Terms and Conditions
Effective Date: January 1, 2026
Last Updated: January 15, 2026
These Terms and Conditions govern your use of the Northvale website and the consulting services we provide. By accessing our website or engaging our services, you agree to be bound by these terms.
1. Definitions
For the purposes of these Terms and Conditions:
- "We," "Us," "Our," or "Northvale" refers to Northvale, a consulting practice operating in Canada
- "You" or "Client" refers to the individual or organization accessing our website or engaging our services
- "Services" refers to the consulting services we provide, including governance review, social enterprise development, and charitable organization advisory
- "Website" refers to the Northvale website and all related pages
- "Agreement" refers to any consulting engagement agreement entered into between Northvale and a client
- "Content" refers to all text, images, data, and other materials on our website
2. Acceptance of Terms
By accessing or using our website, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions, as well as our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy. If you do not agree to these terms, you must discontinue use of our website.
You must be at least 18 years of age to use our website or engage our services. By using our website, you represent that you are of legal age to form a binding contract.
3. Description of Services
Northvale provides consulting services to nonprofit organizations, social enterprises, and charitable institutions. Our services include:
- Nonprofit Governance Review: evaluation of governance structures and board effectiveness
- Social Enterprise Development: support for developing sustainable social enterprise models
- Charitable Organization Advisory: ongoing strategic and operational counsel
Specific services, deliverables, timelines, and fees are outlined in individual engagement agreements. The information on our website is for general informational purposes and does not constitute an offer for services.
4. Engagement Terms
4.1 Engagement Agreements
All consulting engagements are governed by written agreements that specify the scope of work, deliverables, timeline, fees, and other terms. These engagement agreements take precedence over these general Terms and Conditions in the event of any conflict.
4.2 Fees and Payment
Fees for services are specified in engagement agreements and are payable in Canadian dollars (CAD). Payment terms, including due dates and accepted payment methods, are outlined in individual agreements. Fees do not include applicable taxes, which will be charged in addition to quoted prices.
4.3 Scope Changes
Changes to the scope of work outlined in an engagement agreement require mutual written consent. Additional fees may apply for scope expansions or significant modifications to the engagement parameters.
5. Client Responsibilities
When engaging our services, clients agree to:
- Provide accurate and complete information necessary for the engagement
- Make available organizational documents, data, and personnel as outlined in the engagement agreement
- Respond to information requests in a timely manner
- Participate in scheduled meetings and consultations
- Review deliverables and provide feedback within agreed timeframes
- Comply with payment terms specified in the engagement agreement
6. Intellectual Property
6.1 Website Content
All content on this website, including text, graphics, logos, images, and software, is the property of Northvale or its content suppliers and is protected by Canadian and international copyright laws. You may view and download content for personal, non-commercial use only. Any other use, including reproduction, modification, distribution, or republication, without prior written permission, is prohibited.
6.2 Deliverables and Work Product
Upon full payment of fees, clients receive a license to use deliverables and work product created specifically for their engagement. This license is non-exclusive and is subject to terms specified in the engagement agreement. Northvale retains ownership of general methodologies, frameworks, and approaches used in delivering services.
6.3 Client Materials
Clients retain ownership of materials, data, and information they provide to Northvale. By providing such materials, clients grant Northvale a limited license to use them for the purpose of delivering the agreed services.
7. Confidentiality
Northvale maintains strict confidentiality regarding client information and engagement details. We do not disclose client information except:
- As required by law or court order
- With client's explicit written consent
- To professional advisors bound by confidentiality obligations
- In anonymized form for professional development or research purposes
Specific confidentiality provisions are included in engagement agreements. Clients are responsible for maintaining confidentiality of deliverables and proprietary methodologies shared by Northvale.
8. Disclaimers and Limitations of Liability
8.1 No Warranties
Our services and website are provided "as is" without warranties of any kind, either express or implied. We do not warrant that our services will meet your specific requirements or achieve particular outcomes. While we strive to provide accurate and useful guidance, consulting recommendations involve professional judgment and may not always produce expected results.
8.2 Professional Advice Disclaimer
The information on our website and in our consulting services is for general informational and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal, accounting, tax, or other professional advice. Clients should consult appropriate professionals for advice specific to their circumstances.
8.3 Limitation of Liability
To the maximum extent permitted by law, Northvale shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, or any loss of profits or revenues, whether incurred directly or indirectly, or any loss of data, use, goodwill, or other intangible losses resulting from your use of our services or website.
Our total liability for any claims arising from an engagement shall not exceed the fees paid by the client for that specific engagement.
9. Indemnification
You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Northvale, its principals, employees, and contractors from any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, and expenses (including legal fees) arising from:
- Your breach of these Terms and Conditions
- Your violation of any law or the rights of a third party
- Your use or misuse of information obtained through our services
- Inaccurate or incomplete information provided to us
10. Termination
10.1 Termination by Client
Clients may terminate an engagement by providing written notice to Northvale. Termination terms, including notice periods and payment obligations for work completed, are specified in individual engagement agreements.
10.2 Termination by Northvale
We reserve the right to terminate an engagement if:
- Client fails to meet payment obligations
- Client provides materially inaccurate information
- Client fails to cooperate as required for engagement completion
- Continuation of the engagement would violate professional standards or legal requirements
10.3 Effect of Termination
Upon termination, clients remain obligated to pay for services rendered through the termination date. Confidentiality obligations and intellectual property provisions survive termination.
11. Dispute Resolution
11.1 Governing Law
These Terms and Conditions are governed by the laws of the Province of Ontario and the federal laws of Canada applicable therein, without regard to conflict of law principles.
11.2 Jurisdiction
Any disputes arising from these terms or our services shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Ontario, Canada.
11.3 Informal Resolution
Prior to initiating formal proceedings, parties agree to attempt to resolve disputes through good faith negotiation. Either party may request a meeting to discuss the dispute and explore resolution options.
12. General Provisions
12.1 Entire Agreement
These Terms and Conditions, together with our Privacy Policy, Cookie Policy, and any engagement agreement, constitute the entire agreement between you and Northvale regarding use of our website and services.
12.2 Severability
If any provision of these terms is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.
12.3 Waiver
Our failure to enforce any right or provision of these terms shall not constitute a waiver of that right or provision.
12.4 Assignment
You may not assign or transfer these terms or any rights hereunder without our prior written consent. We may assign our rights and obligations under these terms without restriction.
12.5 Notices
Notices to Northvale should be sent to [email protected]. We will provide notices to you at the email address or postal address you have provided.
13. Changes to Terms
We reserve the right to modify these Terms and Conditions at any time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated "Last Updated" date. For significant changes, we will provide notice through our website or direct communication with active clients.
Your continued use of our website or services after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the modified terms. If you do not agree to the changes, you should discontinue use of our website and services.
14. Contact Information
For questions about these Terms and Conditions, please contact us: