Cookies Policy

1. What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files placed on your device by websites you visit. They are used to remember information about your visit. Local storage is a similar browser mechanism that allows websites to store data locally on your device. Neither cookies nor local storage data are accessible by other websites.

2. How VancouverBay Uses Cookies and Local Storage

VancouverBay uses a minimal cookie and local storage approach. We do not use advertising cookies, tracking cookies, or social media cookies.

3. Essential Local Storage

We use two local storage keys that are strictly necessary for the platform to function:

• vb_age_ok — Stores the value “1” when you confirm you are 18 or older. This prevents the age gate from appearing on every page visit. This value is never transmitted to our servers.
• vb_cookie_ok — Stores the value “1” when you accept the cookie banner. Without this, the banner would appear on every page. This value is never transmitted to our servers.

These local storage entries do not expire automatically. They persist until you clear your browser data.

4. Analytics Cookies (Consent Required)

If you accept our cookie banner, we may activate limited Google Analytics tracking to understand how visitors use the platform in aggregate. This data is anonymous and is used only to improve platform performance and content. Google Analytics may set the following cookies:

• _ga — Distinguishes users. Expires after 2 years.
• _ga_[ID] — Maintains session state. Expires after 2 years.

If you do not accept cookies, these analytics cookies are not activated. Our Google Tag Manager configuration uses the consent mode API, and the GCM default consent state sets analytics_storage to “denied” until you provide consent.

5. No Advertising or Tracking Cookies

VancouverBay does not use:

• Facebook Pixel or any Meta tracking;
• Google Ads conversion tracking;
• Affiliate tracking cookies;
• Social media share buttons that set cookies;
• Cross-site tracking of any kind.

6. Third-Party Services

We load fonts from Google Fonts and the Bootstrap CSS library from cdnjs.cloudflare.com. These services may log your IP address as part of serving the files, but they do not set persistent cookies on our behalf.

7. How to Control Cookies

You can control cookies through your browser settings. All major browsers allow you to:

• View what cookies are stored;
• Delete cookies individually or all at once;
• Block cookies from specific sites or all sites;
• Clear local storage data.

If you clear the VancouverBay local storage entries, the age gate and cookie banner will reappear on your next visit. This is expected behaviour.

Note: blocking essential local storage may prevent parts of the platform from functioning correctly.

8. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Cookies Policy. When we do, we will update the “last updated” date. Continued use of VancouverBay after changes constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.

9. Contact

Questions about cookies: [email protected] · 1850 Marine Drive, Vancouver, BC V6R 1E8, Canada.