Cookie Policy
This Cookie Policy explains how the Ontario Association of Orthodontists (“OAO”) uses cookies and similar technologies on oao.on.ca, and how you can control them. It should be read together with our Privacy Policy.
Effective date: October 30, 2026
What cookies are
Cookies are small text files that a website stores in your browser. They let the site remember things, such as that you are signed in or what is in your cart, and help us understand how the site is used. Some cookies are set by us (first-party cookies) and some by services we use (third-party cookies).
Cookies we use
We do not use advertising or marketing cookies, and we do not sell information collected through cookies.
Essential cookies
These cookies are needed for the site to work, so they cannot be switched off on our site. They are set only when you use the feature they support.
| Cookie | Set by | Purpose | Lasts |
|---|---|---|---|
wordpress_logged_in_*, wordpress_sec_*, wordpress_test_cookie |
OAO (WordPress) | Keep members signed in to the members area and protect their session. | Until you close your browser, or 14 days if you choose to stay signed in |
| Member Portal sign-in state | OAO (Member Portal sign-in) | Securely completes sign-in through our membership platform. | 15 minutes |
tec-tickets-commerce-cart |
OAO (event tickets) | Remembers the tickets in your cart during checkout. | 1 hour |
__stripe_mid, __stripe_sid |
Stripe | Processes event ticket payments and helps prevent fraud on the checkout page. | Up to 1 year |
__cf_bm and similar |
Cloudflare | Protects the site from automated abuse and keeps it running securely. | Up to 30 minutes |
Analytics cookies
We use Google Analytics to understand, in aggregate, how visitors use the site, for example which pages are visited most, so we can improve it. Google Analytics does not tell us who you are, and it does not run for signed-in site editors.
| Cookie | Set by | Purpose | Lasts |
|---|---|---|---|
_ga, _ga_* |
Google Analytics | Distinguish visitors and sessions to produce aggregate usage statistics. | Up to 2 years |
Analytics data is kept in Google Analytics for no more than fourteen (14) months. Google’s use of this information is described in the Google partner sites policy.
Google Maps
The Find an OAO Orthodontist map and address search are provided by Google Maps. When you use them, Google receives your IP address and the search you enter, and may set its own cookies. Google’s use of this information is governed by the Google Privacy Policy. If you choose to share your device’s location to find nearby orthodontists, your browser will ask your permission first; we use your location only for that search and do not store it.
Your choices
- Browser settings. Most browsers let you block or delete cookies. Blocking essential cookies will stop you from signing in to the members area or buying event tickets. Help is available for Chrome, Firefox, Safari and Edge.
- Opt out of analytics. You can stop Google Analytics from collecting information about your visits with the Google Analytics opt-out browser add-on.
Changes to this policy
We may update this policy when the cookies we use change. The current version will always be posted on this page with its effective date.
Contact us
Questions about our use of cookies can be sent to our Privacy Officer, Anthony Nijmeh, at [email protected], or to Ontario Association of Orthodontists, 1370 Don Mills Rd., Suite 201, Toronto, Ontario M3B 3N7.
Related: Privacy Policy · Terms of Use