Last updated: January 2024
Look, we get it - nobody actually enjoys reading privacy policies. But since we're asking you to trust us with your architectural dreams (and your data), we figured you deserve to know exactly what we're doing with your information.
We've tried to make this as straightforward as possible, without all the legal mumbo-jumbo that usually makes these things unreadable.
What Info We Actually Collect
When you reach out to us or use our services, here's what we typically need:
- Basic contact stuff - your name, email, phone number, and mailing address. Pretty standard when you're trying to get in touch about a project.
- Project details - information about what you're looking to build, your site location, budget range, timelines. The nuts and bolts that help us understand if we're the right fit for your vision.
- Technical data - when you visit our website, we collect things like your IP address, browser type, and how you navigate through our pages. Helps us make the site work better.
- Communication records - emails, meeting notes, and any documents you share with us during our conversations.
Why We Need It
We're not just collecting data for fun. Here's the real reasons:
- To actually respond to your inquiries and provide quotes
- To design and deliver the architectural services you've hired us for
- To keep you updated on your project's progress
- To handle billing and contracts
- To improve our services based on feedback
- To comply with Canadian building codes and regulations
Who Sees Your Data
We're pretty protective of your information, but sometimes we need to share it with:
- Engineers and consultants working on your project
- Municipal authorities (when submitting permits)
- Our accounting and legal teams
- Cloud storage providers (all Canadian-based)
- Software platforms we use for project management
We never sell your data to third parties. That's just not how we roll.
Cookies & Website Tracking
Yeah, we use cookies - but not the chocolate chip kind, unfortunately. These little bits of code help us:
- Remember your preferences when you visit our site
- Understand which pages people find most useful
- Keep our contact forms working smoothly
- Track basic analytics through Google Analytics (anonymized)
You can disable cookies in your browser settings, though some parts of our site might not work as well if you do.
Your Rights (The Important Stuff)
Under Canadian privacy laws, particularly PIPEDA, you've got some solid rights:
Access & Correction
You can ask to see what personal info we have about you, and request corrections if something's wrong.
Deletion
Want us to delete your data? Just ask. We'll do it unless we're legally required to keep it (like for tax records).
Withdrawal of Consent
You can change your mind about how we use your information, though this might affect our ability to provide services.
File a Complaint
If you think we've mishandled your data, you can complain to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada.
How We Protect Your Information
Security's a big deal for us. Here's what we do to keep your data safe:
- All data is encrypted both in transit and at rest
- Our servers are housed in secure Canadian data centers
- We use secure, password-protected systems with regular security audits
- Staff only gets access to information they actually need for their work
- Regular backups ensure we don't lose your project files
- We use two-factor authentication on all our critical systems
That said, no system's 100% bulletproof. We do our best, but if there's ever a data breach, we'll let you know right away and tell you what happened.
How Long We Keep Your Stuff
We don't keep your information forever - that'd be weird and unnecessary. Here's our general approach:
Active projects: We keep all data for the duration of your project plus 7 years (that's standard in our industry for liability reasons).
Inquiries that don't turn into projects: We'll hang onto your initial contact info for about 2 years, in case you circle back to us later.
Marketing communications: Until you tell us to stop, or if you haven't engaged with us in 3 years.
Financial records: Seven years, as required by Canadian tax law.
Third-Party Links
Our website might link to other sites - supplier catalogs, sustainable building resources, that kind of thing. Once you click through to another site, this privacy policy doesn't apply anymore. We can't control what they do with your data, so check out their privacy policies if you're concerned.
Updates to This Policy
We might need to update this privacy policy from time to time - new laws, new services, new technologies, you know how it goes. When we make significant changes, we'll post a notice on our website and update the date at the top of this page.
If the changes are really major and affect how we use your existing data, we'll reach out to you directly via email.
Questions? Concerns? Just Want to Chat About Your Data?
Seriously, if anything in here's unclear or you've got questions about how we handle your information, don't hesitate to reach out. We'd rather you ask than worry about it.
Email us:
Call us:
Write to us:
Stellar Quinthyra Architects
1425 Bay Street, Suite 602
Toronto, ON M5R 2E4
Canada