Western Canada Security works closely with residential and commercial property managers on Vancouver Island. And we feel aligned with them beyond that direct connection, because companies working in property management or protection services share a particularly confounding challenge. Our best work is nearly invisible. When things go well, hardly anyone notices that success. Then, the important role we play becomes evident as soon as issues arise. How we respond to those problems is what makes a particular company stand out or fall behind.
This month, we want to salute the vital work that property managers do for residents and businesses alike, while highlighting a few ways that assistance with safety and security can boost operational efficiency.
F.A.Q.: “Can You Get Here Yesterday?”
Ours is one of the few firms out there that can respond to urgent or ad hoc requests and also provide comprehensive, sophisticated support. Often, the first call we receive from a property manager is for immediate help with a critical situation. Perhaps that client does not yet have a viable security plan in place. Or maybe their chosen vendor has not met expectations on-the-ground.
Whatever the reason for so many last-second calls, we know that our best work cannot be done on-the-fly. That said, we do have well-tested systems and dedicated teams for critical response. Western Canada Security will answer any call for help, knowing that our service is a vital community good. Enhanced security at one site improves the quality of life for the entire neighbourhood as well as the surrounding cities and suburbs.
When property managers plan ahead, and get in touch before emergencies arise, we like to start with full security assessments of the properties under management. We dedicated a previous blog to that topic. To recap, an assessment will identify a range of vulnerabilities in safety and security; subsequent reports identify recommended steps to make practical improvements. Sometimes problems require technological solutions, such as security cameras for 24/7 monitoring. Other types of shortfalls can be resolved through lighting design or adjustments to landscaping that will direct foot traffic or add more street-level visibility. In every case, analysis and recommendations are highly customized to your property’s unique form and function.
Traditional Security
Despite a surge in AI-driven protection technologies, traditional Security Guards still stand strong. In fact, it’s become increasingly common in recent years to see them watching over commercial complexes in the C.R.D. Property Managers coordinate that service in many cases, so that neighbouring businesses can share in the costs and benefits. Those benefits include immediate response to issues and, more importantly, a visible presence that deters crime.
Only the most affluent residential properties would enlist Security Guards to safeguard residents under normal circumstances. But we do deploy our Officers to stand watch over high-density buildings when their electronic monitoring systems (such as fire panels) go offline, either due to unexpected disruptions or scheduled maintenance.
Mobile Patrols, however, are a common service request from residential property managers. Whether for homes or businesses, scheduled patrols by marked security vehicles create a visible presence that keep vandals and intruders from making your location a target. Our Patrollers also perform regular safety scans for hazards, clear obstructions, and rattle-check locks to ensure that buildings are secure. By preventing criminal activity, low-cost patrols pay for themselves many times over, when this line item is weighed against the heavy administrative and material expenses that result from major incidents.
Security Management in 2025
Technology products can do a lot more with much less, in terms of our client’s budgets. The digital arms of our suite of services extend our staff team’s capabilities, and they do so in a reciprocal fashion. Those tech-based revenue streams support our workforce’s performance and well-being: by funding upgraded equipment, stronger training, additional incentives, and expanded health benefits. We do all that we can to care for our Security Officers, so that they can do their very best for our clients.
Rather than dispatching Security Guards to stand at a building’s entrances and exits, we can use technology to manage access control. Surprisingly, in 2025 many property managers still rely on traditional keys. That’s a problem, because there’s just no telling how long or how far those little pieces of metal will circulate. Uncontrolled access is a key risk for buildings of any size, as well as an administrative hassle that is quickly resolved by adopting digital fobs.
If a master key goes missing, best practices dictate changing the entire facility’s locks, which can cost millions of dollars in some cases. Refitting digital fobs, by contrast, is a matter of one phone call to WCS and just a few clicks on the backend. Going a step further, once digital access systems are installed we can integrate them with security cameras to remotely validate authorizations. Fobs improve your ability to control access control. For example, a trades person’s access can be restricted to specific parts of the building and to a set period of time. Digital tracking lets property managers validate hours billed against time spent on-site. To learn more about smart, integrated systems, turn back to our 2024 blog about AI tools that leverage our client’s video surveillance footage.
Whether you’re talking residential buildings or commercial complexes, property management is a highly challenging industry. Hard days on the job are especially challenging for someone trying to balance the competing interests of owners and tenants, insurance providers and maintenance personnel, the general public and municipal governments. The good news is that improved security and enhanced safety works in the interests of all stakeholders. And so, simplified, responsive security from a reliable provider goes a long way toward alleviating the burdens that property managers face.
If you think the supports we’ve outlined could help make your days run a little smoother, let’s have a chat about your situation and your concerns.