Living in a strata means sharing some information with your neighbours and the strata council.
That can raise the issue of privacy, which is why the non-profit Vancouver Island Strata Owners Association is devoting a seminar this month to the topic.
The March 27 seminar on how privacy legislation affects a strata will help owners understand the Personal Information Protection Act which lays out what personal information may be collected and how it may be shared.
“The information shared can be wide ranging. It could include personal information such as your phone number, or strata information such as financial records, and even video footage from a security camera,” said Tony Davis, association president. “Stratas that do not follow this guidance can find themselves in serious legal trouble.”
Guest speakers include Justin Hodkinson, portfolio officer with the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner for B.C., and lawyer Shawn W. Smith.
They will explain how the act affects strata owners, and how to put into place information gathering procedures that comply with it.
The seminar will also feature a question and answer session. Strata owners can submit advance questions to info@visoa.bc.ca or 1-877-338-4762, mentioning “Nanaimo seminar” at the beginning of the message.
The seminar runs from 1-4 p.m. at the Nanaimo Yacht Club, 400 Newcastle Ave. Registration begins at 12:30 p.m.
There is no charge for association members; non-members pay $20. Memberships will be available at the door.
For more details, please call toll-free 1-877-338-4762 or visit www.visoa.bc.ca.