The Building Blocks BEACON Program is a private-sector safety and security solution. Building Blocks was established as a for profit corporation with a vision of a world-class downtown waterfront and prosperity for all. The BEACON Program provides proactive safety and security in North Bay’s downtown waterfront area. The triage for any incident that Building Blocks responds to will include Coordinated Access Nipissing access points for non-enforcement responses.

The Building Blocks BEACON Program may also assist and inform the city, emergency services, and public transit of potential serious or emergency events as well as reports of other crime related. Camera footage is substantially intended to improve the health, wellbeing, and safety of the downtown waterfront community. In the same spirit, BEACON may also aid other agencies.

Code of Practice Statement

Building Blocks owns, installs, and operates the Building Blocks BEACON Program within the identified location areas in collaboration with partner businesses and organizations with access to the camera images through a centralized operations point. The Building Blocks BEACON Program cameras are owned and operated by Building Blocks or integrated within existing camera networks of partner businesses or organizations. Camera feeds are locally stored on a network of Network Adjacent Storage (NAS) with customizable alerts and notifications.

It is the practice of the Building Blocks to utilize the Building Blocks BEACON Program for the safety, health, and wellbeing of the North Bay downtown waterfront community. The Building Blocks BEACON Program collects anonymous information on a transitory basis and does not store identifiable personal information or identifiable vehicle data.

It is not Building Block’s intent to collect personal information through the monitoring of the North Bay downtown waterfront streets, sidewalks, or public space network. However, in a circumstance where collection of personal information does occur, such information will only be used or disclosed in accordance with this policy.

As a corporation, collection, use, and disclosure of personal information is not typically subject to the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario’s Guidelines for the Use of Video Surveillance inform public institutions of their key obligations under the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, and its provincial counterpart, FIPPA. However, as a community organization responsible to the community it serves, Building Blocks will comply with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada’s Guidelines for Overt Video Surveillance in the Private Sector.

Building Blocks Privacy Principles

Building Blocks values privacy and confidentiality as part of its efforts to promote dignity to all. Every person, no matter their position, status, or vulnerability, should be treated in a way that preserves and enhances – rather than undermines – their dignity and self- respect. Privacy and confidentiality are crucial elements of the work undertaken by the Building Blocks and the relationship-building efforts that support these efforts.