Basic Security Guard Training Course

Establishes the foundation of the profession, covering the two primary divisions of security in Canada — public and private — and the historical evolution of the industry.

• Overview of the security industry in Canada
• Two primary divisions: public security and private security
• The role of public security (police, government agencies)
• The role of private security (guards, investigators, firms)
• Historical evolution of the security profession
• Role, responsibilities, and career paths for security guards

Covers the Private Security and Investigative Services Act and the Ministry Code of Conduct that governs all licensed security professionals in Ontario.

• Definition of a security guard under the PSISA
• Ontario licensing requirements and application process
• General rules, standards, and employer obligations
• Ministry Code of Conduct — duties and prohibitions
• Public complaints process and penalties for violations
• Uniforms, equipment standards, and identification

Teaches the day-to-day operational skills required on post, from professional appearance and patrol techniques to access control and loss prevention.

• Professional appearance and conduct on post
• Patrol foundation, preparation, and types of patrol
• Access control systems and visitor management
• Physical security systems: alarms, CCTV, locks
• Loss prevention fundamentals
• Crowd control principles and strategies

Develops the documentation skills essential to professional security work, including note-taking, occurrence reports, and understanding the legal implications of written records.

• Importance of accurate and timely documentation
• Note-taking methods and notebook standards
• Types of reports: occurrence, incident, daily activity
• Elements and content standards of effective report writing
• Legal implications of reports and statements
• Distribution, confidentiality, and sample templates

Covers the Occupational Health and Safety Act, worker rights, WHMIS 2015, workplace hazards, WSIB, and the procedures for reporting and managing workplace injuries.

• Occupational Health & Safety Act (OHSA) — rights and duties
• Fundamental worker rights: know, participate, refuse
• WHMIS 2015 and hazard symbols
• Safety Data Sheets (SDS) and other workplace hazards
• Working alone policies and procedures
• WSIB — injury reporting, steps, and appeals

Prepares security guards to identify emergencies, manage scenes, coordinate evacuations, and fulfill their duty of care during and after critical incidents.

• Identifying and classifying emergencies
• Emergency response procedures and protocols
• Fire safety and evacuation planning
• Emergency tools and scene management
• Duty of care and post-emergency responsibilities
• Coordination with police, fire, and EMS

Provides a working knowledge of the Canadian legal system, court hierarchy, types of law, and how security guards interact with the justice system.

• Sources of law and division of powers in Canada
• Court hierarchy: provincial, superior, appellate, Supreme Court
• Types of law: criminal, civil, administrative
• Types of criminal offences: summary, indictable, hybrid
• Evidence Acts, evidence handling, and court protocols
• Municipal by-laws and preparing to testify in court

Covers the key legislation that defines and limits the authority of security guards in Ontario, from the Criminal Code to the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

• Source of authority for private security in Canada
• PIPEDA — privacy and personal information
• Trespass to Property Act and Liquor & Cannabis Acts
• Criminal Code key sections relevant to security guards
• Tort law, liability, and the Charter of Rights & Freedoms
• Ontario Human Rights Code and issues of liability

Builds the verbal, non-verbal, written, and radio communication skills that security guards rely on daily, including de-escalation and working with special populations.

• The communication process and verbal skills
• Non-verbal communication and active listening
• Radio communication procedures and etiquette
• De-escalation techniques and conflict resolution
• Communicating with special and vulnerable populations
• Telephone communication and testifying in court

Develops cultural competency, awareness of bias, and the professional ethics required to serve diverse communities with respect and fairness.

• Diversity in the workplace and community
• Ontario Human Rights Code — practical application
• Recognizing and addressing unconscious bias
• Cultural competency and vulnerable populations
• Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA)
• Professional ethics, harassment, and discrimination prevention

Examines the legal and practical framework for the use of force, including the National Use of Force Model, reasonable force, and the consequences of force decisions.

• Criminal Code s. 25 — protection of persons acting under authority
• National Use of Force Model and the force continuum
• Determining and applying reasonable force
• Acting under stress: physiological and psychological factors
• Positional asphyxia and excited delirium awareness
• Reporting use of force and legal consequences

Provides Emergency Level First Aid certification training, covering CPR, AED use, wound management, and response to a wide range of medical emergencies.

• Legal framework and duty of care for first aid
• Scene assessment and primary survey
• CPR and AED operation
• Choking, wound management, and shock response
• Medical emergencies: cardiac, diabetic, seizure, stroke
• Environmental, musculoskeletal injuries, and first aid documentation