Privacy Policy

We're pretty straightforward about how we handle your info. No hidden clauses or weird legal jargon - just honest talk about what we do with your data.

Last updated: January 2024

Look, we get it - privacy policies can be a slog to read through. But since we're asking for your trust when you work with us on your spaces, figured we owe you transparency about how we treat your information. We've organized everything into sections below so you can jump to what matters most to you.

When you reach out to us or work with us, we'll collect some basic stuff to actually be able to help you:

  • Contact details - Your name, email, phone number, and address. Pretty standard.
  • Project info - Details about what you're looking to build or renovate. Property addresses, photos you share, design preferences, that sort of thing.
  • Business data - If you're a commercial client, we might need company info, tax numbers for invoicing, etc.
  • Communication records - Emails, meeting notes, calls. We keep these so we don't lose track of what we've discussed.
  • Website stuff - Basic analytics like how you found us, which pages you visit. Nothing creepy, just helpful for understanding what people care about.

We don't collect anything we don't actually need. If we're asking for it, there's a real reason tied to working on your project.

We're not in the business of selling your data or spamming you. Here's what we actually do with it:

  • Doing the work - Designing your space, getting permits, coordinating with contractors, all the actual architectural stuff.
  • Staying in touch - Sending project updates, answering questions, scheduling site visits.
  • Legal requirements - Sometimes we gotta keep records for building code compliance, professional liability, tax purposes. It's part of being licensed architects.
  • Making things better - Understanding what services people need, improving our consultation process.
  • Occasional updates - If you've worked with us, we might send a newsletter now and then with project showcases or sustainability tips. You can opt out anytime.

Bottom line: we use your info to serve you better and meet our professional obligations. That's it.

We're pretty protective of your info, but there are times when we need to share it to get your project done:

  • Project partners - Engineers, contractors, consultants who're working on your build. They need relevant details to do their part.
  • Government bodies - Municipal planning departments, building inspectors. Required for permits and approvals.
  • Service providers - Our accounting software, project management tools, email service. These companies have their own privacy commitments.
  • Legal situations - If there's a court order or legal requirement, we might have to disclose information. Hasn't happened yet, but transparency demands we mention it.

We don't sell or rent your data to third parties. Period. Anyone we share with is either necessary for your project or bound by confidentiality agreements.

Security's important to us. We've got several layers in place:

  • Encrypted storage - Digital files are stored on secure, encrypted servers. Not sitting around on unsecured laptops.
  • Access controls - Only team members who need specific info for your project can access it. We use password protection and two-factor authentication.
  • Physical security - Our office has controlled access. Paper documents with sensitive info are locked up when not in use.
  • Regular backups - We back up data regularly so nothing gets lost if there's a tech failure.
  • Secure communication - When we're sharing sensitive project details digitally, we use encrypted channels.

No system's 100% bulletproof, but we take reasonable precautions and stay current with best practices. If there's ever a breach, we'll let you know promptly.

We don't hang onto your data forever, but we do need to keep it for a while:

  • Active projects - Throughout the project and for a period after completion. Usually around 7-10 years for architectural records.
  • Legal requirements - Ontario architectural regulations require us to maintain project files for specific periods. It's not optional.
  • Portfolio purposes - If we want to showcase your project (with your permission), we'll keep relevant materials. You can withdraw consent anytime.
  • Inquiries that didn't convert - If you reached out but didn't end up working with us, we'll keep basic contact info for about 2 years, then delete it.

Once retention periods expire and there's no legal reason to keep something, we securely delete or destroy it.

It's your data. You've got rights over how it's used:

  • Access - You can ask what information we have about you. We'll provide it in a reasonable format.
  • Correction - If something's wrong or outdated, let us know and we'll fix it.
  • Deletion - Want us to delete your info? We'll do it unless we're legally required to keep it.
  • Opt-out - Don't want newsletters or marketing emails? Unsubscribe anytime. There's a link at the bottom of every message.
  • Portability - Need your data in a transferable format? We can arrange that.
  • Complaints - If you're not happy with how we've handled your data, you can file a complaint with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada.

To exercise any of these rights, just shoot us an email at contact@ignivarenthquinth.info or call (416) 555-8247. We'll respond within 30 days.

Our website uses some basic cookies and tracking tech:

  • Essential cookies - These make the site work properly. Navigation, form submissions, that kind of thing.
  • Analytics - We use tools to understand traffic patterns, popular pages, where visitors come from. Helps us improve the site.
  • No advertising cookies - We don't use tracking for ads or sell your browsing data to advertisers.

Most browsers let you control cookies through settings. If you block all cookies, some parts of the site might not work as smoothly, but you'll still be able to browse and contact us.

We don't use aggressive tracking or behavioral profiling. Just enough data to know if the website's actually useful to people.

Our services aren't directed at kids. We don't knowingly collect information from anyone under 18. If you're a parent and think your child has given us their info, please reach out and we'll delete it immediately.

Architectural projects involve contracts and legal stuff that requires adult participation anyway, so this typically isn't an issue, but worth stating clearly.

Privacy laws and best practices evolve, so we might update this policy from time to time. When we do:

  • We'll update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page
  • If there are significant changes that affect how we use your data, we'll notify you by email or through a notice on the website
  • We'll keep previous versions available if you want to see what changed

Continuing to use our services after changes means you're cool with the updated policy. If you're not, let us know and we can discuss options.

If something in this policy isn't clear, or you've got concerns about how we're handling your information, we genuinely want to hear from you.

Get in touch:

We'll respond as quickly as we can - usually within a few business days. Privacy matters, and we're committed to getting it right.

Still Have Questions?

Privacy can be complicated. If you want to chat about how we handle your data or anything else, we're here.

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