Cookies Policy

Last updated: September 24, 2026.

What Cookies and Similar Technologies Are

Cookies are small text files placed on your device when you visit a website. They allow the site to remember actions and preferences over time. Similar technologies include web beacons and local storage that can store or access information on your browser or device. On this site these files may contain details such as a unique identifier, the pages viewed, or the time spent on certain sections. They do not contain personal information unless you have supplied it through a form.

Why the Site Uses These Technologies

starpathza.net operates a non-commercial informational website focused on visual documentation of Canadian street life. Cookies help maintain basic functionality, measure aggregate visitor patterns, and ensure the site remains accessible across different devices. Without them certain features would stop working correctly and we would lose the ability to understand how content about neighborhoods and communities is being accessed.

Categories of Cookies in Use

The site distinguishes between strictly necessary cookies that enable core navigation, functional cookies that remember display preferences, analytics or performance cookies that track general usage statistics, advertising or targeting cookies that would personalize content if any were present, and social-media cookies that could connect to external platforms. At present only the first three categories are active because the site does not run advertisements or embed social sharing tools.

First-Party versus Third-Party Cookies

First-party cookies are set directly by starpathza.net and stay within the same domain. Third-party cookies come from external service providers such as analytics platforms. The site currently relies on a limited number of first-party cookies for session management and may receive third-party cookies only when an analytics provider processes aggregate traffic data. No third-party advertising networks are engaged.

Session versus Persistent Cookies and Retention Periods

Session cookies exist only while your browser is open and disappear once you close it. Persistent cookies remain on your device for a defined period or until you delete them manually. Necessary session cookies on this site typically last for the duration of a single visit. Functional and analytics persistent cookies may remain for up to twenty-four months to allow consistent measurement of long-term visitor trends across Canadian regions.

Data Handled and Specific Purposes of Each Category

Strictly necessary cookies store a session identifier so the server can deliver the correct page content. Functional cookies record language or accessibility settings if chosen. Analytics cookies collect information about pages visited, time spent viewing photo essays on street communities, and general geographic region at country level. This information helps improve navigation and content relevance without identifying individual visitors.

Legal Basis for Each Category under Canadian Law

Under the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) and related provincial legislation, consent is required for the collection of personal information. Strictly necessary cookies operate under the exemption for essential service delivery. Analytics and functional cookies rely on implied consent obtained through the site-wide cookie banner. Visitors may withdraw consent at any time by adjusting their choices in the banner or through browser settings. The site does not use cookies for secondary marketing purposes.

How the Consent Manager Works and How to Change Choices

The cookie banner appears on first visit and allows selection of functional and analytics categories. Once choices are saved they are stored in a first-party cookie that remembers the preference. To review or alter selections, return to the banner controls or clear the site data through your browser. Withdrawing consent for analytics will stop future collection but will not retroactively delete already aggregated statistics.

Browser-Level Controls and Consequences of Disabling Cookies

Most browsers allow blocking or deletion of cookies through privacy settings. Disabling necessary cookies will prevent the site from functioning properly, including loss of session continuity when navigating between pages about different Canadian neighborhoods. Disabling analytics cookies will not affect core content access but will reduce our ability to identify which street-life topics interest readers most.

International Transfers and Cross-Reference to the Privacy Policy

Some analytics providers may process data on servers located outside Canada. In such cases appropriate safeguards consistent with PIPEDA are applied. For further details on data handling practices please consult the Privacy Policy page available on this site.

Policy Changes and How to Contact Us

starpathza.net may update this Cookies Policy to reflect changes in technology or regulation. The current version will always be posted with a revised date. Questions regarding cookie practices can be directed using the contact form on the Contacts page or by calling 613-990-1985. Written correspondence may be sent to 380 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 9N4, Canada. © 2026 starpathza.net