Privacy Policy

Introduction

Look, we get it - nobody actually enjoys reading privacy policies. But here at Frostbane Quest Architecture, we're pretty straightforward about how we handle your information. We've been designing buildings that respect the environment for years, and we apply that same respect to your personal data.

This policy explains what info we collect when you work with us or visit our site, and what we do (and don't do) with it. We're based in Toronto and follow Canadian privacy laws, specifically PIPEDA, because that's just how we roll.

What Information We Collect

When you reach out to us about a project or browse our website, here's the kind of stuff we might gather:

• Contact Details: Your name, email, phone number, mailing address - basically how we can get back to you about your cold climate building project.
• Project Information: Details about what you're looking to build, site location, budget range, timeline. The nuts and bolts we need to figure out if we're a good fit.
• Technical Stuff: IP address, browser type, which pages you visit on our site. Standard web analytics that help us understand how people use our site.
• Communication Records: Emails, phone call notes, meeting summaries. We keep track of our conversations so nothing falls through the cracks.

How We Use Your Information

We're not here to spam you or sell your details to random companies. Here's what we actually do with your info:

• Respond to your inquiries and provide the architectural services you're asking for
• Send project updates, design drafts, and construction documents
• Process invoices and handle contracts (boring but necessary)
• Improve our website and understand what content our visitors find useful
• Occasionally send newsletter updates about our projects or cold climate design insights - but only if you've opted in
• Comply with legal requirements and professional regulations we're bound by

Who We Share Information With

We don't sell your personal information. Period. However, sometimes we need to share certain details with:

• Project Partners: Engineers, contractors, consultants who're working on your project with us. They need relevant info to do their job right.
• Service Providers: Our accounting software, email platform, cloud storage providers. These folks help us run our business but they're bound by confidentiality agreements.
• Legal Authorities: If we're legally required to disclose information - court orders, regulatory compliance, that kind of thing.
• Professional Bodies: The Ontario Association of Architects and other regulatory organizations we're members of, when required for professional compliance.

Cookies and Website Tracking

Our website uses cookies - those small text files that remember you've been here before. We're not tracking your every move across the internet, but we do use:

• Essential Cookies: These keep the site functioning properly. Can't really turn these off.
• Analytics Cookies: Help us see which pages people visit most, how long they stay, where they're coming from. We use this to make the site better.

Most browsers let you control cookies through their settings. Just be aware that blocking cookies might make some parts of our site less functional.

Data Security

We take reasonable precautions to protect your information from unauthorized access or disclosure. Our systems use encryption, secure servers, and access controls. That said, no internet transmission is 100% secure - we do our best but can't guarantee absolute security.

Physical documents are kept in locked filing cabinets at our Bay Street office, and digital files are password-protected with regular backups.

How Long We Keep Your Information

We hold onto your information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined above. For active projects, that means the duration of the project plus several years afterward - we're required by professional regulations to maintain project records.

If you've just inquired but didn't move forward with a project, we'll typically keep your contact info for about two years in case you change your mind. After that, it gets deleted unless you've asked us to stay in touch.

Your Rights

Under Canadian privacy law, you've got some rights regarding your personal information:

• Access: You can ask to see what information we have about you.
• Correction: If something's wrong or outdated, let us know and we'll fix it.
• Withdrawal: You can withdraw consent for us to use your info, though this might limit our ability to provide services.
• Deletion: Request that we delete your information, subject to any legal obligations we have to retain it.
• Complaint: If you think we've mishandled your information, you can file a complaint with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada.

Third-Party Links

Our website might link to other sites - manufacturer websites, sustainability organizations, that kind of thing. We're not responsible for their privacy practices. If you click through to another site, check out their privacy policy.

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 date at the top of this page. Significant changes will be posted more prominently on our website.

Contact Us About Privacy

If you've got questions about how we handle your information, or want to exercise any of your privacy rights, just reach out: