Look, we get it - nobody really enjoys reading privacy policies. But here's the thing: we actually care about your info and want you to know exactly what we're doing with it. We're not some faceless corporation; we're a small architectural studio in Vancouver, and we treat your data the way we'd want ours treated.
When you reach out to us or use our website, we might collect things like your name, email, phone number, and project details. Pretty standard stuff, really.
If you're filling out our contact form or consultation request, we'll ask for specifics about your project - budget ranges, timeline, location, that sort of thing. It helps us figure out if we're the right fit for what you're looking for.
Our website also picks up technical data automatically - your IP address, browser type, pages you visit, how long you stick around. We use this to make the site work better and understand what people are actually interested in.
If you've signed up for our newsletter (thanks, by the way), we'll track whether you open emails and click links. Nothing creepy - just helps us send stuff you'll actually want to read.
First off, we use your info to respond to your inquiries and provide the architectural services you're asking about. Can't design your dream space without knowing what you want, right?
We'll keep you updated on your project status, send proposals, contracts, and all the necessary paperwork that comes with architectural work. Sometimes we need to coordinate with engineers, contractors, or consultants - but we'll always let you know who we're sharing your details with.
Occasionally, we'll send newsletters about completed projects, sustainability tips, or industry insights. You can opt out anytime - no hard feelings.
We analyze website traffic to understand what content resonates with visitors. Helps us figure out if people care more about our residential work or commercial projects, for instance.
Legal stuff: Sometimes we need to keep records for compliance with Canadian architectural regulations and business laws. It's boring but necessary.
We're pretty protective of your information. Our team at Cendryal Forge Quint obviously has access - they need it to do their jobs.
Service providers who help us run the business might see some data: our web hosting company, email service provider, accounting software, that kind of thing. We make sure they're legit and have proper security measures in place.
If your project requires it, we'll share relevant details with structural engineers, landscape architects, contractors, or other consultants. But only what they need to know for their specific part of the work.
We won't sell your data to marketers or third parties. That's not how we roll. The only time we'd share your info without asking first is if we're legally required to - like a court order or government request.
With your permission, we might showcase completed projects in our portfolio or marketing materials. We'll always ask first and can keep things anonymous if you prefer.
Yeah, we use cookies. Not the chocolate chip kind - the digital ones that help our website remember you and work properly.
Essential cookies keep the site functioning - things like remembering your language preference or keeping you logged into our client portal. These ones aren't optional if you want the site to work.
Analytics cookies (we use Google Analytics) help us understand how people use the site. Which pages get the most views, where visitors come from, how long they stay. It's all anonymous aggregate data.
We don't use advertising cookies since we're not running ads on our site. If we ever change that, we'll update this policy and let you choose whether to accept them.
You can control cookies through your browser settings. Just know that disabling some might make parts of the website less functional.
Security's important to us. Our website uses SSL encryption (that little padlock in your browser), so data transmitted between your device and our servers is encrypted.
We store client files on secure, password-protected servers with regular backups. Access is limited to team members who actually need it for their work.
Our computers have up-to-date antivirus software, firewalls, and we use strong passwords (none of that "password123" nonsense). We also train our team on data protection best practices.
Physical documents with sensitive info are kept in locked cabinets in our office. When we need to dispose of them, we shred everything properly.
That said, no system is 100% bulletproof. We do our best, but we can't guarantee absolute security. If there's ever a data breach affecting your information, we'll let you know right away and tell you what happened.
Under Canadian privacy laws (specifically PIPEDA), you've got several rights when it comes to your personal information:
Access: You can ask to see what information we have about you. We'll provide it in a readable format within 30 days.
Correction: If something's wrong or outdated, let us know and we'll fix it. We want our records to be accurate.
Deletion: Want us to delete your data? We can do that, unless we're legally required to keep it (like for tax purposes or active projects).
Opt-out: Don't want marketing emails anymore? Click unsubscribe or shoot us an email. We'll take you off the list immediately.
Withdraw consent: If you've given us permission to use your info in a certain way, you can change your mind later. Just be aware it might affect our ability to provide certain services.
To exercise any of these rights, email us at info@cendryalforgequint.info or call (604) 555-0192. We'll need to verify your identity first, but then we'll get on it.
We don't keep your data forever - that'd be weird and unnecessary. Here's generally how long we hang onto different types of information:
Active project files: Throughout the project duration plus 7 years after completion. This is partly for legal reasons - architectural records need to be maintained in case questions come up down the road.
Inquiry forms and quotes: If you don't become a client, we'll keep your initial inquiry for about 2 years. After that, if we haven't heard from you, we figure you've moved on.
Marketing communications: As long as you're subscribed. Once you unsubscribe, we'll remove you from active lists within a few days (sometimes takes a bit for systems to sync).
Financial records: 7 years minimum for tax and accounting purposes. Canadian law requires this.
Website analytics: We keep aggregate data for up to 26 months, then it gets automatically deleted by our analytics provider.
After the retention period ends, we securely delete or anonymize your information. If you want something deleted sooner, just ask - we'll see what we can do within legal constraints.
We're based in Vancouver, Canada, and we try to keep everything within Canadian borders. However, some of our service providers (like cloud storage or email services) might store data on servers located in other countries, including the United States.
When that happens, your information could be subject to the laws of those countries. For example, US authorities might be able to access data stored on US servers under certain circumstances.
We only work with service providers who have strong privacy protections and comply with international standards. But it's something you should be aware of.
If you have specific concerns about where your data is stored, let us know. We can discuss options for your particular situation.
Privacy laws and our business practices evolve, so we might need to update this policy from time to time. When we do, we'll change the "Last updated" date at the top of the page.
For minor changes (like fixing typos or clarifying existing practices), we'll just update the page and move on. For bigger changes that materially affect how we handle your data, we'll send an email to let you know.
We'd recommend checking back here occasionally, especially if it's been a while since you last read it. We'll try to keep it readable and not turn it into incomprehensible legal jargon.
If something in this policy doesn't make sense, or if you've got questions about how we're handling your information, don't hesitate to reach out. Seriously - we'd rather explain things than have you wondering.
You can contact us at:
If you're not satisfied with our response, you have the right to file a complaint with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada. We hope it doesn't come to that, but the option's there if you need it.
We know privacy policies can be dense. If there's anything you want clarified or if you want to discuss how we handle your specific information, we're here to talk.
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