CICA Policies & Terms
1. Definitions
1.1 CICA / we / us / our means Calgary Iranian Community Association and its directors, officers, volunteers, employees, contractors, and agents.
1.2 Member means an individual/entity recorded as “Active” in CICA’s membership system.
1.3 Membership means an annual membership contribution (or fee) and associated privileges described on CICA’s website.
1.4 Website means yycica.org and any subdomains, pages, forms, member portals, and related online services operated by CICA.
1.5 Bazaar / Marketplace means CICA pages that promote or facilitate offers, orders, registrations, tickets, donations, and sales (whether CICA‑run or partner‑provided).
1.6 Programs include workshops, classes, initiatives, committees, volunteer activities, and any activity promoted or run by CICA.
1.7 Events include gatherings, celebrations, ticketed activities, program sessions, and activities hosted or co‑hosted by CICA.
1.8 Partner means a third party (business, professional, sponsor, venue, or organization) that provides an offer, service, product, or discount to Members or the public.
1.9 Offer means any discount, promotion, perk, coupon, voucher, or benefit displayed or communicated through CICA channels.
1.10 Consumer means a purchaser acting primarily for personal, family, or household purposes (as used in Alberta consumer protection law).
1.11 Digital Items include electronic tickets, QR codes, vouchers, downloadable items, and other non‑physical deliverables.
1.12 Volunteer means a person providing services without monetary compensation (other than reasonable expense reimbursement).
1.13 Minor means a person under 18 years of age.
1.14 You means any visitor, user, Member, purchaser, donor, registrant, participant, Volunteer, partner, or person interacting with CICA.
2. Scope and document priority
2.1 These Terms apply to your use of the Website and to Membership, Programs, Events, Offers, Bazaar purchases, tickets, and donations.
2.2 Additional terms may apply to a specific Event, Program, or product. If there is a conflict:
- Event/Product Specific Terms apply first for that Event/product;
- then these Policies & Terms;
- then CICA’s Privacy Policy for personal information matters.
2.3 Third‑party partners and venues may impose their own rules. You are responsible for reviewing and complying with them.
3. Incorporation status and governance alignment
3.1 CICA is incorporated under Alberta’s Societies Act and is operated on a not‑for‑profit basis for community purposes.
3.2 CICA’s bylaws govern internal governance (member meetings, voting mechanics, director elections, and internal processes). These Terms govern website use, online transactions, and public participation rules.
4. Acceptance of terms and electronic agreement
4.1 By accessing or using the Website, creating an account, purchasing Membership/tickets, donating, registering for an Event/Program, or redeeming an Offer, you agree to these Terms and incorporated policies.
4.2 Where a checkbox, click‑wrap, e‑signature, or similar electronic acceptance is used, you agree that it forms a valid signature/assent.
4.3 If you do not agree, do not use the Website or services.
5. Mission‑focused nature of membership
5.1 CICA is a volunteer‑driven community association. Membership contributions support mission activities, community programs, and operating costs.
5.2 No guaranteed services: Membership is not a purchase of guaranteed services, a minimum number of Events/Programs, or guaranteed savings/discounts. Communications about future programming are aspirational and informational, not contractual promises.
6. Membership types, eligibility, and verification
6.1 Membership categories and eligibility criteria are posted on the Website and may include Regular, Family/Household, Student/Youth, Senior, Newcomer, Supporter/Community Ally, and Partner.
6.2 You are responsible for choosing the correct category and remaining eligible during the term.
6.3 CICA may request reasonable proof of eligibility (for example, age bracket, student status, household address for family membership, newcomer timeframe). CICA will request and retain only what is reasonably necessary for verification.
6.4 Misrepresentation to obtain a lower‑fee membership is misuse and may result in suspension or termination under Clause 31 (with fair process).
7. Non‑transferable membership and household rules
7.1 Memberships are non‑transferable and may not be sold, assigned, or shared.
7.2 Family/Household memberships apply only to eligible household members living primarily at the same residence, as described on the Website.
7.3 Sharing accounts, QR tokens, or verification credentials is prohibited and may result in deactivation and re‑issuance.
8. Voting rights and member participation
8.1 Voting rights (if any) are determined by CICA bylaws and applicable law.
8.2 Minors: Persons under 18 generally do not vote unless bylaws and law explicitly permit; where voting eligibility depends on age, age‑of‑majority rules apply.
8.3 CICA may require reasonable identity verification to protect election integrity.
9. Member accounts, credentials, and security
9.1 You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your login credentials.
9.2 You must promptly notify CICA of suspected unauthorized access.
9.3 CICA may suspend accounts or require additional verification to prevent fraud and protect Members.
10. Fees, taxes, payments, and receipts
10.1 Prices are displayed in Canadian dollars unless stated otherwise.
10.2 You authorize CICA and its payment processors to charge the provided payment method for amounts accepted at checkout.
10.3 Payment processing is generally handled by third‑party processors. CICA does not intentionally store full credit card numbers.
