It is our pleasure to introduce and welcome the following new members in our team. Please join us in providing a warm ASP welcome to all the new members. We are proud to have you all as part of our team.
Tasiyah McDoom
Tasiyah McDoom has joined the HR Team as a Recruiter in our North York office. She is responsible for the full recruitment cycle of our TTC screening contract at our Residential/Commercial Division.
In her previous role, she has worked at Student Association of George Brown College as an Elections Assistant Manager where she was responsible for screening qualified candidates and preparing schedules in different campuses. Tasiyah possesses a Diploma in Business -Human Resources from George Brown College and is currently working on getting her Payroll Compliance Practitioner Certificate. Tasiyah’s calm, positive and friendly personality makes her a great fit for the ASP Team.
By Vasilis Androutsos, Manager - Operations
Thank you very much! These to me are words of appreciation and gratitude that I can say to any guard who performs their duties between the hours of 10:00p.m. – 7:00a.m. Globally, the majority of people have the standard workday from 9:00a.m. to 5:00p.m. In the Security industry, a “standard” shift differs significantly. This is because clients and stakeholders understand the importance of what could happen during off-peak hours. Our RES/CIC division has a balanced scope of work that requires our guards to provide coverage and service our clients needs, 24 hours a day. For any guard who is looking to commit to working the night shift, it can be a mentally and physically stressful change that will alter your current routine.
Below are some tips to help alleviate the stress of working a night shift
Plan your work schedule ahead of time.
Plan your sleep schedule as best as possible and adjust your sleeping environment.
Plan your meals, accordingly, consume well balanced meals and ensure you regularly hydrate with water and limit your caffeine intake.
Seek assistance by regularly conversing with colleagues, family, friends, medical professionals or through our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) if you feel any sleep deprivation, depression, loneliness, or other symptoms that require support.
Employee Spotlight:
Richard Fearon
I recently had the pleasure of speaking in-depth with Richard Fearon, who is one of the RES/CIC Mobile Patrol Supervisors that primarily performs his duties in the evenings. Richard is a very hard working and dedicated individual. He has 20+ years of experience in the Security Industry and has been a valuable and contributing team member wherever he has applied his trade. He has a unique skillset that lends itself to being a great coach/ mentor for many or our front-line security personnel. I look forward to everyone meeting Richard on a different level and hope all of you will get a different appreciation for the guards who are tasked with working evenings.
What are your duties and responsibilities as the evening Mobile Patrol Supervisor?
My responsibilities during my shift include:
Administering on-the-job training
Inspection of front-line guards for uniform compliance, job performance and knowledge of Health and Safety protocols
Resolve any conflicts between front-line guards and general public that may arise
Conduct investigations
Ensure employees have the necessary equipment to do their jobs.
What do you like most about your job?
The most rewarding aspect of my job is the human interaction I get to experience. Meeting people and having the ability to help or change their lives in any way is rewarding. I also enjoy that I am able to make decisions within the scope of my duties.
You have been working on the night shift for almost 20 years. What is the best thing about working this shift? What is your least favourite thing?
I enjoy working nights due to my ability to work independently with little to no supervision required. In my experience working nights has allowed me to grow in terms of making decisions that give the best results.
What is the most rewarding aspect of your job?
The most rewarding aspect of my job is having the ability to truly satisfy clients, or the general public. It means a lot to me knowing I have made a difference in someone else’s day.
In your opinion, how has the Security Industry changed over the course of your 20+ years in the industry?
The biggest changes I have seen is the attitude of the front-line workers and how they perceive their job. I have also noticed the vast expansion of the industry itself.
What’s a fun fact about you many people may not know?
A fun fact about me many people may not know is that I tend to be the life of the party. I don’t need to receive praise for my work as I genuinely enjoy helping people.
What do you like most about working for ASP?
I like being able to obtain large contracts and being recognized as an industry leader. ASP makes an effort to hire and promote from within which is also something I like.
Any words of wisdom for your fellow colleagues?
ASP is bigger than just one person. It takes a team with different skills to build what ASP has accomplished. Work together and have the tough conversations because it is the only way to grow and become a great team.
By Bryan Joly, Training Manager
Ryan joined RES/CIC Training in November 2020. He was previously working with guards at various LCBO retail stores teaching Use of Force and Managing of Resistive Behaviour. We are very excited to have Ryan on board as he is already making a huge impact in the betterment of our newly hired guards. We sat down with Ryan and asked him a few questions about his work history, passions, and heroes.
“I love the fact that I empower people to believe than can be successful in something they have never done before.”
