ASIS Canada calls for security professionals to be recognized as essential

Senior leaders at ASIS International Region 6B (Canada) have published an open letter requesting that security professionals be regarded as an essential service during the current pandemic crisis. The letter, signed by William Van Ryswyk, SRVP, Canada, ASIS, is published in full below.

SECURITY PROFESSIONALS AS AN ESSENTIAL SERVICE

As governments across Canada grapple with the task of determining which businesses are essential to remain open during a COVID-19 pandemic, the critical need for Security Professionals cannot be underestimated.

Security Professionals provide the following vital services and roles:
– Alarm Monitoring/Response Operator
– Armoured Vehicle Guard
– Concierge/Front Desk Manager
– Corporate Security Director/Manager
– Loss Prevention Manager
– Private Investigator
– Security Guard
– Security System Technician

These professionals are employed by a variety of government entities and private organizations, as well as third-party service providers. They often act as first responders within the organizations they serve and, in times of crisis, can reduce the reliance on public first responders that can be better utilized elsewhere. Security Professionals are often the primary interface between the public and police, fire or ambulance, as well as controlling access into facilities of every kind.

Founded in 1955, ASIS International is a global community of security practitioners, each of whom has a role in the protection of assets: People, property, and/or information. Our members represent virtually every industry in the public and private sectors, and organizations of all sizes. From entry-level managers to CSOs to CEOs, from security veterans to consultants and those transitioning from law enforcement or the military, the ASIS community is global and diverse.

Security Professionals are diligently at work in your community, helping to protect your workplaces and residences, as well as critical infrastructure functions across Canada. They are in hospitals, grocery stores and power plants, and they are trained to protect, to administer first aid, and to be a calm authority in times of crisis.

Join me in advocating for the criticality of security professionals in your community!

William Van Ryswyk, CPP
Senior Regional Vice President, Canada
ASIS International
www.asiscanada.org