SecretGathers.com

Terms of Service

Secret Gathers® Last Updated: June 25, 2026

Welcome to Secret Gathers. These Terms of Service (“Terms”) govern your access to and use of our website at SecretGathers.com and all related services, content, and features (“Services”). By accessing or using our Services, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree, please do not use our website.

1. About Secret Gathers

Secret Gathers is a discovery and connection platform. We find and share information about small, authentic gatherings happening across Ontario, created by independent hosts, chefs, farmers, musicians, artists, and other local creators.

Secret Gathers does not organize, host, manage, or operate any events. We do not sell tickets, process payments, or enter into any agreement between hosts and attendees. We are solely a platform that connects people with gatherings we believe are worth finding.

2. Eligibility

You must be 19 years of age or older to use our Services. By using our Services, you confirm that you meet this age requirement.

3. Acceptance of Terms

By using our website, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agree to these Terms, including our Privacy Policy, which is incorporated by reference.

4. Gatherings and Events Disclaimer

4.1 Secret Gathers Is Not an Event Organizer

Secret Gathers operates solely as a discovery and connection platform. We feature gatherings created and managed entirely by independent third-party hosts. We do not:

  • Organize, manage, operate, or host any event
  • Sell tickets or process payments for any event
  • Enter into any agreement, contract, or transaction between a host and an attendee
  • Guarantee the accuracy, quality, safety, or availability of any event
  • Verify the credentials, qualifications, or identity of hosts beyond our own review
 

4.2 No Financial Liability

Any financial transaction that takes place between a host and an attendee, including ticket purchases, donations, contributions, pricing, or payments of any kind, is entirely outside the scope of Secret Gathers. We are not a party to any such transaction and accept no responsibility or liability in connection with it. This includes but is not limited to:

  • Refunds or cancellations
  • Failed payments or disputed charges
  • Loss of money paid to a host
  • Event changes, postponements, or cancellations

 

Any dispute regarding payment or any financial matter must be resolved directly between the host and the attendee.

4.3 Attendance at Your Own Risk

By attending any gathering discovered through Secret Gathers, you acknowledge and agree that:

  • You attend entirely at your own risk
  • Secret Gathers is not responsible for anything that happens at or in connection with any gathering, whether positive or negative, including any injury, illness, loss, damage, dispute, or incident
  • Secret Gathers makes no warranties regarding the safety, suitability, or quality of any gathering, host, or venue
  • You are responsible for conducting your own due diligence before attending any gathering

 

Secret Gathers connects people with gatherings. It does not stand behind, supervise, or take responsibility for what occurs at them.

4.4 Accuracy of Event Information

Information about gatherings is provided by hosts and published in good faith. Secret Gathers does not independently verify the accuracy or completeness of any details. Dates, times, locations, pricing, and descriptions may change without notice. Always confirm details directly with the host before attending.

5. Host Submissions

5.1 Submission Review

Submitting a gathering through any form does not guarantee a response, publication, a feature, or inclusion in any Secret Gathers communication. We review submissions individually and feature gatherings at our sole discretion, based on alignment with our values. We do not commit to any review timeline and may choose not to respond to submissions that are not a fit.

5.2 Host Representations

By submitting a gathering, you confirm that:

  • All information provided is accurate to the best of your knowledge
  • You have the right to share any images, names, or details included in your submission
  • Your gathering complies with all applicable local, provincial, and federal laws
  • You are solely responsible for the organization, operation, safety, and management of your gathering
  • You are solely responsible for any financial transactions with attendees

5.3 License to Use Submitted Content

By submitting content to Secret Gathers, including images, video, descriptions, written responses, and other materials, through the Share a Gathering form, the Your Gather Story form, or any other host form, you grant us a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide license to use, reproduce, publish, and distribute that content in connection with our platform and promotional activities. This includes use in published Gather Stories™, in email newsletters, in teaser and promotional posts, and on social media to promote hosts and their gatherings. You may request removal of your content at any time by contacting us at [email protected]. Requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

5.4 Host Indemnification

Hosts agree to indemnify and hold harmless Secret Gathers and its owner from any claims, damages, losses, or expenses arising from their gathering, including any incidents involving attendees, financial disputes, or inaccuracies in submitted information.

5.5 Gather Stories

A Gather Story is an editorial article written and published by Secret Gathers about a host and their gathering. The following terms apply to all Gather Story submissions and publications.

