • Every business, listing, event, product, service or opportunity is trustworthy or suitable for you.

Information posted on OsoyoosConnect is general community information. It is not professional medical, legal, financial, emergency or public-safety advice.

Always verify important information with the appropriate official source or qualified professional.

Nothing in these Terms removes a warranty, legal right or remedy that cannot lawfully be excluded.

15. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, OsoyoosConnect, its legal operator, volunteers, moderators, contractors and service providers will not be liable for indirect, incidental, special, consequential, exemplary or punitive damages arising from or connected with:

  • Use of or inability to use the site.

  • User content or conduct.

  • Transactions or disagreements between users.

  • Loss of data, reputation, opportunity, revenue or profit.

  • Unauthorized access to an account.

  • Reliance on information posted by another user.

Where liability cannot legally be excluded, our total liability for all claims connected with OsoyoosConnect will not exceed the greater of:

  • The amount you paid directly to OsoyoosConnect during the 12 months before the event giving rise to the claim; or

  • CAD $100.

This limitation does not apply where the law does not allow liability to be limited, including liability arising from our fraud or deliberate misconduct.

16. Your Responsibility for Claims

To the extent permitted by law, you agree to reimburse OsoyoosConnect for reasonable losses, liabilities, costs and legal expenses arising from a third-party claim caused by:

  • Content you unlawfully posted.

  • Your serious breach of these Terms.

  • Your misuse of the site.

We will give you reasonable notice of the claim. You will not be responsible for losses caused by our own negligence, fraud or deliberate misconduct.

17. Closing or Suspending an Account

You may stop using OsoyoosConnect and request account closure by contacting submit AT osoyoosconnect DOT ca

Closing your account may not automatically erase:

  • Content another user shared or copied.

  • Records we are legally required to retain.

  • Evidence connected with a moderation or safety investigation.

  • Limited backup copies that will be removed through the normal backup cycle.

We may suspend or close an account because of:

  • A serious or repeated breach of these Terms.

  • A security threat.

  • A credible risk of harm.

  • A legal requirement.

  • Prolonged inactivity.

  • Discontinuation of OsoyoosConnect.

Terms concerning ownership, retained content, disclaimers, liability and disputes continue to apply where reasonably necessary after an account closes.

18. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms as OsoyoosConnect, the law or the needs of the community change.

We will publish the revised Terms and update the “Last updated” date.

If a change materially affects your rights or responsibilities, we will provide reasonable notice through the site, by email or both before it takes effect. An urgent legal or security issue may require a change to take effect more quickly.

Continuing to use OsoyoosConnect after revised Terms take effect means you accept the updated Terms.

19. Governing Law and Disputes

These Terms are governed by the laws of British Columbia and the federal laws of Canada that apply in British Columbia.

Subject to any rights you have under mandatory consumer or other laws, disputes connected with OsoyoosConnect or these Terms will be handled by the courts of British Columbia.

Before starting a legal claim, you and OsoyoosConnect will each make a reasonable effort to resolve the matter through written communication.

This does not prevent either party from seeking urgent legal protection or contacting a court, tribunal, regulator, law-enforcement agency or emergency service where appropriate.

20. General Terms

If part of these Terms is found to be invalid or unenforceable, that part will be limited or removed only to the extent necessary. The remainder will continue in effect.

If we do not enforce a term on one occasion, that does not mean we have permanently waived it.

You may not transfer your account or your rights under these Terms to another person without our written permission.

These Terms, our Privacy Policy, our Community Guidelines and any specific rules shown for a group or feature form the complete agreement governing your use of OsoyoosConnect.

If a group rule conflicts with these Terms, these Terms control.