Genesis Security Group

Exciting News! Launch of Facebook, New Blog, and Youtube Channel!

2011-11-18T16:20:00.000-08:00

Genesis Security is excited about the launch of our new Genesis Security Expert Blog, Genesis Security Facebook Page, and Youtube Channel.

The Blog will be updated on a weekly basis, and its primary focus is to provide weekly safety tips, although other subject matter will be addressed. Become a follower, "like", comment, and provide suggestions on what you would like to see on the Genesis Blog. Better still ask the Security Expert a question and watch for the answer!

The old blog is still available for viewing; however, check out the new Blog.
You can also visit us on Facebook and Youtube.

Email Security

2011-09-26T18:04:00.000-07:00

I was reading an interesting article over the weekend that was posted on a BCLDC website. In the interest of educating yourself I thought you might be interested in reading it as well.

Email security

Please continue to be cautious whenever you receive a message that contains a link to a web-site or an attachment. Here are two recent reports that illustrate why:
On one day in mid August, a record peak of 25 billion malicious attachments to e-mails were sent. Those who opened the attachment were infected with software that can make it part of a botnet, a network of millions of computers that can be centrally controlled. No one has yet determined what use will be made of this new botnet.

Click Here

A recent phishing attack lures the innocent with a lawsuit threat and the claim that an attachment is evidence that their computer has been used for criminal activity. Under such circumstances, would you open the attachment?

Click Here

We don’t have to be victims, but we do have to be alert.

Genesis Hero of the Week:

2011-09-22T11:38:00.000-07:00

While on his regular rounds a Genesis night guard was confronted by a man attempting to gain access to a secured location. Our man, Harinder interrupted the intruder and the gentleman fled. Thanks to his quick alert to the Police the man was later apprehended. Turns out the man was wanted by the police for questioning in connection with an earlier incident involving a stabbing. Kudos Harninder!!

End of summer!

2011-09-08T09:45:00.000-07:00

Hello Everybody,
I would first like to thank all our clients new & old for another fantastic summer. I would often hear my employees when they come by the office laughing and sharing their great experiences that had at the various events we did over the summer. I would like to give a special thank you to End Cancer who we developed a relationship with this past summer providing security for the Ride to Conquer Cancer, The Underwear Affair and the Weekend to End Women's Cancer. As well to The Cloverdale Rodeo who we just finished our 8th year with. We hope to continue all our relationships in the coming years.
With Summer quickly coming to an end we now look forward to our fall events and it was just announced recently that we will be back to provide our support to soon to be open BC Place. Our team is extremely excited to get back into the swing of things since BC Place shut down for regular events to start construction and prepare to be centre stage for the 2011 Winter Olympics.

2011-06-21T09:02:00.000-07:00

Violence as a Last Resort

Ju-do = “the gentle way”. You don’t need to know the martial art itself to practice peaceful ways. We can all apply this ancient skill to our everyday lives. Even verbal self defence (a.k.a “Verbal Judo” ) when combined with common knowledge and training can de- escalate or end an attempted assault. Practicing a nonviolent approach gives one more control and with less effort.

Last week during our Canucks Stanly Cup playoff coverage for Rogers, SportsNet and CTV, we had a situation occur where one of our highly trained guards used peaceful tactics in preventing a rambunctious fan from ploughing into CTV’s Sarah Galashan. In a calm and restrained way our guard was able to deflect him away and onto the ground in a safe manner -allowing the reporter to continue her news report. The guard then refused to engage verbally and ended the conversation. In this type of incidence it is especially fundamental to stay calm in order to protect yourself and others. These kind of tactics are also very proficient at diffusing the anger of others.

In every day life at Genesis, we see all kinds of angry people in these circumstances, and, as trained security guards, we’ve learned how to effectively calm and diffuse any difficult situation.
Genesis Security would like to personally thank all of our trained security guards who were so courageous, calm and proficient in handling the mob during the Stanley Cup Riot 2011.

“Violence is the last resort of the incompetent”- Lorne Bozinoff

Debit Card Fraud

2011-06-10T15:41:00.000-07:00

Raise your awareness in your community, keep a watchful eye to prevent debit card skimming fraud.

Here are some helpful tips on how to protect your personal accounts:

1. Cover your PIN. Your bankcard won't work without the PIN. Thieves usually obtain the PIN with a small camera stationed near the card processor, so keep an eye out for anything that seems out of place. It might be a camera, or it may just be an unusual looking item placed conspicuously close by. In any event, shield the keypad with your body or free hand when entering your PIN.
2. Be selective with your ATM. Again, look for anything out of place. Any wires exposed? Tape evident? Hardware loose? If so, find another ATM. Use an ATM inside a bank whenever possible. Stay away from ATMs in remote locations that appear seldom used. These are easy to tamper with and might even be dummy cash machines…
3. Leave some wiggle room. When you insert your card, wiggle it while it's in the slot. If something seems loose, there might be theft device attached to the swipe hardware. Wiggling the card might jar the theft device from its hiding place.
4. Monitor your accounts. One of the best protections against continued use of your stolen information is to check bank statements regularly! With a debit card, you may be responsible for the first $50 (and you must report theft within two business days of discovery and no later than 60 days after the theft for protection). Credit cards generally have better protections plans and might be a better choice if you have any reservations about an ATM or processing machine.
5. Look for security cameras. ATMs and gas pumps that are under video surveillance and have cameras aimed directly at the card readers are less likely to be fitted with card-skimming equipment. Makes sense right?
6. Keep an eye on your card. When you give your card to a waiter or clerk, be skeptical of any request to swipe it through multiple devices or if they must leave your sight. Again – common sense, but it’s surprising how many people allow other people free access to their cards.
7. Be careful at the gas station. Gas stations are among the most prone to skimming… Use a credit card whenever possible or even choose the credit option on your bankcard.
Remember – raise your awareness and use common sense and you should be able to protect yourself from card skimming fraud.

- Genesis Security Group

Cloverdale Rodeo 2011

2011-05-31T11:18:00.000-07:00

Genesis Secuirty Group started the May Long Weekend off with a kick at the annual Cloverdale Rodeo this year. It was nothing short of a good time, fun events and great people. We always enjoy seeing everyone out enjoying the warmer weather and festivities.

We want to thank all of our guards for their time and hard work. We encountered the least number of problems that we have ever seen. The Cloverdale Rodeo and all the staff were very pleased with the turn out. I was a great success.

See you all next year!

-GSG

Keeping your eye on the ball

2011-05-30T10:42:00.000-07:00

Keeping your eye on the ball, staying focused and maintaining awareness is no game at GSG and with these skills we were able to gain inside on some serious fraudulent activity in one of downtown Vancouver’s busiest locations.

On the 22nd of this month, two of our LPO team members observed a male that they had previously arrested for debit card skimming. On this day they observed the male along with another unknown male withdrawing large amounts of cash from several bank machines along Granville Street. They contacted Vancouver Police and advised them of the situation. Two plainclothes units attended shortly after and took over the surveillance. At about 2130 on the same day the officer contacted the LPO members and advised them that they had five males in custody for fraud over $5000.00 in a high end Downtown Vancouver hotel stemming from the surveillance that they had directed them too. The male that was known to the LPO team was also in the hotel suite had well over $40,000, a money counting machine and hundreds of black debit cards containing innocent peoples banking information.

Raise your awareness in your community, keep a watchful eye and use preventative measures in debit card skimming fraud.

The DVBIA awards dinner

2011-05-27T15:14:00.000-07:00

The DVBIA awards dinner was held on Thursday May 19th at Steamworks Brewing Co. The annual dinner is held to give thanks to the hard working team members of the DVBIA Ambassador and Loss Prevention team and present awards to a select number of them. It was an exceptional year with Vancouver being centre stage during the Olympics and a record breaking year for the Loss prevention team making 600 arrests. There were seven award categories recognized at this dinner.

The categories and the winners are as follows:

Ambassador of the year - Dan Givi
Most Promising Ambassador - Vanessa Marshall
Tourism - Perpetua Aperocho
Stolen Auto Recovery - Rohini Devi
Crime Prevention - Houman Ziaei
Supervisor of the Year- Jason Corlett
Loss Prevention Officer of the Year-Ali Rahnumah

The Genesis Security Group would like to say Thank you for the excellent service that they have provided to this fantastic program over the past year. We are also extremely proud of every member of the Ambassador & Loss Prevention team for all their hard work over the past year.

Thank you and keep up the great work.

Intuition

2011-05-13T10:13:00.000-07:00

Your “Gut-feeling” or Intuition is a life saving indicator that can sometimes be telling you that you’re in serious danger, and to be prepared to take appropriate steps to defend yourself and/or others. It is often right.

One of our guards, S/O Jody was attending one of our sites for a scheduled patrol and came across a Green Honda in the parking lot. He had noted this vehicle on site during his first patrol and felt it to be suspicious. He approached the vehicle without hesitation and asked the occupants some basic questions regarding the vehicle and in general what they were up to. One of the occupants of the vehicle replied in confidence to Jody’s questions and advised him that they were just waiting for a friend to bring them gas as they had run out. Jody had an instinct to follow-up on this matter and decided to call non-emergency police to run the plates. At that time a dispatcher was advised that they were having a car attend site. Within a short time five Burnaby RCMP cars were on site surrounding the vehicle with guns drawn and finally removed occupants from vehicle and they were shortly placed under arrest. The vehicle was reported stolen and the male occupant was reported to have been in an altercation a few days prior where he had been stabbed three times. He was taken to hospital and the female occupant was taken into custody.

Jody has created a safer community on behalf of Genesis Security Group and we are proud to have him on our team.

Thank you Jody for the great work!

Kerrisdale Carnival

2011-05-05T11:15:00.000-07:00

It was a beautiful spring day at the Kerrisdale Carnival last weekend. It was a day of fun events, great food, sunshine and a warm community feel.

We were very happy to see the community out enjoying the day and supporting the neighbourhood, as we were once again proud to be out providing our support.

We would like to give a special thanks to the wonderful staff at the Orange Corner who have been a huge supporter of ours for many years. We would also like to thank the lovely "Genesis Security Princesses" who came out to support this wonderful event and helped make the day that much brighter for all the children and families.

We look forward to seeing you at the next event.

Because Accidents Happen...

2011-01-25T15:34:00.000-08:00

Being prepared for emergency situations and being able to administer first aid when needed can mean the difference in how critical an injury can become before the proper medical treatment is received. If you do not have the time or resources to take a First Aid Course, it is still important to invest in a First Aid Kit.

Make sure to inspect the contents regularly to ensure that the kit is properly stocked and no ointments or other items have passed their expiration dates.

You can’t predict when an accident will occur; so being prepared is the first step to keeping your family safe.

Hidden Dangers - Keeping Our Children Safe

2011-01-14T16:08:00.000-08:00

As soon as we became a parent, we educated ourselves about child safety - from the proper bottles we use, childproofing our homes, and learning the proper use of car seats to the importance of helmets. Quite often, we are unaware of the less common dangers such as accidents that may occur at the grocery store or the local shopping mall.

Escalators

Escalators - To us, adults, this is no more than a way to bring us up or down a level; however, to a child, this looks like a fun and adventurous ride. Little do they know, that they could seriously get injured. Make sure your kids tie their shoelaces before getting on escalator, stand in the center of the escalator face forward, hold the handrail and stop off at the end and lastly refrain from sitting or playing on the escalators.

Shopping Carts

Since accidents with shopping carts have been well publicized over the years, warnings have been printed on most shopping carts these days. Still, it is a good idea to be cautious of the risks involved particularly head injuries that occur with falls. Many of us think that by just placing the child in the cart is safe enough and often ignore the seat belts they come with, but don't underestimate your child's ability to come out or attempt to come out. It only takes you reaching for that item on the top shelf for a fatal accident to occur. That being said, even with the seat belt, the best way for prevention is always being close to your child, and anticipating the hidden dangers surrounding.

