02/09/2026
As some may know, there have been quite a bit of a stir on the socials lately about Lifetouch 》 Shutterfly 》 Apollo (Heavy Epstein files link).
I have written the following letter to our elected Trustees, and am hopeful for a response.
Dear Trustees,
I am writing as a parent within Rocky View Schools to request clarity around the safeguards in place to protect student and staff images collected through school photography and yearbook processes.
Each year, our children are photographed at school, and those images are uploaded, stored, and processed by third-party vendors contracted by the school division. As a parent, I believe it is reasonable to ask for transparency regarding how these images are handled, where they are stored, how long they are retained, and what limitations exist on their use.
Recently, there has been increased public discussion and media attention regarding the corporate ownership structure of one commonly used school photography vendor (Lifetouch), including its connection through parent companies (Shutterfly) to a large private-equity firm (Apollo). That firm’s co-founder has been widely reported on in major news outlets in relation to the Epstein files. While I am not suggesting any wrongdoing by the photography vendor itself, this reporting has understandably raised questions among parents about data stewardship, governance, and oversight when it comes to children’s images.
In light of this increased public awareness, I am hoping the Board can provide information on:
What contractual requirements Rocky View Schools places on photography and yearbook vendors regarding:
Data ownership and permitted use of student and staff images
Storage location (including whether data is stored within Canada or internationally)
Retention periods and deletion policies
Explicit prohibitions on secondary use, resale, facial recognition, or sharing of images or metadata
What privacy legislation and internal policies Rocky View Schools relies upon to ensure compliance and protection of student images, particularly for minors.
Whether there are audit, review, or enforcement mechanisms in place to ensure vendors remain compliant with these requirements throughout the term of a contract.
Whether Rocky View Schools periodically reviews vendor contracts and practices in light of evolving concerns around digital privacy, corporate ownership, and the long-term storage of children’s data.
This request is not intended to raise alarm or assign blame, but rather to ensure that parents and guardians can be confident that robust, clearly articulated safeguards exist — and that Rocky View Schools continue to take a proactive, due-diligence approach to protecting the privacy of students and staff.
I would appreciate knowing whether this information is publicly available, or if there are opportunities for parent engagement or reporting on these practices at the Board level.
Thank you for your time, care, and continued commitment to student wellbeing, transparency, and trust.
Sincerely,
Kristi Puszkar
