CLIENT PROFILE
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.
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 B.C. 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.”
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 relationshipbased,
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 to
20 percent 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 rule 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.
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
President and Managing Director Simon Collery
in B.C. 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’ licence, then
they are licensed to work for a security
company in B.C.”
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 licence with the province of
B.C. 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
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