In British Columbia, business is never “just business.” Our province is filled with people who dedicate much personal energy and many off-hours to the land and waterways, to our unique culture and economic health. Successful professionals from every industry make giving back part of their regular schedule. At Western Canada Security, the obligation to serve is a necessity and a pleasure.
Our leadership and Security Officers appear out-and-about in the communities we serve – off-duty but very engaged. Those activities join us to a wide network of peers and partners who are similarly committed to active citizenship, charitable works, and responsible growth.
This month, our blog post covers three ways that we put our strengths to work for Vancouver Islanders.
Raising awareness
Right from the company’s beginnings, participating in local business organizations put us on the map. Early examples are Vancouver Island’s many Chambers of Commerce and the Victoria City chapter of Think Local First. Attendance at their monthly mixers helped us articulate a clear vision, connect with new clients, and spread awareness about our humane approach to protection services. Sponsored info-sessions exposed us to high-level insights about doing commerce in such a dynamic region as ours. After benefiting from these public talks, we felt inspired to put our in-house knowledge to work for others.
Earlier this year, Western Canada Security’s President appeared at a Lunch-and-Learn event hosted by Think Local First. Gathering under the title Navigating Victoria’s New Safety Landscape: Insights and Solutions for Businesses, members of the organization shared a meal and heard from experts about a collective issue. The group discussion that followed led to a survey and subsequent advocacy work on the municipal level. That typifies one benefit of organizations like Think Local First. Over time, they have become trusted representatives for expressing unmet needs and needed solutions to all three levels of government.
Networking for the Greater Good
The Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce recently celebrated an impressive anniversary: 160 years of continual activity in our province’s capital city. During the past few years, the organization intentionally diversified membership through outreach with Indigenous communities and recruitment drives addressing those new to Canada. Western Canada Security has had a hand in those developments, for example with contributions to the Chamber’s Inclusion, Diversity and Equity Advancement Committee. We feel proud to see its efforts redoubled with an exciting new program.
This month, the Inter-Cultural Association of Greater Victoria hosted the launch of the Chamber’s New to Canada Program. It gives extra support to local companies headed by newcomers.
As one would expect, the Inter-cultural Assocation’s local offices had a global look about them that day. People hailing from far and wide gathered to celebrate over morning coffees, delightful pastries, and warm conversations. A series of guest speakers shared personal sentiments and potent stories about their personal journeys and family backgrounds. Western Canada Security’s team was well-represented at the program’s launch, and we shared our own example of culturally integrating into the local business community – successfully but not without challenges. In particular, we emphasized that true arrival means learning the local landscape while staying true to one’s own cultural values. That’s a powerful combination.
Specializing in Special Events
When it comes to giving back, we support and engage with the communities we serve at concerts and sporting events, at festivals and community celebrations. Sometimes that means providing routine security services, like bag checks, crowd control, standing watch, and patrolling perimeters. Other times, we partner with groups that organize lively, long-standing events by providing sponsorships or pro-bono services.
Annual favourites include Soberfest, JazzFest, Pet-a-Palooza, and the Sikh harvest celebration known as “Vaisakhi.” At these special events, our friendly Security Officers appear in and out of uniform. Either way, our info booths have water and shade to share as well as basic First Aid supplies. We see every interaction as an opportunity to increase awareness about public safety. This year, we are working on developing informational materials that will help anyone develop their own knowledge of threats, hazards, and basic steps to mitigating risk. In that way, we meet the duty to share expertise about common dangers and personal protection.
After building our business from the ground up, and then being given a wide platform, our visibility and recognition have grown in large part through rich connections and deep involvements. Community engagements often come at a cost of no immediate profits, but the long-term gains for all involved are undeniable. If you have creative ideas about how to benefit your own neighbourhood, please do get in touch with us.