How long have you been involved in Security and what was your first job?
A: I have worked in the security industry for over 20 years. My first Security job was a patrol guard at Centennial College Progress Campus. It was a great experience as it gave me the opportunity to see if this was the right industry for me. I still think about that job fondly.
What is your favourite part about training?
A: I love getting up up in front of a group of people and teaching. I also love the fact that I empower people to believe they can be successful in something they have never done before. Most people have never taken a course in understanding different levels of a crisis. It’s great to watch a person grow confident enough to handle those situations should they arise.
What advice would you have for anyone considering a career in the Security Industry?
Be prepared to work hard, enjoy the grind, and experience the growth process. You can have a great career in the Security Industry if you are willing to put in the work.
“Be prepared to work hard and enjoy the grind and the growth process.”
By Cliff Sampogna, Director Operations RES/CIC
As you all know, the Residential and Commercial division has been growing immensely over the last few years. With business growth comes infrastructure change as well. These changes have inspired our team to take the next step.
I wanted to take this opportunity to welcome Karim Khamisa as the new Business Development Operations Manager for the Residential Commercial division. Karim has over 10 years of sales and operational management experience specializing in large customer focused industries with emphasis on efficiency, quality, cost, service, and employee relations.
He completed his Master of Business Administration. Karim will be responsible for the oversight and management of the new vertical markets that ASP will be pursuing.
I am looking forward to seeing the work Karim will do for our organization and how he will help us get to the next level of our business. I am proud and honored to have Karim as part of our team and I look forward to watching him grow in this role.
Please join me in providing a warm welcome to Karimupon his arrival.
“Karim has over 10 years of sales and operational management experience”
By Bryan Joly, Training Manager
The RES CIC Training Department hosted their Use of Force training for the Recruitment Team. Training Coordinators Mike Moledzki and Ryan Durkin put the Recruitnent Team through their entire Use of Force Training Program. The training focused on the Criminal Code and how to manage resistive behaviour. There was also a physical portion of the training which included takedowns, handcuffing, and baton training.
The purpose of this was to give Recruitment a full understanding of the training process for our Respite, and Union Station Guards. Sonika Ramachandran, of the Recruitment team, enjoyed every minute of the training. “The training was extremely comprehensive and gave me a much deeper understanding of exactly what our guards have to deal with on a day-to-day basis. I have a great appreciation for our guards and the security industry as a whole”.
RES/CIC will be hosting another session in the coming weeks for our Human Resources team.
“The purpose of this was to give recruitment a full understanding of the tranining process for our respite, and Union Station Guards.”
By Sean Gallagher, Keba Walters & Tasiyah McDoom
Our Recruitment team is excited to announce our latest competition, and all it takes is a few taps on your smartphone. To enter our #LetsFollow Challenge, follow the 3 easy steps below:
We are asked questions about how to refer candidates and what we are looking for. We are always looking for referrals. Here’s what you should know:
Follow ASP Security on Instagram and LinkedIn
Tag 2 friends in Security on our post
Share any of our posts with the hashtag #LetsFollow on one of your social media accounts (i.e. Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook).
That’s it! If you follow these 3 steps, you will be entered into our draw for brand-new Apple Airpods! You can enter as many times as you want, as long as you are tagging different people each time.
Our Recruitment team loves giveaways, so stay posted on our social media pages (Linkedin and Instagram) to stay up-to-date with any and all contests and giveaways, along with our special shoutouts. Our social media pages are our hub of information regarding new positions, trainings, industry news, programs and competitions, and mostly showing our appreciation for… well… YOU! Our people are the source that drives us to be better, and these pages are our chance to showcase that.
“Our Recruitment team loves giveaways, so stay posted on our social media pages (Linkedin and Instagram) to stay up-to-date with any and all contests and giveaways”
Interested in winning a brand-new pair of Apple Airpods?!
Congratulations to our last grand prize winner, SCGS Crossing Guard, Olga Plunkett! She participated in our referrals competition last month and won a 50” TV!
As always, we encourage anyone to refer their fellow security guards to our company, especially if you see a role posted that would be perfect for them. If your friend is hired, after 90 days we’ll send you $100. It’s that simple! Just make sure you tell them to add your name when they come in for their interview!
Please send any of your friends resumes that you think would be a great addition to our company to recruitment@security-asp.com or to apply for a specific position, apply online at www.security-asp.com.
Our #LetsFollow Challenge begins July 1st and continues until August 1st . We will be announcing the winner shortly after. Until then, #LetsFollow ASP and win!
As the saying goes, “nothing worth having comes easily”.
The K9 Division at ASP has experienced this sentiment first hand and we are all really proud of what they have achieved.
As part of a new federal program, ASP embarked upon the ambitious mission of servicing the air cargo industry with Government Certified K9 handlers in five major Canadian cities. Our first nationally dispersed contract was awarded to us by Federal Express. Not long after we signed on with this industry leading client, ASP K9 staff quickly learned that we would need to be adaptive and resourceful in our approach to training, and diligent in our pursuit of certification with Transport Canada.
After a few lessons learned, our K9 handlers mastered the administrative and practical requirements for National Certification. We are extremely proud to be the first company in Canada with fully certified K9 handlers. It is a responsibility we hold in the highest regards to be leading this new burgeoning industry. We are learning every day. Delivering explosive detection services to the cargo industry is met by our teams with the same unwavering professionalism and enthusiasm that we deliver in all of our K9 programs.
The future for ASP K9 is both exciting and very “Pawmising”.
We’ve missed almost two years of fun, food and friendship at ASP during the lockdowns and public health restrictions in 2020 and 2021. With the public health crisis improving everyday and the news that Canada’s Wonderland will re-open in July, we knew what had to be done!
On September 18th we invite our ASP team to join us at Canada’s Wonderland for admission to the park all day, parking, a catered lunch, and exclusive rides from 8pm-10pm that night.
Mark the date on your calendars so you’ll be sure to be able to join us. Watch your inbox for more information in July and August and for details on how to sign up.
During the difficult times we are currently in, it is extremely important to focus on mental health. There are multiple different ways one can focus on their mental fortitude:
Physical Activity
Stress Management
Healthy Eating
MANY MORE!
Stress Management is a very vague statement but refers to the multiple different ways you can manage your stress levels:
Meditation Video
Games Reading
Puzzles
Conversations with others
Brain Teasers
Writing
MANY MORE
Across
1. Possibility of suffering harm or being in “trouble or harm.
3. Toronto Hockey Team
6. ASP ___________
9. Managing the entrance to a location via security
10. A Medieval tool used to protect oneself in battle
12. To watch or notice something important
Down
2. Incident / Special Occurrence document
4. Security term for watching areas and people closely / carefully
5. Toronto basketball team
7. The opposite of negative
8. Referring to either a vehicle or cellular device
10. The feeling of being secure and unharmed
11. Type of surveillance through the use of cameras
By Debbie Ciccotelli, Vice President, Strategic Initiatives
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has designated 2021 as the “Year of Security Culture”.
Additionally, 2021 commemorates the 20th Anniversary of 9/11, the worst acts of unlawful interference in the history of Aviation.
As we begin 2021, it is equally important to acknowledge the challenges that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the aviation industry. The true extent of the economic damage sustained by the wider aviation industry still remains largely unknown, yet in spite of this, the focus of the aviation industry is now on how to restart amidst the COVID-19 pandemic in a safe and healthy manner.
As we begin the road to recovery a renewed focus on security is important. Threats against civil aviation continue to evolve and COVID-19 has not reduced the attractiveness of aviation as a terrorist target. I want to take this opportunity to emphasize the importance of continuing to cultivate a high level of security awareness at all levels within our aviation teams and to reinforce the need to proactively, think and consistently act in a security-conscious manner. By ensuring we have a robust and positive security culture, we can support our clients in increasing airport security compliance and vigilance which will in turn will contribute to increasing public confidence in the air transportation system.
What is Security Culture?
ICAO has defined security culture as a set of norms, beliefs, values, attitudes, and assumptions that are inherent in the daily operation of an organization and are reflected by the actions and behaviours of all entities and personnel within the organization. Security should be everyone’s responsibility – from the ground up.
Effective security culture is about:
Recognizing that effective security is critical to business success
Establishing an appreciation of positive security practices among employees
Aligning security to core business goals
Articulating security as a core value rather than as an obligation or a burdensome
Embracing the Year of Security Culture is a “call to action” and as security is part of the DNA of ASP, we have an obligation as both a company and as individuals to actively build on our strengths as we adapt to the new normal. Each one of us needs to believe that we can make a difference and to capitalize on the opportunity to demonstrate the strong security culture and mindset every member of our aviation team brings to the airport communities which we serve. Our security culture must be mirrored in our actions and behaviours and your personal commitment is the foundation of our efforts.
With this in mind, let’s work in partnership with our aviation clients to ensure the success of the Year of Security Culture 2021.
