Privacy Policy

Introduction

Look, we get it - nobody really enjoys reading through privacy policies. But here at Windareth Quinthos Architecture, we're pretty serious about respecting your privacy and protecting your personal info. We've tried to keep this straightforward and honest about what data we collect, why we need it, and how we use it.

This policy applies to anyone who visits our website, reaches out for consultations, or works with us on architectural projects. By using our services or website, you're agreeing to the practices we've outlined here.

Information We Collect

Personal Information You Give Us

When you contact us or become a client, we'll typically collect things like:

• Your name, email address, and phone number
• Mailing address (especially important for property-specific projects)
• Project details and preferences you share with us
• Payment and billing information when we're working together
• Any other details you choose to provide in communications

Automatically Collected Data

Our website collects some technical stuff automatically - pretty standard these days:

• IP address and browser type
• Pages you visit and how long you hang around
• Referring website if you came from somewhere else
• Device information and operating system

How We Use Your Information

We're not selling your data or doing anything sketchy with it. Here's what we actually do with the information we collect:

• Project Work: To provide architectural services, communicate about your project, and deliver what you've hired us for
• Communication: To respond to inquiries, send project updates, and keep you in the loop
• Billing: To process payments and maintain financial records (we're required to keep these for tax purposes)
• Website Improvement: To understand how people use our site and make it better
• Legal Stuff: To comply with applicable laws and regulations in Canada
• Occasional Updates: To send newsletters or project examples if you've opted in - you can unsubscribe anytime

How We Share Information

We don't sell or rent your personal information. Period. But there are a few situations where we might need to share it:

• Project Collaborators: Engineers, contractors, and other professionals working on your project (with your knowledge)
• Service Providers: Companies that help us run our business - like accounting software, email services, or web hosting
• Legal Requirements: If we're legally required to disclose information (like a court order)
• Business Transfers: If our firm is sold or merged, your information would transfer to the new owners

Anyone we share data with is contractually obligated to keep it confidential and use it only for the purposes we specify.

Cookies and Tracking

Yeah, we use cookies - not the delicious kind, unfortunately. These are small files that help our website function properly and remember your preferences. We use them for:

• Keeping track of your session when you browse our site
• Understanding which pages are most popular
• Improving user experience based on browsing patterns

You can disable cookies in your browser settings, though some features of our website might not work as smoothly.

Data Security

We take reasonable precautions to protect your information from unauthorized access, alteration, or destruction. This includes:

• Secure encrypted connections (SSL) for data transmission
• Password-protected systems and limited staff access
• Regular backups of important data
• Secure file storage for physical documents

That said, no system is 100% secure. While we do our best to protect your information, we can't guarantee absolute security - that's just the reality of the digital world.

Your Rights and Choices

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 personal info 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 data (though we might need to keep some records for legal reasons)
• Opt-Out: Unsubscribe from marketing emails anytime - there's always a link at the bottom
• Withdraw Consent: You can change your mind about how we use your data, though this might affect our ability to work with you

To exercise any of these rights, just reach out to us at info@windarethquinthos.info or give us a call.

Data Retention

We keep your information only as long as necessary for the purposes outlined in this policy. For project-related data, we typically maintain records for seven years after project completion - that's the standard for architectural documentation and meets our professional liability requirements. Marketing data gets deleted once you unsubscribe or we no longer have a legitimate reason to keep it.

Third-Party Links

Our website might include links to other sites - supplier catalogs, sustainability resources, or project inspiration galleries. We're not responsible for the privacy practices of these external sites. When you click away from our site, we'd recommend checking out their privacy policies too.

Children's Privacy

Our services aren't directed at anyone under 18, and we don't knowingly collect information from kids. If you're a parent and think we might have inadvertently collected data about your child, please contact us immediately so we can delete it.

Changes to This Policy

We might update this privacy policy from time to time as our practices evolve or laws change. When we do, we'll update the "Last updated" date at the top. If there are significant changes, we'll let active clients know via email. For everyone else, checking back here occasionally isn't a bad idea.

Contact Us

If you've got questions, concerns, or complaints about this privacy policy or how we handle your data, we want to hear from you. Seriously - we'd rather address issues directly than have anyone feeling uncomfortable about their privacy.

Complaints and Regulatory Contact

If you believe we've mishandled your personal information and we haven't resolved your concerns to your satisfaction, you have the right to file a complaint with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada: