August 2nd, 2023
In many respects, John Atkin was meant to be a part of Commissionaires.
“Commissionaires has always been very good to me and my family over the past 40 years,” John said. “I can’t imagine working for another security company.” John’s grandfather, Jerry Doiron, a second world war veteran, and his uncle Raymond Doiron were commissionaires with the New Brunswick Division.
In 2001, while still in the reserves, he applied for a part-time security position with CGL and has since risen to Senior Director of Military and Veteran Relations. John is responsible for initiatives that establish CGL as an employer of choice for reservists, Canadian Armed Forces and RCMP veterans, and members of their families. He also serves as a volunteer member of CGL’s Ceremonial Marching Unit which parades at military and civilian parades across Southwestern Ontario.
John has had many memorable moments with CGL. Among them are representing and honouring the company and veterans at the Honda Indy Toronto event where he waved the racing flag, and performing the coin toss on Canadian Armed Forces Day at the Rogers Cup tennis tournament. He has been recognized for managing high volumes of staff and collaborating with the RCMP during the G8 and G20 summits.
Outside of Commissionaires, John has served as a leader with the Duke of Edinburgh Award Program for over 25 years and is a member of both the Royal Canadian Military Institute and the Royal Canadian Legion. He’s also a member of the actor’s union which has allowed him to apply his experience in the military to assist as a weapons specialist and drill trainer for large blockbuster films—X-Men, The Incredible Hulk, and Code Breakers, to name a few. He enjoys editing short films and was recently awarded Best Editor at the Las Vegas Movie Awards.
John has earned a number of decorations and awards over the years. He earned the Canadian Forces Decoration (CD), the Commissionaires Long Service Medal (he received his second bar for 22 years of service this summer), and the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers. Though John retired from the Canadian Armed Forces Reserves as a Captain in 2009 after serving for 14 years, he’s able to apply his passion for helping veterans and military families through his work at CGL. In this way, he’s made a home at Commissionaires which allows him to continue building on his family’s legacy of service.