Kidnappers

Besides the physical dangers mentioned above, this one is by far the most important to be cautious of. It is easy for us parents to be distracted when shopping - whether it be a sale bin we find or running into an old friend. Sometimes, we think it's safe to just leave our kids "just for a second" to grab an item, but forget that it only takes "that second" for someone to take them. The shopping center is a great opportunity for kidnappers - it is overwhelming with consumers and parents "too busy" to be focused on their children at all times. Remember to discuss a few of these tips with your children if ever an attempt is made:

• Thrash, fight, bite, and scream, "Help! Police!" repeatedly, shed a jacket or backpack that is grabbed, drop any excess baggage slowing them down, escape to a populated area, and call the police. YELL! RUN! TELL! The kidnapper fears a public spectacle and may simply flee alone. Also, witnesses may intervene, or at least identify the kidnapper and/or vehicle.
• If there’s a gun, ignore it and run! A gun is used to scare – rarely if ever to shoot a child. (Besides, if he's willing to quickly kill a child on the spot, he'll slowly do worse harm at leisure before killing the child later at a secluded, secondary crime scene anyway.

There are many hidden dangers out there, and as much as we want as parents, we can only do so much. Educating ourselves and our children is the first step. Be safe.

Alarm Systems - Not Just Warning You of Intruders

2010-12-27T15:10:00.000-08:00

An alarm system should provide peace of mind that your home and family are secure. Besides alerting you of possible intruders, your alarm system can and should warn you of other dangers such as fire and gas leaks.
There are several features that your alarm system should provide:
Control Panel – This should be user friendly, simple to activate and deactivate. It should be placed in the house that easily accessible in the event of an emergency, but not noticeable the moment you open the main entrance.
Fire Detection - No matter what alarm system you select, you’ll want an alarm that will successfully warn you if there is a fire in your home. The size of your home is one factor you should consider – smaller spaces can make good use of a single, separate fire alarm system with a stand-alone circuit; larger residences or businesses should select fire alarms with a loop circuit, to make sure all areas are properly monitored.
Wireless smoke alarms are the newest fire prevention tool, and work in a similar, stand alone fashion to battery alarms or as interconnected devices. Interconnected alarms are the most thorough form of protection, as they allow you to hear an alarm from anywhere in your home or work place. Regardless of what area the fire began, all the alarms will sound the alert.
Carbon Monoxide Detection – Because exposure to carbon monoxide is deadly and totally invisible, it is important to have a system that detects carbon monoxide before it reaches a dangerous level.
Sensors – Your system should include sensors at all doors and windows as well as motion sensors. The sensors inform you of the presence of intruders before they break into your home which provides you with advanced warning. All access points on the ground level or basement should be covered; upper floors are important but not as critical.
You should keep in mind location of your sensors. Many owners forget about how easy it is for an intruder to break into the garage attached to the home or the bathroom window. Although alarm systems are a great way to deter home invaders, they are never guaranteed. Arrange for your security company to do home checks especially at times when you will be away or at busier times such as the Christmas holidays.

Shoppers Beware!

2010-12-08T10:42:00.000-08:00

During this season, it is easy for us to get carried away with the excitement of holiday shopping. We are so determined to finish the “list”; we become careless and vulnerable to theft and other holiday crime. I recommend we all take a few prevention measures to help protect our safety and keep the holiday season joyous:
• Avoid wearing expensive jewellery.
• Do not carry a purse or wallet if possible. In fact, try to not carry a lot of cash, and instead use a credit or debit card to make purchases.
• Another useful tip is to spread out your Christmas shopping schedule so that you don’t make all your purchases on one day.
• Avoid overloading yourself with packages. It is important to have clear visibility and freedom of motion to avoid mishaps. This can help prevent you from being an easy target.
• Most important, always be aware of your surroundings. When in the shopping centre, always be cautious of those around you and the placement of your purchases and belongings.
• When walking back to your vehicle, make sure you are not being followed.

True, holiday shopping can be both exhilarating and exhausting, take your time and be careful. Have a great Christmas and enjoy the Holiday Season!

“Oh, You Better Watch Out...”

2010-11-25T09:27:00.000-08:00

You better not cry, You better not pout...Because it’s not only Santa who will be coming to your home during the holidays. At this time of the year, home invaders are on the lookout and are just waiting for you to leave on your vacation.
This creates an easy opportunity for them to break in, unnoticed and get away with your valuables. Don’t be a victim. When planning your trip be sure to contact your security company to do random home checks while you are gone. Make sure that they collect any newspaper or mail that piles up and have them store it until your return. They can even do interior checks, open and close blinds, or turn on different lights to create the illusion that someone is home. Invest in a light timer; this is an inexpensive way to deter thieves to believe someone is home.
Remember tis the season to be jolly; so plan ahead this year and contact your security company, or us at Genesis Security Group today.

Park Safe

2010-11-05T16:52:00.000-07:00

Even with the latest anti-theft devices that come with new cars today, vehicles are still being stolen. In August alone over 400 vehicles were reported stolen just in Vancouver.
There are many factors that make it easy for a thief to steal your car, the main one being opportunity. This is why it is important to park your car in a well lit area, in attended lots or in higher volume traffic areas.
How many times have you heard a car alarm go off and ignored it? Needless to say, most thieves are not deterred simply by a loud noise; therefore, it is a good idea to use some sort of security device that would delay the thief such as “the Club” or any other physical locks or bars.
Although most thieves steal cars to profit from parts or the car itself, many will just break into your car for something they can sell quickly. Therefore it is important to try not to keep anything of value in the car or at the very least keep it hidden. Keep in mind that for someone determined enough, it is very easy to steal or break into your car. It can happen in seconds! Use your discretion when parking and remember these useful tips to prevent this from happening to you.

Trick or Treat with Caution

2010-10-21T15:20:00.001-07:00

Most of us think that Halloween is just a time of fun and treats; however, many children are injured and some killed while walking on this night than any other evenings of the year. Parents can help prevent these injuries by making sure their children are following these tips:
• Wearing clothing that is bright, reflective, and flame retardant.
• Use flashlights, stay on sidewalks, and avoid crossing yards.
• Cross streets at the corner, use crosswalks (where they exist), and do not cross between parked cars.
• Go only to well-lit houses and remain on porches rather than entering houses.
• Bring treats home before eating them so parents can inspect them.
For children under 12, it is a good idea to have an adult supervise the trick-or-treating and for those older, a curfew should be established. As important as it is preparing your child to be safe for that night, it is just as important to make it safe for others. Make sure your house is well lit and that you are not giving away treats that may pose as a choking hazard for young children. Remember that although Halloween activities should be fun and harmless, they could also be dangerous. Darkness, weather and excitement are all contributing factors, but we can all help with proper supervision and hazard awareness to create a safer environment for our children.

Playing it Safe

2010-09-15T16:31:00.001-07:00

Whenever someone is given a position of trust in the work place it is very common for a background check to be done as they will be dealing the things of value. To me there is nothing as valuable as my children and if we are going to trust our children to someone then we should certainly expect no less.
As Fall approaches, the season of many sports and activities also begin – Soccer, Ice Skating, Swimming...... Once you have chosen a program appropriate for your child find out if the staff, coaches, and volunteers are properly trained or supported by an organization. But most importantly make sure that they are required to have background checks done. Both criminal and sexual offence checks.
Although background checks cannot guarantee to prevent sexual abuse; it is a good first step. The most important tool is communication with your child and informing them of situations such as being alone with the coach and the difference of appropriate and inappropriate touching. Make sure as parents that you have done your part to create a healthy and safe environment for your child and every child in your youth sports organization. Here’s to a safe and fun season ahead!

Celebrating Hope

2010-09-10T16:54:00.001-07:00

We are always excited to be involved in events that make a difference in people’s lives and this month we will be a part of the Canary Derby and the 25th Anniversary of Camp Goodtimes. The Canary Derby is a fundraising event sponsored by the Canary Foundation, which is a non-profit organization dedicated to the goal of identifying cancer early through a simple blood test and then isolating it with imaging. The event, on September 25, will be held at Deer Lake Park in Burnaby. This is a great opportunity for people to show their support and bring awareness to such an important cause. In addition, the Canadian Cancer Society is celebrating the 25th Annivesary of Camp Goodtimes, a summer recreation program that provides a “unique summer experience” for children and teens with cancer and their families. We are looking forward to both events and meeting the participants who have changed lives and continue to bring hope.

Guiding you to Safety – Tips on How to Choose a Security

2010-08-23T14:51:00.000-07:00

Many people are unsure about how to choose a security company. They open up the YellowPages or search on the internet and find themselves even more confused. If this procedure istoo overwhelming; know you are not alone. Here is a list that may help you narrow down your search and help you decide on a company that best suits your needs.

• How long have they been in business? Be sure to find a locally based security company that's been in business for at least 7 years. This shows they have proven themselves and most likely are not going to go out of business. There can be a lot of time and costs used up retraining new security company.
• Is the company insured? Always have the company provide you with a copy of their current insurance certificate before signing a contract. Once you deices to go with that company make sure your company name is named on the insurance certificate.
• Find out if they do background checks when hiring employees and what is their hiring process.
• Does the home security company provide all the services themselves or do they subcontract. Companies that subcontract cannot control their quality of service as well as a company that uses it's own staff. Deciding on the right company solely based on costs or convenience without doing research is a huge risk. Many companies provide poor service because they don't have the right infrastructure or management and if you receive inferior service you put both your yourself and your property at risk.

For more information on the Genesis Security Group and our services visit our website:
genesissecurity.com

Safety Tips for Females

2010-08-05T17:33:00.000-07:00

With the sun out most of the day, it’s easy for women to feel “safer” in the summer to go for a run or exercise outdoors, not realizing that attackers are still out there...waiting. The following tips will not only help prevent assault, but possibily save your life.
1. Awareness. This is your first line of defense; awareness of yourself, your surroundings, and your potential attacker’s likely strategies.
2. Your Sixth Sense. “Six sense”. “Gut instinct”. Whatever you call it. Learn to trust your intuition to help avoid a person or situation that does not feel safe – you’re probably right.
3. Self-defense Training. Learn basic self-defense skills. Enroll in a program that include simulated assaults.
4. Escape. Always your best option. You are suddenly confronted by a predator who demands that you go with him–be it in a car, or into an alley, or a building. It would seem prudent to obey, but you must never leave the primary crime scene. You are far more likely to be killed or seriously injured if you go with the predator than if you run away (even if he promises not to hurt you). Run away, yell for help, throw a rock through a store or car window–do whatever you can to attract attention. And if the criminal is after your purse or other material items, throw them one way while you run the other.
5. Other useful tips:
• Vary the routes so the running routine will not become obvious to others.
• Run against the traffic.
• Do not wear head sets when running alone on the street. It is very difficult to hear cars and sirens (or someone running behind you) when you are preoccupied with music.

Where there's smoke

2010-07-27T16:23:00.000-07:00

At 12:39 am last Sunday night, one of our guards, William reported that he smelt smoke on his site but could not find the source. At 1:32 am, William reported that the Fire Department found a smoldering fire in the wood shop; it seems that the table saw was shorting out and igniting the sawdust.
Imagine if this was detected too late! This is a story we can all learn from. How often do we leave appliances plugged into sockets and then leave the house? We think that it’s safe because it’s “turned off”; however, electricity is still running through it. Let alone considering the things that are surrounding it, in this case, sawdust- easy to ignite and cause a serious fire. Most house, office and building fires are preventable, the first step is awareness. So be careful and remember to check your appliances before you leave.
I would also like to commend William for his attentiveness and his quick response while on duty.

Sunny Forecast Ahead

2010-07-05T11:39:00.000-07:00

After finishing up all the dry grad events this year, it’s official... Summer has arrived (somewhat). We’ve already jumpstarted the season with The International Jazz Festival. They have some big names added to this year’s itinerary- George Benson, who performed last Saturday at Queen E. and Nikki Yanofsky returns to Vancouver on July 3! There will be performers at different venues, so if you don’t see us at Granville Island, you can catch us at the David Lam Park or the Queen Elizabeth Theatre. For free shows, click on the link . As you all know, with summer, comes the Cirque du Soleil and we are proud to announce that this year, we will be a part of this event. They have called it Kooza that “tells the story of The Innocent, a melancholy loner in search of his place in the world”, exploring themes of fear, identity, recognition and power. A theme, I believe, we can all relate to on some level. We are excited to be involved with such an elaborate production and look forward to making it a successful one. Although we’re not seeing much sun, it’s going to be a bright and busy summer for us.

Congratulations Canada!