10.4 You will receive an order confirmation/receipt by email or via your account (where available).
11. Renewals, upgrades, downgrades, and timing
11.1 Membership term begins on the activation date shown in your confirmation.
11.2 Renewal and upgrade options (including timing rules) will be shown at checkout and/or in member dashboards.
11.3 Unless expressly stated, CICA is not required to prorate or credit unused membership time, subject to Clause 12 (consumer law carve‑outs).
12. Non‑refundability, refunds, and consumer rights carve‑out
12.1 Membership contributions are generally non‑refundable once activated or renewed, including due to non‑participation, personal circumstances, or changes to programming.
12.2 Event tickets and products: refund/cancellation rules (if any) will be stated at checkout or on the relevant Event/product page.
12.3 Consumer rights (non‑waivable): Nothing in these Terms limits or waives consumer rights that cannot legally be excluded, including rights under Alberta consumer protection and internet sales rules where they apply.
12.4 CICA may provide discretionary refunds/credits in limited circumstances, without creating an ongoing obligation.
13. Chargebacks and payment disputes
13.1 If you believe a charge is incorrect, you must contact CICA first to attempt resolution.
13.2 If you initiate a chargeback without first contacting CICA, CICA may pause access to member‑only benefits while investigating.
13.3 You remain responsible for amounts legitimately owed and for actual processor fees charged to CICA where recoverable by law. CICA will not impose punitive “penalties” beyond what is lawful.
14. Donations, sponsorships, and fundraising disclosures
14.1 Donations support CICA’s mission. Donations are voluntary and do not typically provide goods/services in return, unless explicitly stated as a benefit/sponsorship package.
14.2 CICA cannot issue “official donation receipts” for income tax purposes. CICA may issue a standard acknowledgement/receipt for payment processing records.
14.3 Sponsorships/partner packages are marketing/benefit transactions and may be treated differently than donations.
15. Receipts and tax receipting
15.1 CICA will issue transaction confirmations and receipts suitable for your records.
15.2 If CICA becomes a registered charity, official receipting (if offered) will follow CRA rules and may be limited where an “advantage” was received (for example, gala benefits).
16. Offers and discounts
16.1 Offers depend on partner participation, eligibility, inventory, timing, and additional conditions. Offers may change or end without notice.
16.2 CICA does not guarantee any Offer will be available, honored, or produce a particular amount of savings.
16.3 Members are responsible for reviewing Offer details and partner terms before redemption.
17. Partner relationship and third‑party disclaimer
17.1 Partners and venues are independent third parties unless expressly stated. They are not CICA agents.
17.2 CICA may do basic due diligence, but does not guarantee partner legality, quality, licensing, safety, or suitability.
17.3 Disputes about partner services/products are generally between you and the partner.
18. Bazaar, tickets, and e‑commerce transactions
18.1 The Website may facilitate:
(a) CICA‑run transactions (memberships, CICA‑hosted tickets, certain merchandise/donations), and/or
(b) Partner transactions where CICA may advertise, refer, or collect payment on behalf of a partner.
18.2 Each listing should identify whether CICA or a partner is the supplier. Where unclear, contact CICA before purchase.
18.3 CICA may cancel transactions for fraud prevention, pricing errors, inventory constraints, safety/compliance, or other good‑faith reasons, and will provide appropriate refunds where required.
19. Internet sales contract compliance
19.1 For online sales covered by Alberta’s internet sales rules, CICA will provide required disclosures (supplier identity, contact information, description, pricing, delivery timelines, cancellation/refund terms) before you complete purchase.
19.2 CICA will provide you a copy/confirmation of the internet contract (order confirmation email and/or account receipt) within the legally required timeframe.
19.3 Where Alberta (or another jurisdiction’s) consumer cancellation rights apply, CICA will honor them. If multiple jurisdictions apply, the shortest mandatory limitation or strongest consumer protection may apply where legally required. Counsel Review for multi‑province transactions.
20. Digital items, coupons, and codes
20.1 Digital Items may be non‑refundable once issued or delivered, except where consumer law requires otherwise.
20.2 Codes may expire and may be voided if fraud or abuse is detected.
20.3 Lost codes may not be reissued if misuse is suspected.
21. Event and program participation rules
21.1 Events/Programs may impose additional rules such as age limits, code of conduct, venue policies, waivers, and safety requirements.
21.2 You must follow organizer instructions and treat others respectfully.
21.3 CICA may deny entry or remove participants for unsafe conduct, harassment, discrimination, intoxication/impairment, or policy violations. Fees may be forfeited where lawful and disclosed.
22. Assumption of risk and safety
22.1 Participation may involve physical activity, travel, food consumption, outdoor conditions, crowds, or other hazards. You participate voluntarily and assume inherent risks.
22.2 CICA may require an Event Waiver & Release as a condition of participation.
22.3 You are responsible for your own health readiness, medications, and any special needs disclosures you choose to make for safety planning.
23. Minors participation
23.1 Minors may participate only with a parent/guardian’s consent and any required supervision rules.
23.2 For youth activities, CICA may require: (a) a Minor Participation Consent & Assumption of Risk form, (b) emergency contact details, and (c) pickup/drop‑off authorization.
