Look, we get it - nobody really wants to read through pages of legal jargon. But here's the deal: we've built our practice on trust and transparency, and that extends to how we handle your information. We're not some big corporation mining your data - we're an architecture studio in Toronto that just needs basic info to do our job well.
What We Collect & Why
When you reach out to us about a project - whether it's restoring a century home or designing a new build - we'll ask for the basics: your name, email, phone number, and project address. Sometimes we'll need site photos or property documents.
If you're an existing client, we'll keep records of our correspondence, meeting notes, design files, and any documents related to your project. That's just good practice and, honestly, required for professional liability reasons.
We also collect standard web analytics (like most sites do) - things like how you found us, which pages you looked at, and how long you stuck around. Nothing creepy, just helps us understand if folks are actually finding what they need.
How We Use Your Information
Pretty straightforward stuff here. We use your info to:
- Respond to your inquiries and keep the conversation going
- Prepare proposals, drawings, and all the documents needed for your project
- Submit permit applications and coordinate with contractors and consultants
- Send project updates, invoices, and occasional studio news (if you've opted in)
- Meet our professional obligations under the Ontario Architects Act
We won't sell your email to some marketing list or spam you with stuff you didn't ask for. That's not our style.
Who We Share It With
Architecture isn't a solo gig. We'll share your information with:
- Project team members - structural engineers, sustainability consultants, heritage specialists, etc.
- Municipal authorities - when submitting permits and approvals
- Contractors & builders - once we're into construction phase
- Service providers - our cloud storage, email hosting, and project management tools
- Legal/regulatory bodies - if required by law or professional standards
Everyone we work with is bound by confidentiality agreements. We're pretty protective of client privacy - it comes with the territory.
How We Protect Your Data
We take reasonable precautions to keep your information secure. Our systems use encryption, secure servers, and password protection. Physical documents are locked up in our studio.
That said, let's be real - no system is 100% bulletproof. We do our best, but we can't guarantee absolute security (nobody honestly can).
Project files are retained for a minimum of 10 years as required by the Ontario Association of Architects. After that, we'll either securely destroy them or get your permission to keep them longer.
Cookies & Tracking
Our website uses cookies - those little files that remember you visited. We use them for basic analytics (Google Analytics, to be specific) and to remember your preferences.
You can disable cookies in your browser settings, though some parts of the site might not work as smoothly.
We don't use advertising trackers or anything invasive. Just the basics to make sure the site's doing its job.
Your Rights
Under Canadian privacy law (PIPEDA), you've got rights over your personal information:
- Access - you can ask to see what info we have about you
- Correction - if something's wrong, we'll fix it
- Withdrawal - you can opt out of marketing communications anytime
- Deletion - in some cases, you can request we delete your data (though we might need to keep certain records for legal/professional reasons)
Just shoot us an email at studio@eldrionforge.info if you want to exercise any of these rights. We'll respond within 30 days.
Photography & Portfolio Use
Here's something important - we love documenting our completed projects. With your permission, we'll photograph finished work for our portfolio, website, social media, and publications.
We'll always ask before sharing images of your project publicly. If you'd prefer to keep things private, that's totally fine - we respect that. Some clients love the publicity, others value their privacy. Both are cool with us.
If you do give permission, you can revoke it later. We'll take reasonable steps to remove published images, though we can't control what's already been shared or republished by others.
Third-Party Links
Our website might link to other sites - manufacturer specs, consultant portfolios, industry resources, that kind of thing. Once you leave our site, we're not responsible for their privacy practices. Check their policies if you're concerned.
Changes to This Policy
We'll update this policy from time to time as our practice evolves or laws change. When we do, we'll update the date at the top and post the new version here.
For major changes, we'll send a heads-up to active clients. Otherwise, checking back here occasionally isn't a bad idea.
Questions or Concerns?
If something in here doesn't make sense, or you've got questions about how we handle your information, just reach out. We're not hiding behind corporate speak - you'll get a real person who'll give you a straight answer.