1. Introduction
Design By Toronto ("we," "us," or "our") is committed to protecting the privacy and personal information of our clients, prospective clients, website visitors, and other individuals who interact with our business. We operate from 12176 Derry Road, Milton, Ontario, L9T 7J6, Canada.
This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your personal information in accordance with the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) and applicable Ontario privacy legislation. By using our website or engaging our services, you consent to the practices described in this policy.
2. Information We Collect
2.1 Information You Provide Directly
We may collect personal information that you voluntarily provide to us, including:
- Contact information: name, email address, phone number, company name, and mailing address
- Project information: details about your business, project requirements, budgets, timelines, and creative assets you share with us
- Payment information: billing address and payment details necessary to process invoices (we do not store credit card numbers directly; payment processing is handled by third-party providers)
- Communications: information contained in emails, contact form submissions, and other correspondence with us
2.2 Information Collected Automatically
When you visit our website, we may automatically collect certain technical information, including:
- Device and browser information: IP address, browser type and version, operating system, device type, and screen resolution
- Usage data: pages visited, time spent on pages, referring URLs, click patterns, and navigation paths
- Cookies and similar technologies: as described in our Cookie Policy
3. How We Use Your Information
We use personal information for the following purposes:
- Service delivery: to provide branding, design, marketing, and related professional services you have engaged us for
- Communication: to respond to inquiries, provide project updates, send invoices, and communicate about our services
- Business operations: to manage client relationships, maintain business records, and administer contracts
- Website improvement: to analyze usage patterns, improve website functionality, and enhance user experience
- Legal compliance: to comply with applicable laws, regulations, and legal processes
- Marketing: with your express consent, to send newsletters, promotional materials, or information about services that may interest you
4. Consent
We obtain your consent before collecting, using, or disclosing your personal information, except where permitted or required by law. Consent may be express (written or verbal) or implied (through your actions, such as submitting a contact form).
You may withdraw your consent at any time by contacting us, subject to legal or contractual restrictions and reasonable notice. Withdrawal of consent may affect our ability to provide certain services to you.
5. Disclosure of Information
We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information. We may share your information in the following limited circumstances:
- Service providers: trusted third-party vendors who assist us in operating our business (e.g., hosting providers, payment processors, project management tools), who are contractually obligated to protect your information
- Legal requirements: when required by law, regulation, court order, or governmental authority
- Business transfers: in connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of business assets, in which case your information would remain subject to this Privacy Policy
- With your consent: in any other circumstances where you have provided express consent
6. Data Retention
We retain personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes for which it was collected, or as required by law. Client project files and business records are typically retained for a period of seven (7) years following the completion of a project, in accordance with Canadian tax and business record-keeping requirements. You may request deletion of your personal information at any time, subject to our legal obligations.
7. Security
We implement reasonable technical, administrative, and physical safeguards to protect your personal information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. These measures include:
- Secure, encrypted connections (SSL/TLS) for data transmission
- Access controls limiting who within our organization can view personal information
- Secure storage of physical and digital records
- Regular review and updating of our security practices
While we take reasonable steps to protect your information, no method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is completely secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security.
8. Your Rights Under PIPEDA
Under PIPEDA, you have the right to:
- Access the personal information we hold about you
- Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete personal information
- Withdraw consent for the collection, use, or disclosure of your personal information
- File a complaint with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada if you believe your privacy rights have been violated
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the information provided below. We will respond to your request within thirty (30) days.
9. Third-Party Links
Our website may contain links to third-party websites or services that are not operated by us. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these third parties. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party sites you visit.
10. Children's Privacy
Our services are not directed to individuals under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If we become aware that we have collected personal information from a child without parental consent, we will take steps to delete that information promptly.
11. International Transfers
Your personal information may be transferred to and processed in countries outside of Canada where our service providers operate. In such cases, your information may be subject to the laws of those jurisdictions. We take reasonable steps to ensure that any international transfers comply with PIPEDA and that your information receives an adequate level of protection.
12. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or applicable law. We will post the updated policy on this page with a revised "Last updated" date. We encourage you to review this policy periodically. Continued use of our website or services following any changes constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy.
13. Contact Us
If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices, please contact us:
Design By Toronto
12176 Derry Road
Milton, Ontario L9T 7J6
Canada
You may also file a complaint with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada at www.priv.gc.ca.