Privacy Policy

Introduction

Look, we get it - nobody actually enjoys reading these things. But since we're asking you to trust us with your information when you reach out about a project or just browse our site, we figured you deserve to know exactly what we do with it. This isn't some cookie-cutter policy we grabbed off the internet. We've tried to keep it straightforward and honest.

Jade Vronthal Quinth Architects ("we," "us," or "our") operates out of Toronto and we take your privacy seriously. This policy explains how we collect, use, and protect your personal information when you interact with our studio.

What Information We Collect

When you contact us or use our website, we might collect a few different types of info:

• Contact Details: Your name, email address, phone number, and mailing address - basically the stuff we need to actually respond to your inquiry or send you project updates.
• Project Information: Details about what you're looking to build, restore, or design. This could include property addresses, budget ranges, timelines, and any specific requirements you've shared with us.
• Website Usage Data: Standard stuff like your IP address, browser type, pages you visited, and how long you stuck around. This helps us figure out which parts of our site are working and which ones need some love.
• Communication Records: Emails, meeting notes, and other correspondence we've had. We keep these so we don't accidentally ask you the same question three times.

How We Use Your Information

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

• Project Work: The main reason - to actually work on your architectural project, prepare proposals, coordinate with contractors, and keep you updated throughout the process.
• Communication: To respond to your inquiries, schedule consultations, and send you relevant information about our services. We won't sign you up for random newsletters without asking first.
• Legal Compliance: Sometimes we're required to keep certain records for regulatory or insurance purposes. It's part of being a registered architectural firm in Canada.
• Improving Our Services: Understanding how people use our site helps us make it better. We're not tracking your every move, just looking at general patterns.

Data Sharing & Third Parties

We don't hand out your information like business cards at a networking event. But there are a few situations where we might share it:

• Project Collaborators: If you're working with us on a project, we'll need to share relevant details with engineers, contractors, consultants, and other professionals involved. Everyone signs confidentiality agreements though.
• Service Providers: We use a few trusted tools for things like email hosting, cloud storage, and project management. They only get access to what they absolutely need to provide their service.
• Legal Requirements: If we're legally obligated to disclose information (like a court order), we'll comply. Hopefully this never happens, but we have to mention it.

We never sell, rent, or trade your personal information. That's not how we operate.

Cookies & Tracking

Our website uses cookies - those tiny files that remember you when you come back. We use them sparingly:

• Essential Cookies: These keep the site functioning properly and remember your preferences.
• Analytics: We use basic analytics to understand how people navigate our site. It's anonymized and helps us improve the user experience.

You can disable cookies in your browser settings, but some parts of the site might not work as smoothly. Most browsers accept cookies by default, so you'll need to adjust the settings if you'd rather not have them.

Data Security

We take reasonable precautions to protect your information from unauthorized access, loss, or misuse. Our systems use encryption, secure servers, and we limit access to personal data to only those team members who actually need it for their work.

That said, no system is 100% bulletproof. We do our best, but we can't guarantee absolute security - nobody honestly can. If we ever experience a data breach that affects your information, we'll let you know promptly and tell you what steps we're taking.

Your Rights

Your information belongs to you. Under Canadian privacy laws (PIPEDA), you've got several rights:

• Access: You can ask us what personal information we have about you.
• Correction: If something's wrong or outdated, let us know and we'll fix it.
• Deletion: You can request that we delete your information, though we might need to keep some records for legal or project-related reasons.
• Withdraw Consent: If you've given us permission to use your info in a certain way, you can change your mind.

To exercise any of these rights, just shoot us an email at studio@jadevronthalquinth.info or give us a call. We'll respond within a reasonable timeframe.

How Long We Keep Your Data

We don't keep information longer than necessary. Here's the general approach:

• Active Projects: We keep all project-related information for the duration of the project and several years after completion for warranty and legal purposes.
• Inquiries: If you reached out but didn't move forward with a project, we'll typically keep your contact info for about two years in case you circle back.
• Legal Records: Some documents need to be retained longer due to professional regulations - usually around seven years.

Children's Privacy

Our services aren't directed at anyone under 18, and we don't knowingly collect information from kids. If we somehow end up with information from someone under 18, we'll delete it once we realize.

Changes to This Policy

We might update this privacy policy from time to time as our practices evolve or regulations change. When we do, we'll update the date at the top and post the new version here. For significant changes, we'll try to notify active clients directly.

It's worth checking back occasionally if you're curious about any updates.

International Data Transfers

We're based in Toronto, and most of our work happens within Canada. However, some of the services we use (like cloud storage or email providers) might store data on servers outside Canada. When that happens, we make sure those providers have adequate privacy protections in place.