Privacy Policy

We're Aetherion Quest Architecture, based out of Toronto. We design spaces that people actually wanna live and work in - sustainable, functional, and yeah, pretty inspiring too.

This policy covers how we collect and use personal information when you visit our website, reach out for consultations, or work with us on projects. We're registered and operating under Canadian privacy laws, which means we take this stuff seriously.

Our Details:
1285 Queen Street West, Suite 400
Toronto, ON M6K 1L6
Phone: (416) 555-0142
Email: studio@aetherionquest.info

We're not gonna beat around the bush here. When you interact with us, we might collect:

• Contact stuff - Your name, email, phone number, and mailing address when you reach out or submit a project inquiry
• Project info - Details about what you're looking to build, your timeline, budget range, site location, and any design preferences you share with us
• Website activity - Basic analytics like which pages you visit, how long you hang around, what device you're using. Standard web stuff really
• Communication records - Emails, phone call notes, meeting summaries when we're working together
• Payment info - Billing details for invoicing, though our accounting software handles the sensitive payment processing

We don't collect anything sketchy or excessive. If we ever need something beyond this list for a specific project, we'll ask upfront.

Pretty straightforward - we use your info to do our jobs and serve you better:

• Project delivery - Designing your spaces, coordinating with contractors, managing timelines, getting permits sorted
• Communication - Following up on inquiries, sending project updates, answering questions you've got
• Improving our service - Understanding what types of projects people need help with, refining our design approach
• Legal stuff - Meeting building code requirements, maintaining professional insurance, keeping proper business records
• Occasional updates - Sharing portfolio pieces or sustainability insights you might find useful (but only if you're cool with it)

We're architects, not marketers. Your info stays focused on actual project work and professional services.

We take reasonable security measures to protect your personal information. Our approach includes:

• Encrypted connections for data transmission (SSL/TLS)
• Secure cloud storage with reputable Canadian providers
• Password-protected systems with limited team access
• Regular backups and security updates
• Physical security at our Toronto office (locked filing cabinets for paper records)

Real talk though - no system is 100% hack-proof. We do our best with industry-standard protections, but can't guarantee absolute security. That's just being honest.

If there's ever a data breach affecting your info, we'll let you know promptly and tell you what happened and what we're doing about it.

We don't sell your information - that's not our business model. But yeah, sometimes we need to share certain details with:

• Project partners - Engineers, contractors, consultants who're working on your project with us
• Government folks - Municipal planning departments, building inspectors when getting permits and approvals
• Service providers - Our hosting company, email service, accounting software - tools we use to run the business
• Legal requirements - If we're legally required to disclose info (court orders, regulatory requests, etc.)
• Professional advisors - Our lawyers, accountants, insurance providers when needed for business operations

Anyone we share data with is bound by confidentiality agreements or professional obligations. We only share what's necessary for the specific purpose.

Different info gets kept for different lengths of time, mostly driven by legal requirements and practical needs:

• Inquiry info - If you reach out but don't become a client, we'll keep your contact details for about 2 years in case you circle back
• Project files - Active client records are kept for at least 10 years after project completion (that's what our professional insurance requires)
• Financial records - Invoices and payment info stick around for 7 years per Canadian tax requirements
• Design drawings - We maintain project archives indefinitely for liability reasons and portfolio documentation
• Marketing stuff - If you've opted in for updates, we'll keep you on the list until you tell us to stop

When data's no longer needed, we securely delete or anonymize it. Just takes a bit longer for some records due to legal obligations.

Our website uses cookies and similar tracking tech. Nothing too invasive, mostly just:

• Essential cookies - Keep the site functioning properly, remember your preferences during your visit
• Analytics cookies - Help us understand which pages people find useful, how long they spend reading content
• Performance cookies - Let us see if pages are loading quickly enough, catch technical issues

We use Google Analytics with IP anonymization turned on. You can block cookies through your browser settings if you want - the site'll still work fine, we just won't get the anonymous usage stats.

No third-party advertising cookies or creepy retargeting stuff. We're an architecture studio, not an ad network.

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

• Access - You can ask what personal data we've got about you. We'll provide it within 30 days
• Correction - If something we have is wrong or outdated, let us know and we'll fix it
• Deletion - Want us to delete your info? We'll do it unless we've got a legal reason to keep it (like ongoing projects or mandatory retention periods)
• Opt-out - Don't wanna receive updates or newsletters? Unsubscribe anytime through the link in emails or just tell us
• Data portability - Need your project info in a portable format? We can provide that
• Withdraw consent - If we're processing data based on your consent, you can withdraw it anytime

To exercise any of these rights, just shoot us an email at studio@aetherionquest.info or give us a call. We'll verify your identity (gotta make sure we're talking to the right person) then handle your request.

If you're not happy with how we handle your data, you can file a complaint with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada.

Sometimes our website links to other sites - maybe a supplier's page, a sustainability resource, or a project we collaborated on. Once you click through to another site, this privacy policy doesn't apply anymore.

We try to link to reputable organizations, but we can't control their privacy practices. It's worth checking out their policies if you're sharing info with them.

If we embed content from other platforms (like YouTube videos showing project tours), those platforms might set their own cookies. We keep this minimal, but it's good to be aware of.

Our services are aimed at adults - property owners, developers, businesses looking for architectural work. We don't knowingly collect information from anyone under 18.

If you're a parent or guardian and think your kid has somehow given us their personal info, reach out and we'll delete it right away.

We might update this privacy policy occasionally - maybe laws change, we adopt new tools, or our practices evolve. When we make changes, we'll update the date at the top of this page.

For significant changes, we'll give active clients a heads-up via email. For minor updates (like clarifying wording), we'll just post the revised version here.

It's worth checking back now and then if you're curious about how we're handling things. We'll always try to keep this readable and honest.

Got questions about this policy or how we're handling your data? Don't hesitate to reach out. We'd rather answer your questions than have you wondering.

Contact us at:

Aetherion Quest Architecture
1285 Queen Street West, Suite 400
Toronto, ON M6K 1L6
Canada

Email: studio@aetherionquest.info
Phone: (416) 555-0142

We'll get back to you within a couple business days. If it's something urgent, calling is usually faster than email.