2010-03-08T09:20:00.000-08:00

I’m sure everyone can agree that it was the most exciting two weeks we have all experienced in Vancouver. The streets were so alive and a huge congratulations to all the medalists. I’m not the biggest hockey fan but that gold medal game....wow! It will always be a very memorable game.

We had really great success with all our sites over this period. We operated over 20 sites 24/7. Our guards were amazing! A huge thank you to them! The Irish house was a success! There were line ups around the corner and down the block every night. It was really great to be apart of the celebration for the Olympics. It’s a bit odd now to see the streets to empty but it will always be a great memory for all us, I’m sure. Congratulations again everyone and Go Canada in London 2012!

Congratulations of Our LPOs!

2009-12-11T10:28:00.000-08:00

On December 3rd, two of our LPO's observed a chronic property offender entering a parking lot. They did not see the suspect break into the vehicle in the lot; however, they maintained surveillance on him. The suspect was seen throwing identification in a dumpster close to the parking lot. One of the LPO's quickly phoned an on duty Police contact and advised her of the incident. While on the phone, he gave the name found on one of the pieces of ID that was in the garbage bin. VPD quickly ran the information and contacted that victim. The victim advised his vehicle was parked Downtown and he had left a laptop in the vehicle. The direction of travel and the description of the suspect was provided as well as his last known address confirmed on PRIME to the VPD. By this time, there was approximately a twenty minute delay from the suspect leaving the scene. VPD was able to wait at the suspect's house until he returned home and was arrested and the stolen laptop was recovered and promptly returned to the victim. Lest to say, the victim was ecstatic.

Thank you for the fantastic job, guys!

Christmas Parade

2009-12-09T16:36:00.000-08:00

We had a wonderful time at the Christmas Parade! Everything went smoothly and there was a great turn out. It was so nice to see so many people out despite the cold, cold weather. Thanks! I'd like to thank Dave Sukic (dressed up as the reindeer), our director of community service, for a great job coordinating this event. A big thank you to the staff who participated as well. I wish everyone a very happy and safe holiday season!

Christmas Parade

2009-11-18T14:39:00.001-08:00

We're very excited to be participating in the Christmas Parade again. It's on December 6th so this year we have a very cool concept. Come check it out. I'll be sure to have pictures up after. I'll keep you guys updated as I know more details as the parade gets closer.

To celebrate the holiday season, we're offering a holiday special for our training academy. For the next little while, if you sign up for AST you get BST free! Call us for details.

New Class Schedule for Training Academy

2009-11-13T11:31:00.000-08:00

We are starting our first evening and weekend BST class on Monday. We've been able to accomodate people who have day jobs to training for something they're interested in. The course runs Monday to Friday two hours a night and a full day on Saturday and Sunday. I'm excited that we're able to make our class schedule fit for everyone.

Recently, it's was made mandatory that night clubs need to have their staff trained in BST too and last week we trained a few clubs which went really well. It was great group of people. It'll be fun to start training other clubs in the future. I guess I should get back to work now. Have a great weekend everyone!

Facebook Group!

2009-11-06T09:27:00.000-08:00

This social marketing thing is pretty cool! I just got us a Facebook group too. Join us: Genesis Security Group. I've put up a video and some pictures for now. I hope to add security tips each week to keep everyone informed.

Don't forget to follow us on Twitter too: genesisbcgroup

It's also the last BC Lions game we'll be doing tonight for the season. It's too bad they're out of the playoffs but they had a great season and we had a lot of fun at every game. Thanks to everyone who came out!

Our Twitter page!

2009-10-30T13:34:00.000-07:00

I have finally followed suit and signed up Genesis for a Twitter page. It's pretty cool. I will definitely update that one more. You'll be able to keep up to date with us in all the events we do and all the things happening around us!

Our profile name is: genesisbcgroup

Follow us and tweet us with any questions!

Once I'm done playing with this, I'll get us a Facebook page too!

Consumer Choice Awards

2009-10-22T12:42:00.000-07:00

Genesis has won this award three years in a row now! Thank you to everyone who voted! We always strive to provide the best service and we are happy to know it is paying off.

The training academy is going very well. The space looks great! Again, we are offering a free training course to people who hold or have held the temporary 90 day license. It will cover basic security concepts from legal to how to deal with different scenarios. This will be important with all the work available in the new year. I hope to update again early next week.

New Genesis Training Academy

2009-09-09T16:11:00.000-07:00

Sorry I haven't update in a while. I have been very busy! We have expanded our training academy which teaches BST and now AST into a new office and I, personally, have been doing the renovations. The school has been open for about two weeks now and its official opening will be on September 24th! The space looks great. It is perfect as a training school. It has a carpeted area where the instructor can teach and a back space where tactical training can be taught. It has been great with the new introduction of AST because the space is great for physical training.

Along with the new training academy, Genesis wanted to be somehow apart of the Olympics and has decided to offer a free Saturday training session starting on October 3rd. This training is to provide security guards who will be obtaining a 90 day security license with the key concepts of the security industry. I think this will be great so that we can ensure the safety of everyone during the Olympics. Big things are happening for Genesis and I will keep everyone updated!

Money Counterfeiters Caught!

2009-06-17T12:57:00.000-07:00

Sorry I haven't blogged in a while. We have been busy preparing for all the summer events coming up, like the BC Lions games and other summer festivals.

This is a little late but I want to commend two Genesis guards, Ken Duke and Eric Pederson. During the May long weekend at the Cloverdale Rodeo, they helped catch two well-known offenders who were tempting to use counterfeit money. Thanks to Ken and Eric, the police now has concrete evidence on the offenders.

I have always so happy to hear that Genesis guards go out of their way to help. Keep checking back for more updates on the events we'll be doing and the great work our guards do!

Another Great Loss Prevent Officer

2009-05-22T13:18:00.000-07:00

Once again, a young Loss Prevention Officer working for the Downtown Business Improvement Association performs a heroic deed. The LPO officer witnessed a man rip headphones and an iPod off of a woman at a skytrain station. As soon as he heard the woman scream for help, his instincts were to help. He ran after the man and told him he was under arrest. The transit police chief awarded the LPO officer for his bravery with the Chief Officer's Award. A big congratulations goes to him! It continues to impress me how willing our guards are to help others without a second thought and am very pleased to have these people on board with us.

4 Year Anniversary of Moble Patrol

2009-05-07T14:49:00.000-07:00

Genesis Security originally launched the Free Community Patrol Program in June 2005 around the neighbourhood of Kerrisdale. As neighbourhoods continued to support this program, more funds were invested into it allowing us to offer this service to more areas around Vancouver. Genesis' goal is to create a safer community for everyone and I am so pleased that this program has increased its patrol area ten times. From starting in Kerrisdale, it now covers almost all Vancouver residences and businesses West of Granville Street as well as Downtown and West End areas. Thank you so much to everyone who has supported this program and continually help it grow.

Thank you for voting!

2009-04-02T12:44:00.000-07:00

Genesis has recently won two awards; the Top Choice Awards and the Best of the Peninsula Award. It has always been our mission to set ourselves apart from other security companies through our customer service and we’ve done it! Thank you to those who nominated and voted for us as well as to our guards to put in their best effort in the work they do.

Celtic Festival

2009-03-23T13:55:00.000-07:00

It's our 4th year sponsoring and participating in this festival. We are always very excited to do this. It's what we do to give back to the community. It was cold with rain and snow so a big thank you to Genesis staff who participated and to those of you who came out to watch. We hope you had a great time despite the weather!

Congratulations to a Downtown Ambassdaor

2009-03-20T11:19:00.000-07:00

A heroic story happened a couple weeks and I want to share it because this is what Genesis strives to do for the people. A guard was patrolling the Downtown area and noticed a man carrying an elderly lady. The guard immediately pulled over and asked the man what was wrong. The man said that the woman was having a heart attack. Without a second thought, the guard asked for the elderly woman to be put on the ground and began to perform CPR on her. In the meantime, the ambulance was being called and as they arrived, the guard was able to revive her. The woman was immediately taken to the hospital.

Happenings like this are great for Genesis because our mission is to work the community and create safe environments. I really want to commend our ambassador for his quick thinking and going beyond his job.

Project Griffin

2009-02-27T10:27:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone!
I just returned back from holidays with the family and I think I'm ready for another one after catching up on all this work. One thing that I would like to share with you all is a program that Genesis Security is very excited about. The program is called Project Griffin, which was initiated in the United Kingdom. The U.K. model is a partnership between the police service and external Security organizations and other public and private sector service agencies. Project Griffin is an organized information-sharing program whereby the police provide it's partners with weekly updates of their crime prevention and anti-terrorism concerns in order to have thousands of additional eyes and ears on the street. Genesis Security has been involved with initial consultation of introducing the Vancouver model to Canada, as well as being seated on the Steering committee with The Cadillac Fairview Corporation and The Canadian Air Transport Security Authority for ongoing development of the program. With Vancouver having the worst property crime statistics of any Canadian major city it was great thinking on behalf of the Vancouver Police department to implement such a program. The ultimate goal here which is quoted by Sgt. Brad Wallace of the Vancouver Police Department is "to increase public safety by supplying organizations and groups with information and support in order to assist them in their crime prevention efforts." I have personally seen the positive effects of this already with our involvement in Operation Cooperation, which is primarily a Downtown Vancouver information exchange between the Vancouver Police and Security professionals. I'll keep you all up to date on the programs successes and new developments. Have a great day!

Best wishes for 2009

2009-01-15T14:10:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone and happy belated New Years!
I must apologize for such a late entry, but since we brought in the new year we have been busy setting our 2009 plan into action. I would like to mention that we did get off to a great start already by receiving notice that we have been voted #1 by the Now's Best of the Peninsula reader's choice poll for security provider in 2008. I will follow up on this story at a later time.
I know everyone is being a little cautious with the way the global economy is right now and we're thankful that we haven't experience any negative fallout at this point. I wish the best of luck to all our past, present and future clients.

It's the most wonderful time of year!

2008-12-16T10:03:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone,
There is something to be said about helping so many people and bringing smiles to hundreds of thousands of onlookers and that is exactly what was accomplished on Sun Dec 7th at the Rogers Santa Claus Parade. The generosity of everyone at the parade helped in the collection of over 10,000 pounds of food and raised $14,000 dollars for the Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society. This is a wonderful testament to the Christmas spirit of giving, which was the theme to this year's parade. The Genesis team had a fantastic time being a part of this year's event and where quite busy giving away candy canes to all the parade lovers, especially the children. I would also like to thank Frosty the Snowman and Rudolf the Red nose reindeer for their help hand. If anyone was unable to attend the parade this year you can catch it on Global TV on Christmas day at noon. Thank you everyone for your generous support.

Guess who's coming to town?

2008-11-28T09:35:00.000-08:00

Get the kids and family together and head down to the 5th Annual Rogers Santa Claus Parade on Sunday Dec 7th @ 1:00pm for a wonderful start to the holiday season. As last year we will be participating in the parade with a few of our vehicles decorated up in Christmas style. This year we where very happy to hear that we where selected to also provide assistance in key parade positions. We look forward to seeing you all there and try and guess which Christmas costume I'm in. I have provided some information collected off the official parade website for your convenience. See you there!

What to Wear

* Go for classic west coast style (fleece, waterproof jackets and comfortable waterproof footwear).
* Dress in layers to keep warm.
* Remember that umbrellas will unfortunately block the view, so please leave them at home.

Parade Etiquette

Secure your spot on Santa’s nice list! Follow these Rogers Santa Claus Parade protocols

* Respect parade officials. Your safety and that of your family is paramount. Obey all instructions to avoid Santa’s naughty list!
* S marks the spot - someone else’s that is! Never move or occupy an empty chair. This curbside spot has been reserved.

Consider others

* Wear your rain gear. Umbrellas block the view.
* Be nice. Allow families with children to sit in front. We short people appreciate it too!
* Say “excuse me” or “I’m sorry” if you bump or step on someone in the crowd.
* Don’t smoke.
* Property…a respectful reminder: climbing on or sitting atop anything belonging to Global TV, Canada Post, dumpster companies, et al is a definite don’t!

Thank you once again!

2008-11-25T11:16:00.000-08:00

I would like to start off by thanking all our past and present clients, because without the trust and loyalty of our clients and consumer feedback I don't know if we would of been voted, 2nd year in a row, the best Security Guard Company in the province of British Columbia by the Consumers Choice Institute of Canada.

