Canada's Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL)

Canada’s Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL) came into effect on July 1, 2014. Under the legislation, anyone (including teachers, principals, office staff, etc.) who sends an electronic message that encourages participation in a commercial activity must do the following:

  1. Obtain the consent of the recipient
  2. Provide identification information about the sender
  3. Provide an unsubscribe option so recipients can remove themselves from the list


What is a commercial electronic message?

A commercial electronic message is a message sent to an electronic address that encourages participation in a commercial activity. Examples of electronic messages include emails, text messages, instant messages, telephone messages or direct messages on social media (e.g. Facebook or Twitter). 

Messages are considered commercial when they have to do with the purchase of a good or service. Examples of commercial electronic messages you might receive from your school include messages about:

  • Fundraising events
  • Yearbook sales
  • Sale of student photos
  • Information about purchasing team uniforms
  • School newsletters that contain commercial information

What does this mean for parents and guardians?

We want to keep parents and guardians informed about what is happening at schools across the District. Email and other electronic messages are often the best method to stay in touch.

Electronic messages sent for informational purposes, like student progress or information nights, will continue to be sent as they are not considered commercial in nature.

If you would like to continue receiving messages of a commercial nature, parents/guardians can provide consent during our online registration process or as part of the School Messenger (the District's notification system).

Please contact the student's school if you have any further questions or concerns relating to CASL.