Privacy Policy

Look, we get it - privacy matters

At Emberlyn Forge Architecture, we're not just about building spaces that respect the past and future - we respect your personal info too. This policy spells out what we collect, how we use it, and what rights you've got. No legalese runaround, just the straight goods.

Operating out of Vancouver, BC, we follow Canadian privacy laws (PIPEDA for those who care about acronyms), and we take this stuff seriously.

What info we actually collect

When you reach out to us or work with us, here's what we might gather:

• Basic contact stuff: Your name, email address, phone number, and mailing address. Pretty standard.
• Project details: Information about your property, project scope, budget range, timelines - basically what you share with us so we can do our job right.
• Communication records: Emails, meeting notes, phone conversations. We keep these so we don't lose track of what we discussed.
• Technical data: If you visit our website, we collect IP addresses, browser types, and how you navigate around. Helps us keep the site running smoothly.
• Payment info: When you hire us, we'll need billing details and payment records. Goes without saying, but we're saying it anyway.

We don't collect anything we don't need. If we're asking for something, it's because it's relevant to working together.

How we use your information

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

• Provide architectural services - design work, consultations, project management, the whole nine yards
• Communicate about your project and answer questions (because that's just good business)
• Process invoices and handle the financial side of things
• Improve our services based on feedback and project outcomes
• Send occasional updates about our work - but only if you've told us that's cool
• Meet legal and regulatory requirements (permits, building codes, professional obligations, etc.)

Bottom line: we use your info to work with you and do our jobs properly. That's it.

Who else sees your info

Architecture isn't a solo sport. Sometimes we need to share information with:

• Project partners: Engineers, contractors, consultants - the folks who help bring designs to life
• Government agencies: Municipal offices, heritage boards, building departments when we're submitting permits and approvals
• Professional advisors: Our lawyers, accountants, insurance providers when necessary
• Service providers: Cloud storage, email services, project management tools - but only ones with solid privacy practices

We don't share your personal information for marketing purposes, and we sure as hell don't sell it to third parties. If we need to share something, there's a legitimate reason tied to your project or legal requirements.

Keeping your data secure

We've got physical, electronic, and procedural safeguards in place. Our digital files are encrypted, our office is secure, and our team knows the importance of confidentiality.

That said, no system is 100% bulletproof. We do our best, but if you're sending sensitive information over email, just know there's always some inherent risk with internet communications.

We keep your information only as long as we need it - typically for the duration of our professional relationship and then for whatever period the law requires us to maintain records (usually 7-10 years for architectural projects).

Your rights and choices

You've got control here. Here's what you can do:

• Access your info: Ask us what personal data we have on you, and we'll tell you
• Correct mistakes: If something's wrong or outdated, let us know and we'll fix it
• Request deletion: Want us to delete your data? We can do that, unless we're legally required to keep it
• Withdraw consent: Change your mind about marketing emails? Unsubscribe anytime
• Lodge a complaint: If you think we've mishandled your information, you can contact the Privacy Commissioner of Canada

To exercise any of these rights, just shoot us an email at studio@emberlynforge.info or give us a call.

Cookies and website tracking

Our website uses cookies - those little bits of data that help websites function. We use them to:

• Keep the site running smoothly and remember your preferences
• Understand how people use our site so we can make it better
• Analyze traffic patterns (we use analytics tools, but we're not tracking you across the internet)

You can disable cookies in your browser settings, though some parts of the site might not work as well.

Changes to this policy

We might update this privacy policy from time to time - usually when there are legal changes or we add new services. When we do, we'll update the date at the top and let active clients know if the changes are significant.

Check back occasionally if you want to stay in the loop.