23.3 CICA does not represent that a parent/guardian signature fully releases CICA from claims by or on behalf of a Minor; safety controls and insurance remain essential.
24. Accessibility, inclusion, and human rights
24.1 CICA aims to be welcoming and inclusive. CICA will not unlawfully discriminate in services, membership access, or participation.
24.2 If you require accommodation for a protected‑ground need, you may request accommodation in advance; CICA will make reasonable efforts to accommodate up to undue hardship, considering safety, resources, and venue constraints.
24.3 Harassment or discrimination is prohibited and may result in removal or suspension.
25. Volunteers and committees
25.1 Volunteers must sign the Volunteer Agreement & Code of Conduct (below) before performing volunteer roles.
25.2 Some roles may require screening, reference checks, training, or credentials appropriate to the activity (especially youth‑facing roles).
25.3 Volunteers must act within the scope of assigned duties and follow safety and conduct instructions.
26. Harassment and violence prevention; OHS alignment
26.1 CICA commits to a safe environment. Harassment, bullying, threats, or violence are prohibited.
26.2 CICA may implement safety policies consistent with Alberta occupational health and safety expectations, including reporting channels and incident response.
27. Safeguarding and mandatory reporting
27.1 CICA volunteers and leaders must prioritize the safety of children and vulnerable persons in CICA settings.
27.2 If any person has reasonable grounds to believe a child is in need of intervention, they must follow Alberta mandatory reporting requirements and notify appropriate authorities.
28. Communications and CASL compliance
28.1 CICA may send administrative messages (membership confirmations, receipts, policy changes, event logistics).
28.2 Marketing messages (promotions, partner offers) will be sent in compliance with Canada’s anti‑spam law, including consent and an unsubscribe mechanism.
28.3 You can unsubscribe from marketing at any time. Administrative messages may still be sent where necessary.
29. Privacy and data practices
29.1 CICA collects, uses, and discloses personal information in accordance with its published Privacy Policy.
29.2 CICA will take reasonable safeguards and will follow breach‑notification obligations where required by law.
29.3 Where member status verification is required for offers, CICA may disclose limited status information (e.g., Active/Inactive) to support verification.
29.4 Photo/video handling is governed by the Photo/Media Consent form and event notices.
30. Intellectual property and user content
30.1 CICA’s logos, text, designs, and layouts are owned by CICA or used with permission.
30.2 You may not copy, reproduce, or distribute CICA content without written consent except as permitted by law.
30.3 If you submit content (reviews, comments, photos) you grant CICA a non‑exclusive right to use it for CICA operations and communications, subject to privacy and consent rules.
31. Prohibited uses and enforcement
31.1 Prohibited conduct includes misrepresentation, credential sharing, fraud, theft, harassment, discrimination, illegal activity, spam, malware, scraping, or interference with Website operations.
31.2 CICA may suspend accounts, revoke benefits, cancel transactions, or terminate membership where it reasonably believes misuse or harmful conduct occurred, using fair process where practicable.
32. Disclaimers and force majeure
32.1 To the maximum extent permitted by law, the Website and services are provided “as is” and “as available,” without warranties.
32.2 CICA is not responsible for delays or failures caused by events beyond reasonable control (weather, emergencies, pandemics, outages, venue closures, partner cancellations).
32.3 This clause does not limit rights that cannot be excluded under applicable law.
33. Limitation of liability
33.1 To the maximum extent permitted by law, CICA is not liable for indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages (loss of data, profits, goodwill, opportunity).
33.2 Where liability cannot legally be excluded, CICA’s aggregate liability for claims related to Website transactions, membership fees paid to CICA, or CICA‑run ticketing is limited to the greater of: (a) amounts paid to CICA in the 12 months before the claim, or (b) $100 CAD—unless a higher amount is required by law or the limitation is unenforceable in the circumstances.
33.3 This clause does not exclude liability for fraud or willful misconduct, and does not limit non‑waivable statutory rights.
34. Indemnity, disputes, governing law, and general provisions
34.1 You agree to indemnify and hold harmless CICA from claims, losses, liabilities, and expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising from your breach of these Terms, unlawful acts, misuse/fraud, or misconduct in CICA spaces, except to the extent caused by CICA’s own willful misconduct or other non‑excludable fault.
34.2 Suspension/termination: CICA may refuse service, suspend access, or terminate membership where permitted by law and consistent with bylaws and fair process.
34.3 Governing law: These Terms are governed by Alberta law and applicable Canadian federal law.
34.4 Severability: If any provision is unenforceable, the remainder remains in effect.
34.5 No waiver: Failure to enforce is not a waiver.
34.6 Entire agreement: These Terms and referenced policies form the entire agreement on their subject matter.
34.7 Contact: Questions should be directed to: info@yycica.org (or updated contact details on the Website).
34.8 Versioning: CICA may update these Terms by posting a revised version and updating the effective date; continued use constitutes acceptance.