The Consumer Choice Award is unique to North America with a purpose to publicly identify those establishments which have been voted by consumers as being their choice for excellence in quality, service, value and appearances.The winners are determined by consumers and not by a panel of judges.

The Award ceremony was held on Nov 23 2008 at the Westin Bayshore on the scenic Coal Harbour shoreline and was hosted by Global TVs personalities Mark Madraga & Robin Stickley and to be televised early next year on Global. I attended the Ceremony with my Director of Advance Services, Ashley Meehan and Director of Community Services Dave Sukic.

Thank you to everyone that voted for us and I promise to continue on with our strong belief in Customer care and service.

What did Madonna and Halloween have in common this year?

2008-11-07T11:34:00.000-08:00

Hello Everyone,
I'm sorry for posting this a little later than usual, but it has been an extremely busy week for us coming of this past week. Well, the answer to my question if you hadn't guess is us! The Genesis Security group. We where out in numbers last Thursday at BC Place with 150 Genesis Security's special event team ensuring everybody coming to the concert had a great experience. The staff enjoyed themselves as did the approximately 60,000 concert attendees. Genesis Security was out again the following night, Halloween night providing our services to to evening festivities and as well our Community patrol on the Vancouver's West side. I want to personally thank everyone that offered us a wave and thank you for being out that night. Thank you once again and we'll see you all again next year.

Can you feel it in the air?

2008-10-23T11:32:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone,
I can't believe Halloween is upon us again. It seems not so long ago I was chasing behind my kids while they trick or treated in the Dunbar area. Then getting home and handing out treats myself to the kids in their wonderful costumes. ...Ah to be a kid again! So just as the tradition of trick or treating on Halloween night so will be our extra mobile community patrols. Myself and 5 others from my Management team will be donating our time from 1600-2200 to provide the extra car coverage to the Vancouver West side. This will be our 4th Halloween in the community and we are looking forward to provide some extra eye's and ears to the community in hopes of providing a safe area for everyone. I have a few safety tips for all of you and I hope you all have a safe and wonderful Halloween.

11 Safety Tips for a Safer Halloween
1. Children should be accompanied by an adult
2. Children should wear clothing that can be easily be seen at night. Retro-reflective materials are best.
3. Children should trick or treat in one well-known area and not wander into unknown neighborhoods.
4. All candy should be inspected by an adult to make sure that no one has tampered with it. If it looks suspicious, the police should be contacted.
5. Children should avoid stray animals.
6. Children should wear masks that do not interfere with vision. Better yet, they can avoid masks by wearing makeup.
7. Children should watch for moving vehicles when crossing streets. Always cross at intersections, not mid street.
8. Costumes should be short enough that the child will not trip.
9. Trick or treaters should dress appropriately for the weather and carry a flashlight or have a some type of light source, such as a glow stick.
10. For extra safety, organize a Halloween party for your children in your neighborhood.
11. And lastly, the most important tip is have FUN!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Congratulations!

2008-09-29T13:55:00.000-07:00

I would like to take a moment to congratulate, Colin Canavan on obtaining his Canadian citizenship recently. Colin is originally from North London, UK. and moved here 3.5 years ago on his own. He has been a devoted employee over the past couple of years and through hard work and appreciation of a challenge he is currently Supervising our Community Patrol Division. Colin is also a qualified Level 3 First Aid attendant and can be found providing his skills to some of our major clients. Congratulations again or as we say in French "félicitations"!

Watch out Criminals!

2008-09-29T13:30:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone, I just wanted to share some very exciting news with you all. As I'm sure your aware that we started our overnight Ambassador patrol with the Downtown Vancouver Business Association on Sept 2 and have received a very positive response from businesses and the homeless people that we encounter. We are now able to add crime fighters to our list of accomplishments for our overnight team. On Sunday morning at approx 0500 am our team observed a male breaking through a security fence in front of a popular jewelery store in the Downtown core. The team set up as not to alert the suspect and contacted the Vancouver Police Department about the current situation. The suspect was seen entering the store and after about a minute,leaving with a backpack at a brisk pace. The team followed the suspect until the Police apprehended the male a few blocks away. I just wanted to congratulate Will and his team and the Vancouver Police on an excellent job.

COMMUNITY FUN FOR ALL

2008-09-23T16:18:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone, I just wanted to let everyone know about the wonderful time we had at the Southlands County fair last Sunday. Southlands County Fair provides partial funding to several program like the Summer Riding program which enables underprivileged kids to take a series of riding lessons. As well, donations are provided to Pacific Riding for Developing Abilities and Southlands Therapeutic Riding Society with the remainder of funds raised are used to support the Southlands Riding club who has been non-profit since 1943. This is our second year at the event and again it provided us the opportunity to reconnect with the community and our supportive clients. It still amazes how you can drive just a few minutes from your home and end up in a place that looks like you out in the country side and far away from the action of a big city. We at Genesis Security appreciate these types of opportunities to be able to give back to the community and for us it reconfirms our commitment to the community.

Consumers Choice Award.......It’s a Repeat!!!

2008-09-09T11:05:00.000-07:00

It is with a great amount of pride that I formally announce the news that Genesis Security Group has once again been awarded the Consumers Choice Award for Security Guard Services.

As a past winner in 2007, we are very pleased to repeat this honour.
Considered a ‘Seal of Excellence’ within the community and beyond, this prestigious honor signifies our on-going commitment to quality, service and value.

Unique to North America, the Consumers Choice Award is an initiative of Consumers’ Choice Institute (Canada). All winners are determined by consumers, not a panel of judges or professional food critics. Consumers and local businesses are surveyed by an independent company, and are asked to vote for an establishment that they feel represents the ultimate in “…excellence, based on the elements of quality, service, value and appearance.”

The fact that the award is determined by consumers makes it all the more noteworthy in my opinion, as Genesis is always striving to be a leader both within the Community and our own industry.

Thanks must go out to all of our clients, employees and the public who support our Community Patrol.

As the awards ceremony nears, we will release more details.

Another Ambassador Case File

2008-08-29T16:39:00.000-07:00

I received a case report from the Ambassador Program the other day that to me is a fantastic example of what they do on a daily basis and how sometimes they can make a dramatic impact, in the positive, on someones life.

This particular file describes how one of our Ambassadors was patrolling the Davie St area and came across an adult male who seemed "out of sorts". By simply approaching the male in question and listening attentively, without judgement, it became clear that this person was contemplating suicide.

By furthering our discussion with this man, we were able to ascertain his counsellors name and when asked if we wanted him to contact this person, he responded that he did. With one Ambassador calling the counsellor and the other calling the VPD I am happy to say that this situation was ultimately resolved with the arrival of the VPD.

While none of us can say that the person in question will live happily ever after, we can say that our team did a great job in just listening and showing this person that we do care and are there for the Community when called upon.

I personally want to thank the Ambassadors in question for doing this great job and making a potentially life-altering stop, by simply taking the time to ask a few simple questions.

Job well done team.

Business In Vancouver Article

2008-08-22T11:59:00.001-07:00

I was fortunate enough to be featured in the August edition of Business In Vancouver, which is a newspaper that is an award-winning weekly print that has served the Greater Vancouver area since 1989.

Featured in the Profile section, it basically gives a brief history of both the company and myself and some of the basic tenets I believe in and have applied to my business over the past 11 years.

It’s always very strange reading about yourself in any print medium, however I have to say that I did enjoy the article and for the most part I really believe the journalist captured a lot of what Genesis is about and how we serve the Community and our clients every day.

The article has been posted to this blog for those of you who would like to take a minute and give it a read.

Remember that as per usual, if you have any questions at all, please feel free to give me a call at the office or send me an email and I will do my absolute best to get back to you.

Thanks everyone, articles such as these would obviously be impossible without the support of all our friends over the past years.............

You will find page one at the top and page two at the bottom of this blog.

Bank Robbery Updates

2008-08-19T10:40:00.000-07:00

As detailed in a previous blog, two of our Undercover Loss Prevention Team members were responsible some time ago for the apprehension of known bank robber who at that time was suspected of several robberies throughout the Vancouver area.

Due to our team member’s actions in assisting with bringing that particular culprit into custody, it has just been announced that the Canadian Bankers Association (CBA) has approved, through the Vancouver Robbery Coalition to recognize these fantastic and very talented employees of Genesis Security at the next meeting, which is scheduled for September.

These employees are part of what makes Genesis such a well-known company within the Community and I truly appreciate everything they did that day.
Congratulations guys, you deserve it!!!!

Along the same lines, we just received word as well that another of the Undercover Loss Prevention team members was instrumental in the apprehension of yet another suspected bank robber this past week.

While for obvious reasons we cannot name the employee of Genesis involved, we would like to extend our thanks for performing at such a level and assisting in the apprehension of the accused.

Genesis at the Pemberton Festival

2008-08-19T10:36:00.000-07:00

Now that we have all had time to catch our breath and get rested up, I would like to take a moment to tell everyone about our experience at the first ever Pemberton Music Festival.

I must start by stating that this was a very, very tough job and I couldn’t have done it without all the employees who stuck with us throughout some very difficult circumstances; thank-you to each and every employee who was there for Genesis, it was more than appreciated.

As the first of its kind Festival in British Columbia, there were speed-bumps aplenty to overcome and many unanticipated items that required immediate resolution. With the staff that I had, I am proud to say that everyone pitched in and took the bull by the horns, so to speak.

By the time it was over, all parties involved were exhausted both physically and mentally but the job was completed to the high standards that Genesis Security is known for within the industry and throughout our Community.

Next year, Genesis will take from this experience and be able to better forecast what is truly required to run an event of this magnitude with as little interruption as possible.

Thank everyone once again for all your hard work and thanks as well for coming out to the After-Pemberton barbeque that we had this past Sunday to thank all the staff.

Genesis Security and Celebs For Kids Charity

2008-07-23T17:17:00.000-07:00

Genesis Security was recently presented with an award from Celebs for Kids, at a dinner that was held at the Sutton Place, in recognition of our charitable services provided to date.

As mentioned in a previous blog article, Celebs for Kids is a very worthy organization that centres on raising funds for children who suffer from Arthritis and Lupus and is backed by such notable celebrities as Matt Damon, Cheech Marin and Grant Fuhr.

Future events that Genesis is donating services for include:

14th August - River Rock Casino Celebrity Poker night
15th August - Celebrity Golf Tournament

These events are sure to be lots of fun and hopefully will raise alot of money for the kids who suffer terrible pain on a daily basis. Please click on the event links provided to find out how you can help with this excellent cause.

Genesis Guard Saves the Day..............

2008-06-25T13:37:00.000-07:00

Just received a great email, with a bit of humour added, about one of my Guards that works for the Coast Plaza Hotel on Comox St. in Vancouver.

The email was sent by one of the managers to the GM, who then forwarded it to me. While it has nothing to do with security issues per se, I thought the part of "grandpa" not being registered was quite humorous and it's always very pleasing to read about one of my team giving great service.

The email starts out complimenting my Guard on his thouroughness, good attitude and willingness to complete all the assigned tasks and then continues on with the following;

"More importantly, Peter was able to help a little boy today. The child had become separated from his parents and was frantically knocking on the door to the guest room he was in. As no one answered, he started to panic.
Peter gave him access and called me right away. The young boy knew his grandparents were also staying somewhere in the hotel. Peter tried to find out their name. Unfortunately, "grandpa" was not registered. We tried to find the room of the grandparents by other means, as Peter continued to talk to the boy. Eventually, the person came to the room and all is well. Peter saved the day."

Great work Peter, it's letters/emails like this that make my day!!!!!

Genesis In Home Makeover Magazine

2008-06-24T12:18:00.001-07:00

We recently had Ashley Meehan, our Director of Advanced Services, interviewed for the June edition of Home Makeover magazine, which is published by BIV Magazines.

The article itself is titled “Stop Thief!” and concentrates on frustrated homeowners who are now beefing up on their home security.

Quoting such statistics as Vancouver having a ratio of 1100 break-ins per 100,000 residents as opposed to New York City which has a ratio of 300 to 100,000 and the fact that we have the second highest property crime rate among all major cities in Canada and the United States really opens up ones eyes when considering to buy an alarm system or not.

