Terms of Service

1. Acceptance of Terms

Welcome to Sparkle Shining Public Speaking Training. These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your use of our website at sparklshinning.com and our training services. By accessing our website or engaging our services, you agree to be bound by these Terms.

If you do not agree with any part of these Terms, you must not use our website or services.

2. About Our Services

Sparkle Shining Public Speaking Training provides professional communication and public speaking training services, including:

• Individual coaching sessions
• Group workshops and seminars
• Corporate training programs
• Online courses and resources
• Educational content and blog articles

All services are provided in accordance with these Terms and any specific service agreements.

3. Eligibility and Registration

3.1 Age Requirements

You must be at least 18 years old to use our services independently. Minors may participate with parental or guardian consent and supervision.

3.2 Account Registration

When creating an account or booking services, you agree to:

• Provide accurate, current, and complete information
• Maintain the security of your account credentials
• Accept responsibility for all activities under your account
• Notify us immediately of any unauthorized use

3.3 Business Clients

If you are entering into these Terms on behalf of a company or organization, you represent that you have the authority to bind that entity to these Terms.

4. Service Bookings and Payments

4.1 Service Agreements

All training services are subject to:

• Availability and scheduling confirmation
• Specific terms outlined in service agreements
• Payment of applicable fees
• Compliance with our policies and procedures

4.2 Pricing and Payment

Service fees are as quoted and confirmed in writing. Payment terms include:

• Fees due upon booking or as specified in agreements
• All prices are in Canadian dollars unless otherwise stated
• Applicable taxes will be added to invoices
• Late payment may result in service suspension

4.3 Refund Policy

Refunds are subject to the following conditions:

• Individual Sessions: 48-hour cancellation notice required for full refund
• Group Workshops: 7-day cancellation notice required
• Corporate Programs: Refund terms specified in individual contracts
• Emergency Cancellations: Considered on a case-by-case basis

5. User Responsibilities and Conduct

5.1 Participation Requirements

Participants agree to:

• Attend scheduled sessions punctually and prepared
• Engage respectfully with trainers and other participants
• Complete assignments and exercises as requested
• Provide feedback constructively and professionally

5.2 Prohibited Conduct

You agree not to:

• Record, reproduce, or distribute training materials without written permission
• Engage in discriminatory, harassing, or disruptive behavior
• Share confidential information about other participants
• Use our services for any illegal or unauthorized purpose
• Attempt to access restricted areas of our systems

5.3 Confidentiality

Training sessions may involve sharing personal or professional information. All participants agree to maintain confidentiality regarding other participants' shared information.

6. Intellectual Property Rights

6.1 Our Content

All training materials, methodologies, content, and intellectual property remain the exclusive property of Sparkle Shining Public Speaking Training. This includes:

• Training curricula and exercises
• Proprietary methodologies and frameworks
• Handouts, presentations, and digital resources
• Website content, including blog articles
• Trademarks, logos, and brand elements

6.2 Limited License

We grant you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable license to use our materials solely for personal or internal business development purposes. You may not:

• Reproduce materials for commercial distribution
• Modify or create derivative works
• Remove copyright or proprietary notices
• Reverse engineer proprietary methodologies

6.3 Your Content

You retain ownership of any content you create or share during training. By participating, you grant us permission to use anonymized examples or case studies for educational purposes, with your explicit consent.

7. Privacy and Data Protection

Your privacy is important to us. Our collection, use, and protection of your personal information is governed by our Privacy Policy, which is incorporated by reference into these Terms.

By using our services, you consent to the collection and use of your information as described in our Privacy Policy.

8. Disclaimers and Limitations

8.1 Training Results

While we are committed to providing high-quality training, we cannot guarantee specific outcomes or results. Your progress depends on factors including:

• Individual effort and practice
• Natural abilities and learning style
• Consistent application of techniques
• External factors beyond our control

8.2 Service Availability

We strive to provide uninterrupted services but cannot guarantee continuous availability. Services may be temporarily unavailable due to:

• Scheduled maintenance
• Technical difficulties
• Force majeure events
• Trainer illness or emergency

8.3 Third-Party Services

Our website and services may include links to third-party websites or integrate with external platforms. We are not responsible for the content, privacy practices, or availability of these third-party services.

9. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law:

• Our total liability for any claims will not exceed the amount you paid for the specific service
• We will not be liable for indirect, incidental, or consequential damages
• We will not be liable for lost profits, data, or business opportunities
• Our liability is limited to direct damages actually incurred

Some jurisdictions do not allow limitation of liability, so these limitations may not apply to you.

10. Force Majeure

We will not be liable for any failure to perform our obligations due to circumstances beyond our reasonable control, including:

• Natural disasters or severe weather
• Government actions or regulations
• Labor disputes or strikes
• Pandemic or public health emergencies
• Technical failures or cyber attacks
• War, terrorism, or civil unrest

In such cases, we will make reasonable efforts to provide alternative arrangements or reschedule services.

11. Termination

11.1 Termination by You

You may terminate your relationship with us at any time by:

• Providing written notice of cancellation
• Ceasing to use our website and services
• Requesting account deletion

11.2 Termination by Us

We may terminate or suspend your access to our services if you:

• Violate these Terms or our policies
• Fail to pay applicable fees
• Engage in prohibited or disruptive behavior
• Provide false or misleading information

11.3 Effect of Termination

Upon termination:

• Your right to use our services ceases immediately
• Completed services will not be refunded unless required by law
• We may retain your information as required by law or our policies
• Confidentiality obligations survive termination

12. Dispute Resolution

12.1 Informal Resolution

We encourage informal resolution of disputes. Please contact us first to discuss any concerns or issues.

12.2 Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of Ontario, Canada, without regard to conflict of law principles.

12.3 Jurisdiction

Any legal proceedings arising from these Terms or our services will be conducted in the courts of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

12.4 Mediation

Before pursuing formal legal action, parties agree to attempt mediation through a mutually agreed-upon mediator.

13. Changes to Terms

We may update these Terms periodically to reflect changes in our services or legal requirements. When we make changes:

• We will post the updated Terms on our website
• We will update the "Last updated" date
• We will notify you of material changes via email or website notice
• Changes take effect 30 days after notification unless otherwise specified

Your continued use of our services after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.

14. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable or invalid, that provision will be limited or eliminated to the minimum extent necessary so that the remaining Terms will otherwise remain in full force and effect.

15. Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy and any specific service agreements, constitute the entire agreement between you and Sparkle Shining Public Speaking Training regarding your use of our services.

16. Contact Information

If you have questions about these Terms or our services, please contact us: