NANAIMO – When burglars and intruders see or hear Footprints, they walk away.
Footprints Security is well known and recognized for its fleet of vehicles and uniformed guards, which have been patrolling Vancouver Island since 1980. Footprints has the largest mobile patrol and alarm response fleet on Vancouver Island, and also offers home watch and special event assistance.
Simon Collery is President and Managing Director of Footprints Security
Footprints Security was founded by Sarah and Michael Collery in Qualicum Beach four decades ago with a staff of three. Today, the family business is owned and operated by their sons, President and Managing Director Simon Collery and his brother, Vice President of Operations Adrian Collery, with over 450 trained personnel from Victoria to Campbell River, and five offices, including headquarters at 3A-4890 Rutherford Road in Nanaimo.
Business in Vancouver published its annual Book of Lists naming the biggest companies in the province, and Footprints Security is the eighth largest security company in BC Recently named a Finalist in the Business of the Year category at the 20th Annual Grant Thornton LLP Vancouver Island Business Excellence Awards, Footprints also has the largest mobile patrol and alarm response fleet on Vancouver Island with 35 vehicles.
“We have called the Island our home for three generations, and the safety and security of Vancouver Island communities is close to our hearts,” says Simon Collery. “We share a common vision to preserve the Island’s reputation as an incredible place to live, and we want to ensure a safe and friendly environment to raise our families.”
Adrian Collery is Vice President of Operations for Footprints
Being in business for 40 years is a statement about the company’s success and commitment to serving its clients well, and Simon takes pride in the team members in each community who continue to build and maintain key relationships where they live and work.
“Part of our competitive advantage of being an independent company is that we compete against national and multinational companies,” he notes. “A lot of our business is relationship-based, with our Island people connecting with other Island people. The companies we compete against usually have changes in management and people, so I believe the long-term relationships our team has built with our clients is a huge part of our success.”
Growth in the security sector has hovered around seven percent nationally and internationally in recent years, but Collery says Footprints has experienced 15-20 per cent increases over the past few years.
“We add another layer of ears and eyes and a physical presence in the community serving our clients,” he notes. “Part of our service is providing a physical presence, so that it makes people think ‘I saw a guard’ so they will think again about what they might have been thinking of doing.
“We are obviously not police, and the rules for private security is to observe record and report. That is the legal function of security workers in British Columbia, and that’s what we do so well.”
Simon’s brother Adrian has over 25 years of experience in Corrections and Security, and came on board in 2006. He manages Footprints’ operation, policies and procedures, and handles administration of the company’s ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management Program.
Footprints Security’s Senior Management Team, from left: Vice President – Operations Adrian Collery, Human Resources Manager Lexi Christopher, Chief Financial Officer Rob Kenney, President and Managing Director Simon Collery and Operations Manager – Central Island Debbie Shea.
Simon joined the business 24 years ago, in 1996, after eight years in sales and management with Coca-Cola, and the brothers bought their parents out.
“I tell people it’s the best decision I ever made, and the worst decision I ever made, joining the family business,” he laughs. “Being that our business is 24 hours a day, seven days a week, it’s even more challenging.”
Footprints Security guards have all taken government standard training, called Basic Security Training (BST).
“Every person that works in private security in BC has to take the BST,” Simon notes.
“We have an approved facility and instructors to deliver that training. After someone completes that training they apply for a security workers’ license, then they are licensed to work for a security company in BC.”
Security guards no longer have to be bonded to do their jobs, as the Security Services Act provides liability insurance for home and business owners for $100,000 per employee, meaning the premises are insured for that amount.
Footprints Security holds a security business license with the province of BC and employees operate under three categories: Security Worker, Private Investigator and Security Consultant.
“We don’t focus too much on the Private Investigator aspect, but we do some of that work from time to time,” Simon states.
The province has added Advanced Security Training for the industry, which means security workers with the proper training can use handcuffs for restraining individuals if necessary. A loss prevention store detective might be the position that would need to use that the most, if at all.
Footprints Security has 35 vehicles in its fleet to serve Vancouver Island
Footprints Security holds certification for ISO 9001:2015 for Total Quality Management, which includes structured quality control and monitoring of ongoing management improvement programs.
“Our adherence to the principles of ISO ensures that we are continually reassessing our clients’ needs, and adjusting our services where required, based on our customized ISO database,” he notes.
ASIS International Board Certification acknowledges the company’s mastery of core security principals and skills essential to the best practices of security management, and Footprints has completed the Climate Smart (Lean and Green) program to become fully certified.
“We are now identified as a leading organization that tracks and takes action to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions,” Simon states. “By discovering ways to reduce our carbon footprint, we are socially conscious.”
Of the services offered by Footprints, uniformed and plain clothes security professionals are the most visible, deterring illegal activity and safeguarding assets and individuals from harm.
They are effective at high occurrence sites like construction sites, shopping centres, strip malls, office buildings, warehouses and industrial buildings, as well as homes. They help prevent against vehicle theft, theft of merchandise or capital, vandalism, robbery, trespassing and other criminal activity.
“Our security professionals monitor premises, escort personnel, and are an overall presence to deter illegal activity,” Simon points out. “Our team members can also act as reliable witnesses, appearing before courts to ensure justice is served.”
Plain clothes security provides covert protection of people and property, while the mobile patrol security units are more cost-effective solutions to reduce risk to client sites and property.
Mobile Patrol Drivers operate eco-friendly patrol vehicles equipped with advanced GPS tracking devices supported by a trained Mobile Patrol Supervisor 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They also perform periodic security checks and general patrol services at times determined by client needs.
Home Watch is an increasingly popular service due to individuals leaving for vacation for extended periods of time, and offers scheduled checkups. That can include interior and exterior checks, inspections of heating and water systems, garages and appliances, and even mail pickup and watering plants.
“Statistics show that a residence is three times more likely to be broken into and invaded without any home security,” Collery states.
Special Event Security is designed for private and public events with either uniformed or plain clothes security, including for high profile individuals. It is suitable for concerts, music festivals, arenas and sporting centres, school events, corporate functions, political events and weddings.
Guest Services staff are SuperHost trained, and there is also Concierge for door watching at events, as well as First Aid Attendants.
The wide array of services offered has contributed to Footprints Security’s growth, but Collery is a strong believer that it is the people within the company that ultimately makes the difference.
“Our people and the reputations they earn provides us with consistency day in and day out, and we constantly hear good things about our people,” he says. “If we lose some business or don’t get it right away, we often get it back. We enjoy what we’re doing, and we hope to keep doing it for another 40 plus years.”