What is Personal Information?

For the purposes of this training, personal information is defined as any recorded information that can identify an individual. This includes:

• Name, age, sex, weight, height
• Home address and phone number
• Race, ethnic origin, sexual orientation
• Medical information
• Health care history, including physical or mental disability
• Number or symbol assigned to the individualNumbers such as Driver’s license, Social Insurance Number, and Personal Health Number
• IncomeIncludes PWD, OAS, trust fund income. , purchases, and spending habits
• Blood type, DNA code, fingerprints
• Marital or family statusSingle, Married, number of children, etc.
• Religion
• Education
• Financial informationExamples are Banking information, Canada Revenue Agency information such as tax returns.
• Criminal information
• Employment information
• Personal views or opinions, except if they are about someone else

Note that an individual’s business contact information is not considered personal information.

One personal detail on its own (such as a person’s race) added to another piece of information (such as their sex) may make it possible to identify a person. What is important to recognize is that all information should be handled with care.

Complete the following activity to check your understanding.