Frequently Asked Questions

You can reach us through the contact form on our website, by email at hello@auralisassociates.com, or by phone at (613) 555-0147. We respond to all inquiries within 24 business hours. The initial consultation is offered at no charge and without obligation, and can take place at our Elgin Street office or by phone.

We are open Monday - Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM EST. All meetings are by appointment. If you need to reach us outside regular hours, leave a voicemail or send an email - we will respond the next business day.

We recommend booking at least two to three weeks in advance for most services. Investigative reporting and documentary production projects may require longer lead times depending on complexity. For urgent matters, contact us and we will do our best to accommodate your timeline.

Yes. The initial consultation is specifically designed for this purpose. You will meet the team member who would lead your project, discuss your objectives, and receive a clear overview of what the engagement would involve - all before any commitment on your part.

Absolutely. While our office is in Ottawa, we serve clients across Canada and, where appropriate, internationally. Remote consultations, digital file delivery, and video calls are available for most services. On-location work outside Ottawa is available and travel costs are quoted separately in the project proposal.

Every engagement follows a structured process: initial consultation, scope and proposal, research and production, delivery, and follow-up. The specifics depend on the service - an investigative reporting project may take several months while a media training session can be completed in one day. We keep you informed at every stage and are available for questions during business hours.

Your proposal will identify the team member or members assigned to your project. Our team of four covers different specializations: Sarah Mitchell handles investigative work, Marc-Andre Beaumont leads French-language content and reporting, Priya Chakrabarti manages research and editorial consulting, and James O'Sullivan conducts media training and relations. Complex projects may involve multiple team members.

Independence is embedded in our corporate structure. Auralis Associates Inc. is a privately held federal corporation with no external investors, media affiliations, or political ties. Our editorial decisions are made internally. We decline any engagement that could create a conflict of interest, and we disclose all relevant relationships before accepting a project.

We treat all client communications and project materials as confidential. Source identities are protected according to journalistic ethics and applicable Canadian law. Documents are stored securely and archived for 36 months after project completion. Our Privacy Policy details how we handle personal data. For B2B engagements, we offer a formal Data Processing Agreement.

Deliverable formats depend on the service. Written reports are typically delivered in PDF and DOCX. Presentations may be provided in PPTX or PDF. Video and documentary content is delivered in broadcast-quality formats such as ProRes or H.264/H.265 (MP4). Specific format requirements are agreed upon in the project proposal. Read our guide on Understanding Media Formats and Deliverables for more detail.

All project files, including source materials and drafts, are archived securely for 36 months (3 years) from the date of final delivery. After this period, files are permanently deleted unless you request an extension. Tax-related records (invoices, receipts) are retained for 7 years as required by Canadian tax law.

Yes. Additional format conversions or access to raw/source files (interview recordings, research notes, raw footage) can be arranged. These may be subject to additional fees and are discussed during the scoping phase. Note that some source materials may be subject to confidentiality restrictions.

Small files are delivered by email. Larger deliverables are shared through a secure file-transfer service or on physical media (USB drive) at our office. We do not use consumer cloud storage services for client deliverables. Delivery method is confirmed in the project proposal.

Full intellectual property rights transfer to the client upon 100% payment of all fees and expenses. Until payment is complete, Auralis Associates retains ownership. The specifics of intellectual property transfer are detailed in our Terms of Service. Pre-existing materials (such as generic templates or proprietary research methodologies) remain the property of Auralis Associates.

Once full payment has been received and intellectual property has transferred, you are free to publish, redistribute, or adapt the deliverables as you see fit, except where third-party rights (such as licensed images or interview subjects' rights) apply. We will clearly identify any third-party restrictions in our delivery notes.

Under the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) and, where applicable, the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), you have the right to access, correct, and request deletion of your personal data. You may also object to processing or request data portability. Full details are in our Privacy Policy. You may also file a complaint with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (OPC).

Interview subjects are informed of how their statements will be used and are given the opportunity to review direct quotes for accuracy. However, editorial control and final approval of published content remain with Auralis Associates and the commissioning client. Subjects must be at least 18 years of age. These practices follow established journalistic standards in Canada.

A 30% deposit of the total project fee is required to secure your booking and begin work. The remaining balance is due upon delivery of the final deliverables. For long-term projects, milestone-based billing may be arranged as specified in the project proposal.

You may cancel free of charge up to 14 days before the scheduled start of work. Cancellations made fewer than 14 days in advance may forfeit the deposit, depending on work already completed. If Auralis Associates must cancel, you will receive a full refund of any deposit paid. See our Terms of Service for complete details.

Yes. B2B clients in good standing may pay on net 30 terms by prior arrangement. This must be agreed before the project begins and is noted in the proposal and invoice. Standard payment methods include bank transfer and cheque. We do not currently accept credit cards.

All prices published on this website are in Canadian dollars (CAD), excluding HST (13%). Our GST/HST registration number is 741825693RT0001. Invoices will itemize the subtotal, HST amount, and total amount due. Clients outside Ontario may be subject to different provincial tax rates depending on their location.

2 rounds of revisions are included in every engagement at no additional cost. A revision round consists of a single set of consolidated feedback from the client, followed by our implementation of those changes. Additional revision rounds beyond the included 2 are billed at the applicable hourly rate for the service.