I found the article to be a very good read and have posted it here for anyone who wishes to view it for themselves.

Remember if you have any questions at all regarding Home Security, I encourage you to call Ashley at our offices anytime during business hours.

2008-05-23T17:08:00.001-07:00

Last May the 6th, I was present for the annual Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association Appreciation and Awards dinner, which was held at Centro Mediterranean Grill on Granville St.

This was a very fun event for all of our Ambassador’s and Loss Prevention members, with awards being handed out for:

● Ambassador of the Year
● SAR (Stolen Auto Recovery) of the Year
● LPO(Loss Prevention Officer) and Supervisor of the Year
● Crime Prevention of the Year

These awards were presented in respective order to Will Bosch, Kerri Hippensteel, Dylan G. and Richard VanLeersum.

I would like to once again congratulate each of these Genesis team members for their valuable contribution to the program, which they offer consistently and without fail.

Great work guys, you are what makes Genesis such a great company and stands us apart from the competition.

Cloverdale Rodeo Round-Up

2008-05-21T14:07:00.000-07:00

With hundreds of man-hours behind us, Genesis Security Group is very pleased to announce that this year’s Cloverdale Rodeo and Exhibition was a safe and secure event for all who attended during this very sunny long weekend.

Our Guards were responsible for overall security at this event, as mentioned in the previous blog article, with staff patrolling the midway, the rodeo and the grounds while as well maintaining all points of access to the event itself and the saloons that were in operation; and let me tell you, there were a lot of thirsty cowboys!!!!!

This was for sure the best rodeo yet and the presence and professionalism of the RCMP, St. Johns First Aid Attendants, Rodeo staff, volunteers and all other contributors made things very easy for Genesis at the end of the day.

Thanks to all my staff who put in long hours and hard work and I hope to see you all again next year at B.C.’s largest prize money rodeo.

Cloverdale Rodeo and Exhibition This Weekend

2008-05-15T09:13:00.000-07:00

If you’re looking for something to do this long weekend, then come out and join the Genesis team at this year’s Cloverdale Rodeo and Country Fair, which is held this 16th to 19th of May at the Cloverdale Fair Grounds in Surrey.

As the Security Provider for this event for the past several years, Genesis is proud to once again supply staff for this great family event. We will as well be having our Community Tent on site, across from the Longhorn Saloon, so be sure to drop by and say hi to Vik Ram, one of our Customer Service Rep’s.

Rodeo events, the midway for kids and the saloons for the older crowd all contribute to making this one of the premiere event destinations in B.C.

This year the organizers have changed things up a bit and introduced a new format to the Rodeo itself, making it the second richest pro rodeo in the country, which I’m sure will draw some of the best competitors around; including the number one bareback rider in the world, Bobby Mote.

Make sure you come out and join Genesis for what is sure to be a fantastic weekend with great weather........finally!!!!!

Speaking of Community Events

2008-05-14T17:37:00.000-07:00

Now that I’m talking about the Strathcona BIA Earth Day event I am reminded that we also attended the Kerrisdale Carnival Days, which was held this past 25th and 26th of April.

Members of our Community Team were present throughout the event, handing out over 1000 balloons to the children, while our Genesis bear entertained.

This event is great fun for everyone involved and also happens to be celebrating it’s 50th year this year!!!!

In any case, this was a great opportunity to get out and meet the community as well as say hello to all of our alarm clients who subscribe to our services in this area of Vancouver.

Thanks for having us guys and see you again next year.

Genesis Attends Strathcona Earth Day

2008-05-14T16:33:00.000-07:00

Just received a photo from Cathy Kwan, the Executive Director of the Strathcona Business Improvement Association, that shows Kevin Flynn who is my Vice President of Operations and Advanced Services standing with two of our Strathcona Patrollers.

The picture was taken this past 22nd of April, which is when the Strathcona BIA held Earth Day event in the parking lot of the Patricia Hotel right off of East Hastings St.

Partnering with several local companies, it was the intention of the BIA to provide a place for residents to drop off landfill banned items that could be used or recycled by the association. Everything from eyeglasses to used computer parts was dropped off and Genesis was there with our Community tent supporting this very worthwhile cause.

Judging from the amount of recyclables seen that day, I would not be surprised to see another event such as this once again in the near future!!!

Genesis and the Ambassador Program

2008-04-25T14:17:00.000-07:00

More great news from the Ambassador front as it was announced a few weeks back that the Downtown Ambassadors were awarded the National Industry Meetings Award for 2008. – the only award presented in BC – by the BC chapter of the Meeting Professionals International at its National Meetings Industry Day.

The National Award Program was created to recognize people or organizations outside the direct industry that support the development of meetings and conventions or the development of policy and programs impacting the industry.

This award is another fine example of the work that both the Downtown Ambassadors and the Loss Prevention Team do on a daily basis.

Thanks must go out to all the team members and the Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association, as well as all the businesses and property owners in the 90 block area of the DVBIA who fully fund this program.

Excellent work once again guys!!!!!!

Note: Pictured above are two of our Ambassadors with Charles Gauthier, the Executive Director of the DVBIA and Bill Rempel, the President of the DVBIA (Thanks for your great support guys!!!!)

Genesis Security Close Protection

2008-04-14T23:07:00.000-07:00

A month or so back, Genesis Security was given the opportunity to provide Close Protection to Karl Rove, who was in town delivering a speech to a group on local business people at the Four Seasons Hotel.

Mr. Rove is the recently retired ex-Deputy Chief of Staff to President George W. Bush and now acts as a political consultant and analyst, contributing to such media outlets as Fox, the Wall Street Journal and Newsweek.

While we cannot discuss his entire itinerary, I can tell you that our team provided his personal security from the time he stepped off of the airplane right up to the time where he passed through the customs gate at YVR.

Our team commented on how engaging a man he was and that he made a point of thanking everyone personally for all their hard work and long days; going so far as to write each of the team a nicely done handwritten note in which he expressed his gratitude.

This was another great job for Genesis Security and our Close Protection team, a team which has been consistently building it’s resume with names such as Al Gore, Steve Nash, the Spice Girls, and many others over the past year.

It’s funny that as I write this article, our guys are just finishing another job that involved Close Protection details for some of the judges from the television show “So You Think You Can Dance”. Another job that went very well as they are now inquiring as to whether they can keep our team members as they cross Canada doing their show!!!!!!

Excellent work guys, I know that because of the type of Security you provide we can’t talk much about you, but I can thank you here and now for doing such a fantastic job in helping build our reputation as the Total Security Solution in the province of British Columbia.

Genesis Security Wins Again!!!!!

2008-04-03T09:02:00.001-07:00

I am very proud to announce that the Genesis Security Group has won the Top Choice award by being Canada’s Top Referred Security Guard Service in Vancouver.

Top Choice Awards is an important institution of the local and international business scene, recognized by the Government for its meaningful awards. The organization conducts democratic surveys, in multicultural cities around the globe, with the singular purpose of identifying and promoting businesses and professionals who have distinguished themselves amongst their competition and earned the peoples vote.

The results were collected during a 2 month survey conducted online and by telephone, which asked respondents across Canada to submit their top referrals in a wide variety of categories based on quality,service, value and professionalism, in addition to any other factors they consider important. The survey focused on the opinions of local business owners and consumers. The results are in and the majority of participants in the Vancouver area identified the Genesis Security Group as the Top Referred Security Guard Service of 2008.

Don’t forget that with the 2007 Consumers Choice Award being won by Genesis earlier in the year, this now makes us a Multi-Award Winning Company; something which all of our employees are very happy with, as everyone works very hard each day to ensure our clients are happy and well-taken care of.

This is another piece of great news for our company and I would like to thank all of our clients and everyone in the Community for supporting us. We promise that things will not slow down from here and that we will continue to strive to be the best Service Provider in the province.

Thanks again everyone!!!!!!!

Genesis Security and the Ambassador Expansion

2008-03-27T08:55:00.001-07:00

This past Saturday I attended a press conference that was hosted by our Mayor, Sam Sullivan, that was in reference to the impending expansion of our Downtown Ambassador Program and the soon to be 24/7 service in the downtown core (They currently run from 0700 to 2230 hrs each day).

As discussed in the Province, this program which was the initiative of the DVBIA, our Ambassadors’ are responsible for assisting the police in arresting over 50 people a month and alerting them to crimes in progress. I personally am aware of two incidents in the last couple of weeks where they identified and were responsible for the apprehension of two people who were breaking into vehicles at night. Apart from the above, the Ambassadors also provide an invaluable service to the Community by assisting tourists and homeless people throughout the areas that they patrol.

A section of the article discusses how a panhandler states that our teams are always polite when asking him to move away from active businesses and their doorways and that they as well ask him if he knows about the free places where he can find food.

I am very excited about this expansion of services and hours and have watched our Operational Team plan for this down to the smallest detail over the past few months; ensuring that everything is ready and runs smoothly when the time comes.

This is a fantastic service to the community and we as a company are very proud to support it on a daily basis.

Genesis Security Community Patrol Driver Wins National Championships

2008-03-17T15:09:00.000-07:00

Elnur Amirkhanov, one of our Community Patrol drivers, found himself competing this past week in Sport Jujitsu Canadian Championships.

Even breaking his finger in the preliminary rounds was not enough to stop Elnur from going all the way and capturing the Gold medal in the Heavyweight Division!!!!

This win entitles Elnur to move on to the International Championships, which will be held this November in South Africa.

Elnur is originally from Azerbaijan and has been competing for 27 years in this very serious sport.

The most impressive part of this story, as if the finger wasn't enough, is that Elnur has not competed since the year 2000!

Best of luck in the World Championships Elnur; we’ll all be rooting for you.

Genesis Security Celticfest Parade

2008-03-17T14:18:00.000-07:00

……….and what a great day it was!!!!!!!!

Just a quick note to tell everyone how much fun we all had marching in this year’s Edgewater Casino Celticfest St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

Thanks to all of my staff who volunteered their own time to come out (20+ Guards) and help us march down the parade route and hand out chocolate coins to all the children; and some adults as well!!!!!! So many people were in the spirit of the day, showing their Irish pride by dressing in green and wearing green make-up that it really was a sight to behold.

I think the organizers did a fantastic job regarding this entire event and I personally cannot wait to get those giant green leprechaun hats back on top of my cars next year. It's also my wish to bring back the bagpipers who marched with us this year; fantastic job pipers!!!

Thanks again everyone, especially those who came out to watch, we all had a great time and hope to see you out again next year.

Genesis Security and the Pemberton Festival

2008-03-14T11:53:00.000-07:00

Now that the official press lease has been dispatched to the media and the website is up and running, I am very proud to announce that Genesis Security will be providing the Special Event security for the Pemberton Music Festival!!!!!

This festival will be held over a period of 3 days (July 25-27) and hosts some of the biggest names in music and entertainment right now:

Coldplay
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
The Tragically Hip
Nine Inch Nails
Jay-Z
My Morning Jacket

The above names reflect only a fraction of the bands involved in this “first of its kind” music festival to be held in Canada.

When I was reviewing the plans and blueprints I was amazed at just how large an event this is going to be and we are all very excited about getting this job done and making sure that everyone involved has a great time in the safest environment possible.

Remember that this event is expecting upwards of 40 000 people to attend so be sure to log onto the website and check it out before it’s too late to get your tickets; they go on sale March 28th.

See you all in July!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Genesis Security CelticFest Sponsorship

2008-03-13T16:02:00.001-07:00

Hey everybody, don't forget that as an official sponsor of this years Edgewater Casino CelticFest Genesis Security will be participating in the parade that takes place this Sunday, the 16th of March.

The parade this year consists of over 2000 performers and is scheduled to start at 11:00 in the morning (see attached map), however be sure to get there earlier to catch the free entertainment on the Street Market Stage. After the parade, make your way over to the Celtic Village where there will be Celtic bands and family entertainment throughout the day!!!!!

We are all very excited about this year and think that everybody will be very suprised with what we have come up with for the parade.

Hope to see you all there and if I don't have a great St. Patricks Day!!!!!!

Lá Fhéile Pádraig Sona Daoibh

Genesis Employee Nominated for Vancouver Tourism Award

2008-03-11T17:26:00.000-07:00

I just received a letter today from the Vancouver Tourism Awards informing me that one of my Community Patrol employees, Reza Abazar-Ghafari, was nominated for the month of February due to a visitor being so impressed with his “enthusiasm, courtesy and caring display”.

