December 2nd, 2014
Sens Mean Business is an ongoing series in OBJ where the Ottawa Senators highlight local companies who support the city’s NHL franchise.
SENS MEAN BUSINESS: Commissionaires
WHAT DOES COMMISSIONAIRES OTTAWA DO?
Commissionaires Ottawa is an award-winning, private sector market leader that specializes in providing a diverse range of security solutions—from guarding, digital fingerprinting and pre-employment screening to investigations, threat risk assessments and non-core policing. The company’s social mandate includes a primary focus on hiring Canadian Armed Forces and RCMP veterans.
WHAT IS AN INTERESTING FACT ABOUT COMMISSIONAIRES OTTAWA?
“The average age of a modern-day commissionaire is the mid-40s range,” reveals CEO Paul Guindon. “Not everyone spends a full career in the military or RCMP. A 25 year-old soldier who served in Afghanistan and chooses to switch careers is just as much of a veteran as someone like me who began my second career during my early 50s after 33 years in the Navy.”
Over the past decade, unprecedented demand for Commissionaires Ottawa’s services has driven the company to triple its employee population, open four new offices and expand its services ten-fold.
HOW IS COMMISSIONAIRES OTTAWA INVOLVED WITH THE SENS?
For the past seven years, Commissionaires Ottawa has purchased season seats to reward exceptional employees and donate tickets to assist with non-profit fundraising and charitable causes. As an extension of 75th anniversary celebrations following the City of Ottawa’s proclamation of Commissionaires Ottawa Day on October 1st, 2014, 75 commissionaires in full uniform were invited to the Home Opener against Colorado Avalanche on October 16th.
“We were especially honoured that Cyril Leeder and Mark Bonneau met with our commissionaires during a pre-game gathering,” Paul said.
“Above and beyond the Sens’ 5-3 victory that night, the most exciting part of the evening is when all 75 of us were welcomed onto the ice after the game for a group photo. What a great souvenir for our commissionaires!” added Paul.