Last Updated: January 2024
Look, we get it - nobody really enjoys reading privacy policies. But if you're trusting us with your project and your information, you deserve to know exactly what we do with it. We've tried to keep this straightforward and honest.
When you reach out to us or work with us on a project, we'll collect info that helps us do our job properly. This usually includes your name, contact details (email, phone number), property address, and project specifics. For heritage restoration work, we might need historical property records or documentation about existing structures.
We also collect technical stuff like your IP address when you visit our site - pretty standard for any website. This helps us understand how people use our site and where we can improve things.
If you're working with us on a commercial project, we'll need business information, tax numbers, and sometimes financial details for contracts. For residential clients, property ownership documentation might be necessary depending on the scope.
Here's the deal - we use your info to actually provide architectural services. That means creating designs, preparing permit applications, coordinating with contractors, and keeping you updated throughout the project. We're not selling your email to random marketers or anything sketchy like that.
Sometimes we'll send project updates, occasional newsletters about sustainable design trends, or info about our services - but you can opt out anytime. We might also use project photos for our portfolio, but we'll always ask permission first, especially for residential work.
For urban planning projects, we may need to share certain information with municipal authorities, planning departments, or heritage committees - that's just part of the regulatory process in Canada.
Project files, drawings, 3D models, and design documents are treated with serious care. We store these on secure servers with regular backups. Your architectural plans contain sensitive info about your property and investment, so we use encryption and access controls.
We keep project records for at least seven years after completion - that's actually a professional requirement in Ontario. These archives help if you ever need modifications or if there's questions about the original design down the road.
Site photos, surveys, and assessments are stored securely too. For heritage restoration projects, we maintain detailed documentation of existing conditions and historical research - this stuff's valuable not just for your project but for preserving architectural history.
We don't just hand your info to anyone. But architecture isn't a solo gig - projects involve engineers, consultants, contractors, and regulatory bodies. We'll share relevant details with these folks, but only what's necessary for them to do their part.
Third parties might include structural engineers, sustainability consultants, building code specialists, or municipal planning departments. Everyone we work with is bound by professional confidentiality standards.
If we're legally required to disclose information (court orders, regulatory investigations, that sort of thing), we will - but we'll notify you first unless we're prohibited from doing so.
You've got rights under Canadian privacy law (PIPEDA, if you want to look it up). You can ask to see what info we have about you, request corrections if something's wrong, or ask us to delete stuff - though we might need to keep certain records for legal or professional reasons.
Want to stop receiving our newsletters? Click unsubscribe - no hard feelings. Need a copy of your project files? Just ask. Want us to update your contact info? Send us an email.
If you've got concerns about how we're handling your data, talk to us directly. We're reasonable people and we want to address any issues. You also have the right to file a complaint with the Privacy Commissioner of Canada if needed.
Our website uses cookies - small text files that help the site remember you and work properly. Some are essential (the site won't function without them), others help us understand what pages people visit most or where they're coming from.
We use Google Analytics to see how people use our site. It's anonymized data - we're not tracking individuals, just patterns. If you want to block this, most browsers have settings for that or you can use browser extensions.
We don't use aggressive tracking or advertising cookies. We're not following you around the internet - we've got actual architectural work to do.
We take security seriously. Our servers use encryption, we have regular security audits, and access to client information is limited to team members who actually need it for your project. We use secure file transfer protocols for sharing large architectural files.
Physical documents at our Toronto office are kept in locked storage. Digital backups are encrypted and stored in secure Canadian data centers. We've got protocols for data breaches (knock on wood) and would notify affected clients immediately.
That said, no system is 100% bulletproof. We do our absolute best to protect your information, but it's good to be aware that perfect security doesn't exist anywhere.
We're based in Canada and generally keep data within Canadian borders. However, some of our cloud services or software tools might have servers in the US or other countries. When that happens, we make sure they comply with appropriate data protection standards.
For projects involving international clients or consultants, we'll discuss data handling arrangements upfront. Different countries have different rules, and we navigate that carefully.
Our services are for adults and businesses. We don't knowingly collect information from anyone under 18. If a parent or guardian discovers we've collected info from a minor, let us know and we'll delete it promptly.
We might update this policy occasionally - usually when laws change or we add new services. We'll post the updated version here with a new date at the top. For major changes, we'll send an email to current clients.
It's worth checking back now and then, especially if you're a long-term client. We try to keep things stable though - we're not constantly rewriting our privacy practices.
If anything here is unclear or you've got specific concerns about your project data, just reach out. We'd rather have a conversation than have you wondering about this stuff.
Contact our privacy officer at:
Email: info@galeforthquintaris.info
Phone: (416) 555-0147
Mail: 425 Adelaide Street West, Suite 800, Toronto, ON M5V 3C1
We comply with Canadian privacy legislation including PIPEDA and maintain professional standards set by the Ontario Association of Architects.
Get in Touch