  • No guarantee of publication. Submitting information through any form does not guarantee that we will respond, or that a Gather Story will be written, published, or featured in any communication. All Gather Stories are approved at our sole discretion.
  • Editorial control. Secret Gathers retains sole and complete editorial control over all Gather Stories. The voice, structure, framing, and content of every Gather Story are determined exclusively by us. Submitting information does not give you editorial approval rights over the final published article.
  • A look before it goes live. Before your Gather Story or gathering post is published or shared, we will give you the chance to review it. This review is to confirm the details are accurate and to give you a final look before it goes live. It does not give you the right to alter the editorial voice, direction, or presentation of the piece.
  • Your responsibility for accuracy. You are solely responsible for the accuracy of all information you provide. We publish in good faith based on what you submit. We accept no liability for inaccuracies resulting from information you provided.
  • Right to decline or remove. Secret Gathers reserves the right to decline to write, delay, edit, or remove any Gather Story or gathering post at any time, for any reason, without notice and without liability to you. Gather Stories may remain published for the long term, but we do not guarantee that any story will remain published, and we may take it down at our discretion.
  • Photos and media. Photos and video submitted through any host form, by direct upload or shared folder link, may be used in published Gather Stories, in email newsletters, in teaser and promotional posts, and on social media. By submitting media, you confirm that you hold the rights to all submitted materials and that their use by Secret Gathers as described does not infringe any third-party rights.
  • Promotional content. Secret Gathers may create teaser posts, promotional content, and social media posts featuring your gathering before, during, or after publication. By submitting your information and agreeing to be featured, you grant Secret Gathers the right to create and publish such content.

6. Nominated Gatherings

Anyone may nominate a gathering or host through our Nominate a Gathering form. By submitting a nomination, you confirm that the information you provide is accurate to the best of your knowledge and is shared in good faith, and that you are not submitting private or confidential information you are not permitted to share.

A nomination does not guarantee that we will contact, research, or feature the nominated host. We may use the information provided to reach out to the host through our usual process, at our sole discretion. A host who has been nominated may contact us at [email protected] to access, correct, or request removal of the information we hold about them.

7. User Conduct

Users and hosts agree not to:

  • Use the Services for any unlawful purpose
  • Provide false or misleading information
  • Collect information about other users without their consent
  • Interfere with the operation of the website
  • Reverse engineer or modify any part of the website
  • Transmit harmful code, viruses, or malware
  • Use the platform to build a competing database of events or recommendations
  • Submit offensive, defamatory, or illegal content

8. Email Communications

By subscribing to our newsletter or email list, you consent to receive email communications from us. You may unsubscribe at any time. See our Privacy Policy for details.

9. Intellectual Property

All content on the Secret Gathers website, including text, graphics, logos, images, and other materials, is owned by or licensed to us and protected by applicable intellectual property laws. You may not reproduce, distribute, or create derivative works from our content without our express written permission.

10. Disclaimers

Our Services are provided “as is” without warranties of any kind, express or implied. To the fullest extent permitted by Ontario law, Secret Gathers and its owner disclaim all liability for:

  • Direct, indirect, incidental, or consequential damages arising from use of the Services
  • Anything that occurs at or in connection with any gathering featured on the platform, whether positive or negative
  • Any financial loss arising from transactions between hosts and attendees
  • Inaccuracies in gathering information or host-submitted content
  • Temporary unavailability of the website or Services
  • Viruses or harmful components transmitted through the website or linked third-party sites

11. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and defend Secret Gathers and its owner from any claims, demands, losses, damages, or expenses, including legal fees, arising from:

  • Your use of the Services
  • Your violation of these Terms
  • Your gathering, if you are a host
  • Any content you submit to the platform
  • Your infringement of any third-party rights

12. Third-Party Links

Our website may contain links to third-party websites for convenience. We do not endorse or assume responsibility for the content, products, services, or privacy practices of any third-party site.

13. Service Modifications

We reserve the right to modify, suspend, or discontinue the website or any Services at any time, with or without notice, and without liability to you.

14. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of Ontario, Canada. Any disputes shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Ontario.

15. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. The revised Terms will be posted on the website with an updated “Last Updated” date. Your continued use of our Services after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the revised Terms.

16. Contact Us

For questions about these Terms, please contact us at:

Email: [email protected]