August 5th, 2021
The corporate partnership comes as fans return to Wanderers Grounds amid increased health and safety protocols.
Halifax, NS – Commissionaires Nova Scotia, a trusted security provider, is teaming up with the Halifax Wanderers Football Club to serve as its Official Public Safety Partner for home matches and other events at Wanderers Grounds in Downtown Halifax.
The partnership will employ approximately 40 commissionaires at each match. The uniformed officers are responsible for collecting tickets and ushering guests, ensuring a safe and enjoyable experience for spectators as they gather again after nearly two years.
“We are thrilled to welcome fans back to Wanderers Grounds,” said Derek Martin, Founder and President of HFX Wanderers FC.
“We are relying on the professionals at Commissionaires to ensure all public safety protocols are met so our supporters can do what they do best – cheer and have fun!”
The partnership is a chance for Commissionaires to demonstrate its event services expertise in an emerging market – professional soccer. HFX Wanderers FC is one of eight clubs competing in the Canadian Premier League, which held its inaugural season in 2019 aiming to improve national soccer talent and the sport in Canada.
This early involvement in Canada’s professional soccer league sets up Commissionaires Nova Scotia – and its sister divisions across the country – to take on greater roles as the League expands. It also creates a link for Commissionaires to get involved with Major League Soccer, the professional league home to CF Montréal, Toronto FC, and Vancouver Whitecaps.
“We are proud to be the first point of contact for soccer fans as they return to the stands,” said Geoff Hamilton, CEO of Commissionaires Nova Scotia.
“Event services is an area of our business we see great potential in, particularly now that in-person gatherings are resuming. As a not-for-profit, direct involvement with the community is important to us. We always want to be a good neighbour for the areas we serve.”
Commissionaires are trusted event partners. They are known for being polite, professional, ready to field questions, and are able to prevent and diffuse issues. Trained to read the mood of a crowd, commissionaires can identify potential sources of concern, and respond quickly and effectively in emergency situations.
Commissionaires oversaw their first soccer match – the home opener – on Monday, when the HFX Wanderers secured a 2-1 win over Atlético Ottawa. The next home game takes place this Saturday, August 7, against York United. The event is sold out.
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ABOUT COMMISSIONAIRES NOVA SCOTIA:
A national not-for-profit, Commissionaires is Canada’s premier security provider. Commissionaires Nova Scotia is an independent member of the Commissionaires federation, employing more than 1,400 veterans of the Canadian Armed Forces and RCMP, as well as others who wish to contribute to the safety and security of Canadians. Services include security guarding, remote monitoring and surveillance, mobile patrol, threat risk assessment, bylaw enforcement, identification and fingerprinting, background screening, investigations, and security and safety training. Clients include some of Nova Scotia’s most recognizable private and public sector institutions.
ABOUT HFX WANDERERS FC:
HFX Wanderers Football Club is a Canadian professional soccer club in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The club competes in the Canadian Premier League at the top of the Canadian soccer league system, and play their home matches at Wanderers Grounds.