These awards were first launched in 1989 in order to pay tribute to individuals who show outstanding hospitality towards visitors to Vancouver.

A committee representing the sponsors of the program selects winners from ballots submitted by visitors that are available in Where Vancouver magazine and Rocky Mountaineer’s on board publication Journeys West. This year, ballots can be found at over 65 locations around the city and visitors are also encouraged to complete a ballot online at www.vancouvertourismawards.com.

The best part of this whole nomination is that when I talked to Reza to find out about why he was nominated, he wasn’t clear about the reason due to the fact that he assists so many people in the community every day!!!!!

Great job Reza, I’m very proud and lucky to have you as an employee.

New Genesis Security Website

2008-03-11T16:59:00.000-07:00

As you may have already noticed, Genesis has recently launched its new website and I must say that I’m very happy with the overall look.

My good friend Loredo Rucchin, a graphic designer and website developer, was the driving force behind this project and many of my staffs hours went into the development side as well; writing the text, procuring the photographs and videos and all the other things you would never think of that must be done to get a site like this up and running. Loredo himself has been doing work for us since the beginning and is the person who designed our logo, forms and all other original art work; even our business cards!!!!!

We are still going over everything and making changes as we see the need to, but at the very least I think we have a site that truly captures what this company is all about; providing quality service by highly trained and experienced professionals in all facets of the security industry!!!!

Pay particular attention to the Community Support page as we intend to fill this up with lots of news regarding what Genesis is doing on a continual basis to support everyone who have us over the past ten years that we’ve been in business.

Thanks to everyone involved and if anyone has some input in reference to the site, please feel free to give me a call or email me at your convenience.

Another job well done team.

Canadian Idol Auditions

2008-02-19T15:13:00.000-08:00

Having recently provided security for the 2008 Canadian Idol auditions, I would like to take a moment to thank my crew who ran the event and as well congratulate all the contestants who were brave enough to attend and audition for the judges.

The event itself took place at Metrotown in Burnaby and the CTV studios in Downtown Vancouver over a period of several days and without a doubt our entire focus of operations was obviously on crowd control, as what seemed to be thousands of people turned out as early as 5 in the morning for their shot at stardom.

What’s great about this whole audition process is watching all the talented young people practice their singing and form camaraderie as they await their turn. The allowance of instruments proved interesting too, with many musicians strumming away to the delight of all who came to watch the entire process.

Best of luck to all the B.C. contestants and remember that Genesis Security will be in your corner cheering you all on!!!!!

BC Business Magazine Article

2008-02-12T11:10:00.001-08:00

I was going through some of the publications that I read on a regular basis and came across an article that was posted in B.C. Business Magazine in the January edition. The article is in reference to our Undercover Loss Prevention Team; a team we manage through the Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association that is contracted primarily to protect members of the DVBIA and their property from theft and vandalism.

It’s a really good read based on one reporters experience following two of our team members around for the day.

Excerpts include:

“It would take a veritable army of people to tag, monitor and trail the dealings of these seedy characters and the numerous petty and more serious offenses that occur on an average day in downtown Vancouver. Goertzen and Mota, with their earpieces, intimate knowledge of Vancouver’s gritty street life and CSI-type jargon, seem like your typical undercover cops. Except they’re not. They’re loss-prevention officers working for Genesis Security Group under contract to the Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association (DVBIA), and their beat is a bustling 90-square-block area that’s home to some 8,000 businesses.”

“Both Jones and VPD spokesperson Constable Howard Chow cite a recent case when co-operation between police and private security helped to quickly solve a serious crime. Last August security cameras captured the brazen assault and robbery of a Vancouver senior as he exited the foyer of Holy Rosary Cathedral. When the VPD distributed a photograph, loss-prevention officer Mota immediately recognized the suspect, a 43-year-old man known by locals as an aggressive panhandler. The following day, Mota led police directly to the spot where the individual frequently loitered and authorities moved in for the arrest.”

With 400 to 500 arrests every year, this is a program that is proven to be valuable both to members of the DVBIA and the community itself.

For the record, B.C. Business Magazine is the most widely read business magazine in the province and also the winner of the 2007 BC/Yukon Magazine of the Year. It has been published for over thirty years by Canada Wide Media Limited who is the largest independent magazine publisher in Western Canada.

Operation Cooperation Nets Bank Robbery Suspect

2008-02-06T18:08:00.000-08:00

Operation Cooperation is an initiative in which the Vancouver Police Department shares information with private security and participates in sting operations. The latest of such an operation in which Genesis Security participated in was the use of our Undercover Loss Prevention Team, which we administer through the Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the L.P. Team and their role within the DVBIA, they are trained to protect members and their property from theft and vandalism. Specific areas of focus are retail stores, office towers, hotels, parkades and public events. It is designed to work in partnership with the Downtown Ambassadors® Program, the Vancouver Police Department, contract and in-house security, transit security and the provincial automobile insurance agency (ICBC).

True to their definition, their latest objective within the scope of Operation Cooperation was to assist in monitoring certain financial institutions throughout the Downtown core, observing and reporting on any of the known suspects who have been a major problem as of late in reference to committing robberies on a repeated basis.

Two of our Loss Prevention Officers were conducting surveillance as requested in the last week of January, resulting in them spotting one of the suspects who had earlier been captured on CCTV committing several robberies throughout the area. Upon following the individual they were able to witness him enter into a financial institution and participate in a robbery right in front of their very eyes.

As the suspect exited the bank, they followed him up the street while waiting for police assistance to arrive. Unfortunately, the suspect began to walk very fast and break into a run at times, so at this point our team members made the decision to apprehend him right away; an act they were able to manage without incident I might add.

It should be noted that usually we would never apprehend a bank robber without police assistance, however because of Operation Cooperation we were aware that this particular subject worked in an unarmed capacity.

The V.P.D. arrived a very short time later and took the subject into custody and our team was on their way, once again patrolling the downtown streets doing what they do best.

Congratulations team, this is another excellent example of why this program is so good on so many different levels.

Genesis Attends Mayors Luncheon

2008-01-24T19:22:00.000-08:00

Today, myself and members of our Executive Team were fortunate enough to attend the Mayors Luncheon; an event sponsored by the Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association and held this year in the Crystal Pavilion of the Pan Pacific Hotel.

Basically this luncheon allows the Mayor to present his “State of the City” address to an audience comprised of industry leaders, police officers, business people and other concerned parties with the DVBIA audience being the first to hear about his plans for 2008.

Some of the highlights of his speech included:

• Ambassador Program expansion into other BIA’s
• Partnerships with the provincial government to reduce homelessness
• Dumpster free zones being implemented
• The proposed Chronic Addiction Substitution Treatment (CAST) program
• Property Tax Policy Review Commission
• 2010 Olympics

I found the Mayor to be a very engaging speaker who has voiced his opinions and ideas in a very clear and concise manner and the audience on hand seemed quite receptive to his presentation.

To check out the top 5 goals of the Mayor for the year 2008, which were discussed today, you can click on the link provided and it will redirect you to his homepage and links that expand on each individual goal.

Thanks to the DVBIA for putting together a great event and also to the Pan Pacific, whose service and food were above expectations once again.

Vancouver Courier Ambassador Poll

2008-01-23T12:08:00.000-08:00

The Vancouver Courier is currently conducting a poll in relation to the current matter of the Downtown Ambassador expanding into other neighbourhoods and whether or not you believe that public money should be used for this purpose.

The exact question, as posed on the Courier’s website is:

“Do you support spending public money to extend the private security "Downtown Ambassadors" to other neighbourhoods?”

As of today, the poll is indicating that 76.38% approve of the spending while 23.62% disagree with the proposed allotment.

Genesis Security is contracted through the Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association to manage the Ambassador and Loss Prevention Program and as the people on the street; we truly believe that this service makes a positive impact within the community. This is a very exciting time for our company and we are very proud to be the company that will assist with the expansion into other BIA's.

Please log onto the Vancouver Couriers website and support this very valuable service by voting YES today.

Genesis Christmas Party

2008-01-23T11:36:00.000-08:00

A couple of weeks ago, we held our Annual Staff Christmas party at the Shark Club down on West Georgia Street and I don’t mind telling you all that everyone who attended had a fantastic time!!!!

We had a large buffet set out and one of my Supervisors, John Moss, singing on the karaoke machine to entertain us throughout the evening (I use the word “entertain” in a very gracious manner here).

It was great to see the many employees come together for the evening and it was awesome fun to watch all the lucky people win door prizes that ranged from DVD players to IPOD’s and a variety of house wares items.

Thanks again to the Shark Club for helping us out on this event and supplying top-notch service and an excellent buffet for all of our employees. They were true professionals and I would not hesitate in recommending them to anyone who is considering having a private event or function.

Next year, we promise to make this an even bigger and better bash for all the employees and our apologies to all those who could not make this years event due to their commitment to work and the Customer Satisfaction that they provide our clients on an ongoing basis.

2007-12-31T16:13:00.000-08:00

I would like to wish all of our clients, employees, faithful blog readers and everyone else a Happy New Year as well as thank them for what turned out to be our most prosperous year to date.

Should you be out and about tonight participating in the celebrations, you will see Genesis personnel performing all their regular duties such as our Community Patrol and the Ambassador Program while also supervising several high profile New Years Events throughout the city of Vancouver.

This past year has been tremendous for us in reference to growth, Community involvement and stamina with several notable achievements topping off our year;

• Winning the Consumers Choice Award for 2007 as being the best Security Guard Service provider in the province of British Columbia.
• Expansion of our free Community Patrol so that it now covers from Granville
St. across to UBC and from Downtown to 70th Ave.
• Celebrating our 10 year anniversary as the premiere Security Service provider
for the province,as our Consumer Award shows.
• Moving our offices from the Plaza of Nations to a new, larger state of the art facility to better serve our clients needs.
• Recent approval by City Council approving the DVBIA Downtown Ambassador expansion, which is a project that Genesis Security co-manages with the DVBIA.

I could go on for quite a bit in reference to all the achievements that our company has accomplished but I think it will suffice to summarize the remaining ones by personally thanking all of my team members and clients who assisted us in realizing these goals of which I am very proud of.

For 2008 one of our primary objectives will be to once again expand our free Community Patrol as I believe that this is a truly valuable service and a way for our company to give back to a city that has given so much to us as a provider of Security Services.

I wish you and your loved ones all the best for 2008………….

Happy Holidays Everyone!!!!!!

2007-12-24T13:28:00.000-08:00

It's hard to believe that the year is almost over -- and the holidays are with us once again. This is a great time of year, when there's excitement everywhere and the Spirit of Giving is only outweighed by our desire to be with family and friends.

Thank you very much for working with Genesis Security this year. We have enjoyed the time immensely and truly appreciate all the clients that make our days more exciting and more interesting. We wish you and your family the very best for the holiday season and a year of health, happiness and prosperity.

Our entire organization joins in sending SEASON'S GREETINGS with every good wish for the New Year!

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and Happy Kwanzaa.

Genesis Parkade Security Video

2007-12-20T14:54:00.000-08:00

The above video came to my attention today from one of the many Strata's that we manage security for and I was so impressed by its content that I felt it should just go up right away as a warning to other buildings that maintain secure parkades.

In this video you will clearly see a vehicle enter into the secure parkade and continue to drive forward before the gate fully closes. The consequence of this one very small inaction results in what you will view to be an unidentified individual stop the gate before it fully closes and enter into the parkade area. This particular parkade area is in a very exclusive setting and in my opinion a lot of damage could have been done by the perpetrator.

Fortunately, our Guard was conducting his patrols and encountered the individual seen in the tape approximately 7 seconds after this video ends. When confronted by the Genesis Guard, he stated that he was looking for recyclables and that the gate was open (yet on the video he is clearly shown reaching under and stopping it from fully closing).

I cannot stress how important it is to bring your vehicle to a complete stop once you have entered a secure parkade and ensure that the gate is fully closed before carrying on with parking.

When our Guard spoke to the driver of the vehicle, they stated that this was the very first time that they have ever NOT stopped before the gate fully closed, yet that is all it takes; just one time.

You should also be aware as well that the same individual in the tape who entered the parkade on foot also tried the same trick the day before with a water bottle, but thankfully due to the weight of the gate the bottle was crushed.

Be safe everyone and make sure you take the small amount of time that is necessary to ensure that no uninvited "guests" obtain access to your building.

Official CelticFest Sponsor 2008

2007-12-12T13:02:00.000-08:00

Genesis Security has once again agreed to donate Guard time, equipment and supplies to this year’s Annual Edgewater Casino CelticFest, which is to be held from March 12th to March 16th 2008 and is now celebrating its 5th year.

This festival is an urban celebration of Celtic culture and this coming year is offering more than 50 events at dozens of popular venues and three outdoor stages in Downtown Vancouver. Some of the finest international, national and local Celtic performing artists will be on hand and there will be music workshops and a weekend street party in the Celtic Village.

Look for the Genesis Security float during this year’s annual parade, which will begin at 11:00 am., on March the 16th (I have attached a pic of the parade route).

All of us are very excited to be part of this great Festival once again and we hope to see everyone out there celebrating with us.

Tickets for the Festival’s special events and concerts will go on sale early February 2008.

Genesis Wins 2007 Consumers Choice Award

2007-12-11T15:28:00.001-08:00

All the hard work and planning this past year paid off when we found out back in October that Genesis Security had been voted the best Security Guard Company in the province of British Columbia by the Consumers Choice Institute of Canada.

The actual awards ceremony were held last night at the Westin Bayshore in downtown Vancouver and were hosted by Global TV personalities and to be televised this February on Global.

Considered a ‘Seal of Excellence’ within the community and beyond, this prestigious honor signifies our on-going commitment to quality, service and value.

Unique to North America, the Consumers Choice Award is an initiative of Consumers’ Choice Institute (Canada). All winners are determined by consumers, not a panel of judges or professional food critics. Consumers and local businesses are surveyed by an independent company, and are asked to vote for an establishment that they feel represents the ultimate in “…excellence, based on the elements of quality, service, value and appearance.”

Genesis is greatly humbled and honored to be a part of this recognition and thanks the Premier of B.C. and the Prime Minister of Canada for extending their congratulations as detailed below:

Hon. Stephen Harper, Prime Minister of Canada,
“In business, there is no greater compliment than earning the trust and loyalty of your clients and the respect and admiration of your peers. I congratulate everyone receiving the prestigious Consumers’ Choice Award…for their achievements in business excellence and customer service.”

Hon. Gordon Campbell Premier of British Columbia
These awards are particularly well regarded and meaningful because those who know best, the people who purchase these products and services, choose the winners. I congratulate this year's winners for all they have done to bring out the best in themselves and their businesses. It is their hard work, dedication and innovation that provide us with the many exceptional products and services available to us all."

As pictured in this article I attended the event with my two Vice Presidents, Kevin Flynn and Chris Taibinger and our Director of Community Services, David Sukic who accompanied myself on stage to accept this award.

Thank-you to all of the great people who voted for Genesis Security and I promise you that we will continue to set the benchmark in Customer Care for our industry and make the best effort possible for a repeat next year and the year after……….

Vehicle Security

2007-12-07T14:38:00.001-08:00

Over the past couple of weeks our Mobile Patrol drivers have begun to report a rash of vehicle break-ins along the Robson corridor. These break-in’s have occurred right on the street as well as in underground parkades with the preferred entry method being that of simply smashing out the window of the vehicle.

Please remember, especially this time of year, to secure any and all valuables in the trunk of your car if you have to leave it unattended.

In one of the cases our Mobile arrived on scene seconds after one of the break-in’s had occurred and the Police were able to arrest an individual, however no valuables were recovered and the owner of the vehicle still has to worry about replacing the window.

Have fun this year with your Christmas shopping and remember to be safe!!!

Holiday Safety Tips

2007-12-06T15:24:00.000-08:00

This past week, myself and the office staff witnessed a fire that was clearly visible from our 3rd floor view on Burrard St. I have not seen very many fires to start with, but to me this particular one had the appearance of being massive in size, consuming the entire top floor of the apartment building that it originated in. Fortunately the Fire Department arrived within seconds and I don’t know how, but they managed to control this fire in what seemed to be seconds. It was very impressive work on their part and everyone was amazed that saw them in action.

Looking at the photograph of the fire that one of my guys took and thinking about the Holiday Season, I thought that it might just be an appropriate time to go over some practical common sense rules regarding Christmas safety and security.

I found these tips on an excellent website that is sponsored by Health Canada.

Toys and gifts
• Choose toys that are appropriate to the child's age. Be sure to read and follow all warnings and instructions that come with the toy.
• Toys with small loose parts can be dangerous for children under three years of age. Keep them out of reach.
• Make sure batteries in toys are properly installed and not accessible to the child. Do not let children take battery-operated toys to bed.
• Dispose of all packing materials such as Styrofoam pellets, ties, plastic bags and wrapping as soon as possible. Children can choke or suffocate on them.
• Before using a cosmetic gift for the first time, rub a small amount on the back of your hand and leave it for a couple of hours. Redness or swelling may indicate that you have an allergy to the product and should not use it.
• Put cosmetic products away after opening them. Some cosmetics are toxic to young children.
• For fire safety, when buying sleepwear for children, be sure to choose items made of nylon, polyester, or snug-fitting cotton or cotton blend fabrics.

Candles
• Never leave burning candles unattended.
• Keep burning candles out of the reach of children and away from pets, tree decorations or
wrapping paper.
• Cut candle wicks short to prevent a high flame.
• If candles are used in a centerpiece, make sure they don't burn low enough to ignite the
decorations.
• Use sturdy candle holders that won't easily tip over.

Holiday trees
• When buying a real tree, check that it is fresh (needles are hard to pull off). Water the tree daily. Trees can consume up to four litres of water a day. Store the tree in a cool, sheltered area until it is brought indoors for decorating. If it will be several days before it is brought indoors, store it outdoors or on a cool porch or patio. Protect the tree from wind and sun to help it retain its moisture. • Make sure the tree is well-secured in a sturdy stand.
• Place the tree away from high traffic areas, doorways, heating vents, radiators, stoves, fireplaces and burning candles.
• Keep metal tree ornaments and decorations away from young children. Metal decorations may contain lead that can be harmful to young children if they put them in their mouths.
• If young children are around, avoid decorations that are sharp, breakable or have small removable parts, or put those decorations at the top of the tree.
• Remove the tree right after the holidays or as soon as the needles start to fall. Dispose of it according to local regulations. Many municipalities have tree-recycling programs.

Holiday lights
• When decorating your home, only use lights that have been certified by a recognized organization - CSA, ULC or cUL.
• Make sure you use indoor lights inside your home and outdoor lights outside.
• Check all light bulbs before you put them up and replace broken or burned-out bulbs with those recommended by the manufacturer.
• Check the light strings and extension cords you use, discarding any that are frayed or have exposed wires, loose connections or broken light sockets. Never run electrical cords through doorways or under carpets.
• Do not overload electrical outlets. Use more than one outlet if the wattage of your lights is more than the outlet can handle.
• Keep bubbling lights away from children. They contain a hazardous chemical which can cause irritation or chemical burns if the bulb breaks and the chemical is released.
• Turn off all holiday lights before you go to bed or leave your home.
• Fireplaces and wood stoves
• Always use a secure screen in front of your fireplace.
• Have the chimney cleaned at least once a year.
• Burn hardwood which will leave less creosote in the chimney.
• If using firelogs, follow the manufacturer's instructions. Use only one log at a time.
• Make sure the fire is out before going to bed or before going out.
• Ensure that the chimney is drawing well so that wood smoke does not come into the room.
• Keep children away from gas fireplaces. When in use, the glass doors can become hot enough to cause serious burns.

General household safety
• If young children are going to be visiting over the holidays, make sure your house is safe for them by covering electrical outlets, barring stairwells and removing furniture and decorations that may be hazardous to children.
• Keep all cosmetics such as perfume, aftershave and nail polish remover, as well as all medications and household chemical products, out of the sight and reach of children and away from heat sources.
• Keep all lighters and matches out of the reach and sight of children.
• Decorations and candles that look or smell like food or candy should be kept out of children's reach. They may be attractive to a child, but may be poisonous or cause choking.
• Maintain smoke detectors in good working order.

Everybody stay safe and enjoy the upcoming Holiday Season!!!

Spice Girls Security

2007-12-05T11:00:00.000-08:00

Picture supplied courtesy of canoe.ca

Now that the show is over and all the Spice Girls have departed via YVR for Los Angeles, I think it is now safe to announce that we were very pleased and honoured to have provided plain-clothes security for them at the Four Seasons Hotel while they stayed in Vancouver.

Running with an 18 person crew, our tasking was to maintain security on each floor of the Hotel throughout their four day stay with a finale of providing a 5 man detail for their YVR departure on Monday morning. I think we should give acknowledgement to the Airport on this one as well due to the fact that they allowed us to escort each girl right to the plane with no problems or delays whatsoever; save the papparazi!!!!! Just kidding guys, we actually found them to be very professional as well.

It was a pleasure working with Celebrity Protection Limited on this job, which is a U.K. based company that works all over the world and boasts a resume that includes such stars as Brad Pitt, Emma Thompson and George Michael. Lonny and Paul from CPL were fantastic to work with and they are true professionals when it comes to the business of Tour Security and Close Protection.

The Four Seasons security team were as well very professional and experienced, making our job so much easier with all the great assistance they provided.

In any case, we here the show was a great success which was enjoyed by all who attended and we wish the girls the very best with the remainder of their World Tour.

New Mascots Unveiled!!!

2007-12-04T16:37:00.000-08:00

I just received an email from one of our clients thanking two of our Guards, Ken and Linda, who were part of the Genesis team that assisted at the Bell Performing Arts Centre during the official 2010 mascot unveiling.

The two Guards, pictured above top left corner, who received kudos from the BPAC are great performers with the company and I want them to know that I appreciate all the hard work they do every day.

This was a great event to work and all my staff commented on the very professional and well-organized setting at the BPAC.

Great work team!!!!!

Strathcona Business Improvement Association Christmas Social

2007-11-29T21:18:00.000-08:00

This past Wednesday I attended the Strathcona Business Improvement Association’s Christmas Social, which was held down on 304 Dunleavy St. inside a very nice venue named “The Chapel”. This place is a mixture of art, music and I must say has a fantastic atmosphere. (Attached is picture of myself, John VanLuven – Executive Director of the SBIA and Kevin Flynn, my Vice President of Operations and Advanced Services).

While I was only able to stay for a short period of time, I was able to meet some new people and talk about our SBIA Patrol, which is a service that patrols the Strathcona area for up to 16 hours a day throughout the year, seven days a week.

Basically this program is intended to protect property, assist the police and deter street activity within the district; but what I really like about it is the reporting functions that we have created to track all activity that our Guards encounter while on duty.

Accompanied the detailed reporting, which is managed by our HanDbase custom written program on Treo cellular phones, is an excellent mapping system that geographically plots all incidents by category for the SBIA Executive.

This program is one of the most exciting that I am involved in and I really look forward to what Genesis can do for the SBIA over the next couple of years.

Thanks to all the SBIA members who have supported our program thus far and a special thanks for inviting myself and Kevin to your special Holiday Festivities.

Record Crowds For Santa Claus Parade

2007-11-26T11:08:00.001-08:00

Sunday has come and gone and I have to tell you that being in this year’s Rogers Santa Claus parade was one of the best times I’ve had in quite a long time.

There were an abundance of floats and participants entered this year that more than impressed the record crowd of over 300 000 people; people I might add who braved some fairly chilly weather in order to catch a glimpse of Santa Claus himself.

A big thanks to all of our Ambassadors who came out this year and assisted in greeting the crowd while handing out Carol books; which were sponsored and printed by Rogers. More importantly than this though would be the HUGE thank-you to all those responsible for breaking the donation records for the past three years, collecting over 15, 000 lbs of food and $7500 in cash!!!

It was a great honor to be a part of this parade and to close I would like to thank the Community for coming out and supporting this very fun and meaningful event.

City Tv Clip

2007-11-23T13:56:00.000-08:00

I happened to be going through my media files the other day and noticed that I forgot to post an excellent piece on the Ambassador Program that ran on City TV last month and featured two of our very best, Kerri-Lynne and Joe.

