Terms of Service

1. Acceptance of terms

By accessing or using ottawa-local.ca (the "Site"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms"). If you do not agree to these Terms, please do not use the Site.

These Terms constitute a legal agreement between you and OttawaLocal ("we," "us," or "our"), a business directory operating in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

2. Use of the site

You may use the Site for lawful purposes only. You agree not to:

• Submit false, misleading, or fraudulent business information
• Impersonate any person, business, or organization
• Use automated tools to scrape, crawl, or collect data from the Site without our written permission
• Attempt to interfere with or disrupt the Site's operation
• Submit spam, unsolicited commercial messages, or irrelevant content
• Post content that is defamatory, harassing, obscene, or otherwise unlawful
• Use the Site in any way that violates applicable Canadian federal or provincial laws

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate access for any user who violates these Terms.

3. Business listings

Free listings: Any Ottawa-area business may submit a free listing through our submission form. By submitting a listing, you represent that:

• You are authorized to submit information on behalf of the business
• All information provided is accurate, current, and complete to the best of your knowledge
• The business is a legitimate operating entity serving customers in the National Capital Region

Our editorial rights: We reserve the right to review, edit, reject, or remove any listing at our sole discretion. Submission of a listing does not guarantee publication. We may correct inaccurate information, recategorize listings, or remove businesses that cease operating.

Accuracy: While we make reasonable efforts to ensure the accuracy of listings, we cannot guarantee that all information is current or complete. Business hours, phone numbers, and other details may change. We encourage users to verify information directly with businesses before visiting.

Ratings: Ratings displayed on listings are for informational purposes only and may be sourced from third-party platforms. We do not manufacture, alter, or sell ratings. OttawaLocal does not currently operate a user review system — ratings shown are indicative only.

4. Advertiser terms

Businesses that purchase advertising (Featured Listings, Banner Ads) agree to the following:

• Advertising fees are billed monthly and are non-refundable once the billing period has begun
• Advertisers may not use their placement to promote illegal products or services
• We reserve the right to refuse or remove advertising that violates our editorial standards or applicable law
• Payment for advertising does not alter the content of a business's directory listing — listings are edited by us, not by advertisers
• Advertising arrangements are governed by the specific agreement made at time of purchase

For advertising inquiries, contact us at hello@ottawa-local.ca or see our Advertise page.

5. Intellectual property

The OttawaLocal name, logo, website design, and original written content are owned by OttawaLocal and may not be reproduced, distributed, or used without our express written permission.

Business names, logos, and descriptions submitted by business owners remain the property of their respective owners. By submitting a listing, you grant OttawaLocal a non-exclusive, royalty-free licence to display that content on the Site and in related promotional materials.

If you believe any content on the Site infringes your intellectual property rights, please contact us at hello@ottawa-local.ca with details of the alleged infringement.

6. Disclaimers

The Site and its contents are provided "as is" without warranties of any kind, express or implied. We do not warrant that:

• The Site will be available at all times or free from errors
• Business listings are complete, accurate, or current
• Any business listed on the Site meets any particular standard of quality or service

OttawaLocal is a directory service only. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or responsible for any business listed on the Site. Your dealings with businesses found through OttawaLocal are entirely between you and that business.

7. Limitation of liability

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable Canadian law, OttawaLocal shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages arising from your use of the Site or your reliance on any listing or information found on the Site.

Our total liability to you for any claim arising from your use of the Site shall not exceed $100 CAD.

8. Governing law

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Province of Ontario and the federal laws of Canada applicable therein, without regard to conflict of law principles.

Any dispute arising from these Terms or your use of the Site shall be resolved in the courts of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, and you consent to the jurisdiction of those courts.

9. Changes to these terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. When we make material changes, we will update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page. Your continued use of the Site after any changes constitutes your acceptance of the updated Terms.

We encourage you to review this page periodically to stay informed of any updates.

10. Contact

If you have any questions about these Terms, please contact us: