Nominations came for security directors and managers in the public and private sector including banking, large utilities, post-secondary institutions, health care and manufacturing.

The award honours the individual who best demonstrates leadership and vision in the world of corporate security.

“We received an impressive number of nominations for a group of extremely qualified and experienced individuals from across the country,” said Jennifer Brown, Editor of Canadian Security Magazine. “After considerable deliberation with the editorial advisory board, it was determined Mr. McLean best exemplifies  qualities of a senior-level executive in the security industry."

McLean received five nominations — more than any other nominee — and those who nominated him include professionals and peers from organizations such as KPMG, The Canadian Bankers Association and the Society for The Policing of Cyberspace.

Those who nominated McLean cited his “calm and determined leadership” during the 2005 labour dispute at Telus as well as his on-going work on a smart card project in which a multitude of card access systems will be consolidated onto a single card access. That will then roll into the logical access for the IT component of the employee work base.

McLean has also created the Information Protection Centre within corporate security at Telus, which works closely with the Telus IT department to help ensure that the company’s corporate information assets are appropriately protected.

 “In accordance with Gene’s security philosophy, there is no divide or fragmentation between physical and information security at Telus,” said one of McLean's nominators, Richard Cohen, President, RSC Strategic Connections, an independent advisory firm on national and international security issues.

First runner up was Leo Manos, Director of Security Services with the Fairmont Royal York Hotel in Toronto, who was nominated for his significant work in upgrading the security systems within the facility. Second runner up was Bob Gauvreau, Manager of Corporate Security with the City of Ottawa who was nominated for leading a parks protection initiative within the city.

The competition was sponsored by Anixter, a leading supplier of communications products used to connect voice, video, data and security systems.

“We were thrilled to have Anixter sponsoring the first ever Canadian Security Director of the year and they extend their congratulations to Mr. McLean,” said Frank Shoniker, Publisher of Canadian Security and Director of Sales and Marketing for CLB Media.

McLean will be featured in the September issue of Canadian Security Magazine and presented with his award at the ASIS International Conference in San Diego, Calif., on Sept. 24, 2006 and at Security Canada Central in October at the Toronto Congress Center.