The piece basically gives a general outline of the very diverse work that the Ambassadors engage in every day with topics such as crime prevention and tourist assistance touch on; it even mentions the fact that Kerri-Lynne has been directly responsible for recovering over 64 stolen automobiles!!!

Give this clip a watch and I think you will be impressed with the professionalism of our staff and the various services that the Ambassadors offer.

Remember that this program is administered by Genesis Security through the Downtown Business Improvement Association and also please note the Genesis logo on the uniform as this is the first time the DVBIA has allowed a security company to do this.

Great interview team.

Rogers Santa Claus Parade

2007-11-22T12:08:00.000-08:00

I hope to see everyone out for the Rogers Santa Claus Parade this coming Sunday, the 25th of November as this year Genesis Security is participating by driving one of our vehicles, which we will of course have all “decked” out in appropriate Holiday Spirit!!!

The parade itself begins at 1:00 p.m. and I have attached the actual parade route for viewing and a link to the official website so you can collect more information.

One item on the website that I would like to mention here is that the parade will be collecting donations for the Greater Vancouver Food Bank and the Lower Mainland Christmas Bureau with a special train picking up donations along the route. You may also drop-off donations on Howe St. at Robson Square and on Georgia St. at the Art Gallery.

The most needed items are:

• Canned Meats, Soups and Stews
• Canned Fish and Meat
• Pasta, Pasta Sauce and Rice
• Canned Beans, Fruits and Vegetables

Also, the best sites to watch this Holiday Event will be at the Vancouver Art Gallery, at Robson Square on Howe St. and on both sides of Georgia St. on the slope between Bute and Broughton. (The route is longer though this year and there should be quality viewing all along the route).

Remember to visit the website for more details and please bring a donation if at all possible for these very worthy organizations.

See you all there and don’t forget your Christmas Cheer!!!!!!!!

Genesis Security Pilots New BST Program

2007-11-20T17:55:00.000-08:00

We are very proud to have been part of a team of Security companies in British Columbia that participated in reviewing the BST (Basic Security Training) 1 and 2 program with the Justice Institute and making several recommendations for change.

Even more so, it is a great honor for all of us at Genesis to be the very first Training Academy in B.C. to offer the new pilot BST program.

As you are all aware of, there have been a lot of questions lately regarding licensing of Guards and the level of training that they receive. Travis Lupick of the Georgia Straight wrote an excellent article last month in reference to this and the possible changes that were being studied and given implementation dates.

The Justice Institute should be commended for this initiative and the tremendous amount of work that went into developing this new pilot.

A quick synopsis of the changes:

BST 1: additional legislation with regards to Human Rights, improvement to the Law portion with regards to criminal intent and better practice sessions to reinforce the material

BST 2: amendments to the tactical portion with an actual reduction in the types and more focus on fewer techniques.

While the article discusses even more changes that are being proposed, studied and awaiting enactment; the pilot program is showing all concerned parties that there is movement forward.

When I spoke to Danny Rosales, our Head Instructor, about these changes he commented that the course is now more in depth and better prepares the student to prepare for their role as a Security Guard in today’s ever-changing industry.

At Genesis we are continually trying to develop new programs and be on the cutting edge of our industry and I am very pleased that this program provides another example of exactly how we are accomplishing this.

Undercover LPO Team and Community Patrol…. What A Team!!!

2007-11-19T15:51:00.000-08:00

I wanted to send a very quick thanks out to members of our Undercover Loss Prevention Team, which we manage through the DVBIA, who participated in a police operation last week that targeted property offenders in Vancouver.

Our guys worked strange hours on this one and were directly responsible for assisting with the apprehension of at least 10 individuals. Considering this project was only three days long, that number seems even more impressive to me.

Chief Chu seems to be impressed as well. He recently sent the pictured letter to our team congratulating them on all their hard work and the pointing out that since 2003 the LPO team has made more then 1700 arrests!!!!! (Please be advised that we had to cut the recipients name out of the letter due to the nature of their employment, however each LPO member did receive a copy).

Great work again guys, we all really appreciate your day to day efforts.

Speaking of assisting Police and getting kudos, we better mention our Community Patrol team as well.

A couple of weeks back they were getting their daily briefing at the Kerrisdale Community Police Station and received information regarding a suspect who was wanted for Break and Enter.

Upon leaving the station, they proceeded to the suspect areas and began a detailed patrol.

Working together as a team they quickly identified someone who they believed to be the suspect earlier described to them.

Verifying the identity through the Kerrisdale Community Policing Centre, the Police were then dispatched and able to take the person of interest into custody.

Another great example of why the Community Patrol works and the fantastic people who work every single day to make it happen.

Thanks guys.

Ambassador Video From Global News

2007-11-16T11:10:00.000-08:00

Just received a phone call from a friend of mine who taped Global News last week in reference to a spot that was completed on the Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association Ambassador Program and talk of a possible expansion.

As you already know, Genesis Security administers this program through the DVBIA and is responsible for providing Ambassadors 16 hours a day, 7 days a week. From the time we originally took over the program in April of this year it has already expanded once to now include South Granville, the West End BIA and the Yaletown BIA with Genesis employing over 40 people to staff all the involved positions.

Now, this particular news reel discusses the possibility of this program expanding throughout all of Vancouver and has such proponents as Kim Capri, a Vancouver City councilor and Mayor Sam Sullivan.

Items discussed in the reel include the fact that when this program first started over 7 years ago, the Ambassadors were responding to over 4000 calls a month and now it is down to just over 350; which would indicate a level of success being obtained.

All Ambassadors are fully licensed and trained in Basic Security Standard 1 and 2 and have come to help assisting in being the eyes and ears of the police.

This is a truly valuable program for the city and we will watch with interest in how this all turns out.

The Big Whitecaps Game

2007-11-15T14:01:00.000-08:00

I almost forgot to thank the Guards who came out last week to work the David Beckham, L.A. Galaxy vs. Vancouver Whitecaps soccer game, which resulted in 0-0 draw.

With over 125 Guards deployed for this huge event it was a great crowd and we experienced no problems at all, with the exception of one of my guys having to tackle the “streaker” (no worries Mo, we have a box of Sani-Wipes on order for your Christmas bonus).

In all seriousness, congratulations to all involved, this was a great event for Vancouver as a city and we hope to be able to work many more of these in the future.

Don’t forget as well that this Sunday is the Western Conference final for the CFL and once again Genesis will be there with over 130 Guards to assist in ensuring that everyone has a safe and secure time. Come out and support your Lions!!!!

Vancouver Sun Article

2007-11-07T15:31:00.000-08:00

This past Tuesday, Genesis Security was contacted by the Vancouver Sun and asked to comment on the recent rash of shootings in the Vancouver area and how it has affected our business.

Excerpts from the articles include:

“Meanwhile, Camil Dubuc, Genesis Security’s president and CEO, said in an interview that his company also sees increased business after incidents such as Huang’s killing.

“We get a few, but it’s not a great increase,” he said. “Some clients, especially people around the area (of the shooting), call for upgrades.

“But it’s incredible how business has gone up in the last 10 years,” added Dubuc, whose company has 490 employees. “Last year, we tripled (the number of clients) for our alarm division. There’s a lot of growth.”

In September, Genesis announced a 200-per-cent expansion of its free community security patrols, to cover an area with more than 63,000 homes in Vancouver’s west side.

According to the release, the service involves licensed security guards patrolling around the clock on foot, by bike and using cars equipped with global positioning systems, Internet hookups, and direct connections to Genesis’ security centre.

Dubuc rejected concerns that security firms are doing the work of public police forces and that many security guards are unlicensed.

“We’re not doing police work. We’re just assisting them, being their eyes and ears. And if there’s an assault, it’s a citizen’s right to defend that person.”

He also said their guards are all licensed.

A provincial government investigation in 2004 alleged that three-quarters of all new security guards hired by large B.C. security firms started working without a license.

Extra Patrols Provided

2007-11-03T16:29:00.000-07:00

Well, now that Halloween has come and gone I am very pleased to announce that our Community Patrol staff reported no major incidents. Aside from offering some friendly advice to some individuals on the safe way to use fireworks I would have to say that the night was a huge success.

As mentioned in our previous Blog post and the newsletter that we sent out to some 200 businesses, Genesis provided extra patrolling services this particular night to ensure that all of our children enjoyed themselves Trick or Treating in the safest environment possible.

I would like to thank both the regular Community Patrol employees and my Executive Team members who came out to drive during this very busy night and rest assured that during other times throughout the year when we feel that an extra presence is required we will be there for our Community.

Should any readers happen to know of any incidents that we were unaware of, please feel free to email them to admin@genesissecurity.com so that we may log them into our mapping program. This will enable us to perhaps design our routes more efficiently next Halloween and allow for an even more secure setting for all the kids!!!!!

See you next one.

Happy Halloween Everyone!!!!!

2007-10-29T12:15:00.000-07:00

Well, Halloween is this coming Wednesday evening and once again Genesis Security has increased its number of Community Patrol vehicles on the street to make sure that all the trick-or-treaters have a great time in a safe environment.

In the meantime, we have once again jotted down a few safety tips for both the parents and kids:

• Make sure they stay on sidewalks, always walking and never running.
• It’s a good idea if they stay in neighborhoods that are familiar to them.
• They should carry a flashlight and wear reflectors
• Whatever shoes are being worn should fit; even if they are not part of the
costume.
• Only approach homes that are well lit.
• Do not attempt to approach any pets that they don’t know.
• Make sure their costumes don’t drag on the ground.
• Ensure that your children understand and obey all traffic signs.
• Have your kids go through their treats with you when they get home.
• It’s also a good idea to make sure that your children have a few quarters so
that they can call home if they have to.

By the way, did you know how Halloween actually got its start?

It can be traced back to the Druids and the feast of the Samhain, which was an annual practice held every 31st of October to honor the dead. Samhain translates to “summers end” or November and it was a harvest festival that had massive bonfires that marked the end of the Celtic year and the beginning of the new one.

The Celts believed the souls of the dead roamed through the streets within the village and with their fear that not all the spirits would be friendly, gifts and treats were left outside to pacify the evil ones and ensure the following year’s crops would be plentiful. This is the custom that evolved into “trick-or-treat”!!!!

One last thing everyone; Ashley Meehan, our new Director of Alarm Services has published a Newsletter with fresh content that is going to be delivered to as many businesses as we can get out to tomorrow in the Kerrisdale neighborhood, so keep an eye out for the Community Patrol.

Be safe everyone and don’t eat too much candy.

Article In The Province

2007-10-26T11:16:00.001-07:00

Just a quick note to all our readers out there that on the 17th of October, Genesis Security had a feature article in the Province newspaper which related directly to our services and the free Community Patrol that we have established and recently expanded upon, in the community.

As the article clearly states, it is our intention to expand this free program across the Fraser Valley and eventually the entire province of British Columbia. As a community, we all need to be proactive in our approach to crime and act as the extra eyes and ears that will assist our police whenever possible, which is exactly what we hope to accomplish with the Community Patrol.

Building this company over the past ten years from 6 employees to over 500 has been possible not only because of my professional, loyal staff; but as well it is due to our commitment to the Community and our clients recognizing this and reinvesting in us.

Genesis will continue to look for new and innovative ways to assist all of our neighbors and I can personally tell you that I look forward to the next ten years of serving your needs.

DVBIA Luncheon

2007-10-19T17:34:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I found myself at the Four Seasons Hotel for a luncheon which saw our new Chief Constable of Vancouver, Jim Chu speaking as a special guest of the Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association.

As Genesis was one of the primary sponsors of this event, I was fortunate enough to have the honor of speaking to the audience beforehand and introducing the new Chief.

Sitting here now reviewing my speech, I truly do believe that bringing this city of ours into the 2010 experience and making an impact on crime is not just the job of our police. Every person and business must step forward and participate in the process; doing what they can in their own way.

While speaking, Chief Chu impressed me with certain initiatives that the VPD are currently studying relating to Chronic Offenders and property offenses.

With that being said, I would like to thank Chief Chu for coming out today and showing everyone that he is taking this job very seriously and is already beginning to study viable options that may ease the crime within the city and change the way in which we deal with the offenders involved.

Genesis Security wishes the Chief success in his new position and looks very forward to continuing our successful relationship with the VPD.