It’s that time of the year when we come together to reflect on our collective journey and take a closer look at how we can make our workplace even better. We’re excited to share the results of our recent Employee Satisfaction Survey, which truly reflects the pulse of our organization. First and foremost, we want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you who took the time to participate in the survey. Your input is invaluable, and your voices matter. This year, we achieved a significant milestone – our response rate increased by an impressive 12% compared to the previous year. This increase in participation demonstrates the strength of our commitment to continuous improvement. Now, let’s delve into the results.

Overall Satisfaction:

While the increased participation rate is a testament to our collective dedication to making ASP the best place to work, it is important to acknowledge that our overall happiness rating experienced a slight decrease of 2% from 2022.

As you can see from the infographic, our rating of 86% still surpassed ASP’s benchmark of 80%. However, we want to assure you that we are taking this decline seriously, and your leadership team is committed to addressing any concerns or issues that may have contributed to this decline. Your feedback is instrumental in guiding us on the path to improvement.

Recognition:

On a positive note, there was a slight increase in the number of employees who reported feeling recognized for their hard work and contributions. This is encouraging news, and it reaffirms our belief in the importance of acknowledging and appreciating the efforts of our dedicated team members. We are committed to building upon this foundation and ensuring that recognition remains a cornerstone of our culture.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI):

One of the highlights of this year’s survey results is the significant increase in employees feeling that ASP fosters an environment of diversity, equity, and inclusion. We are thrilled to announce an 8% rise in this category. This demonstrates that our ongoing efforts to create a more inclusive workplace are making a positive impact. However, we understand that there is still work to be done to ensure that every member of our team feels fully supported and included.

Analyzing Team Results

In our commitment to continuous improvement, our leadership team is not only looking at the overall survey results, but also taking a deep dive into the data specific to their individual teams. This personalized approach allows our leaders to gain insights into the unique dynamics and challenges within their respective departments. By carefully analyzing the comments and ratings received, they are identifying key areas of focus that will help address concerns and amplify strengths. This hands-on approach ensures that we are not only making company- wide improvements but also tailoring our efforts to the specific needs and aspirations of each team. Your leaders are actively engaging in this process because they recognize that your feedback is instrumental in shaping the future of our organization. We believe that this targeted approach will lead to more meaningful and impactful changes, ultimately enhancing the work experience for everyone at ASP.

Your feedback serves as our compass, guiding us toward initiatives and improvements that will enhance our workplace experience. We are committed to engaging in open dialogues, implementing necessary changes, and fostering a culture where every voice is heard and valued. Once again, thank you for your active participation in the survey. Together, we will continue to make ASP a place where each and every one of us can thrive.

If you have any questions or would like to share additional feedback, please don’t hesitate to reach out to asphr@security-asp.com

At ASP, we value and recognize the diverse religious beliefs of our employees. The world’s rich diversity is reflected in the observances that are celebrated and recognized by our ASP employees. Knowledge of the following holidays and celebrations can enhance our workplace diversity and inclusion efforts. Throughout the months of October, November, and December, a variety of religious holidays, festivals, observances, and spiritual commemorations took place.

These events were celebrated and observed by many of us, so it is important that we recognize and respect each one of them.

We have compiled a list below of the many important religious events that took place throughout the last few months. We encourage you to review this list to learn more about some of the significant celebrations and observances that are meaningful to your colleagues and friends. Let’s celebrate diversity, together.

October 2022

October 4: Yom Kippur
A Jewish day of atonement to reflect on sins and seek forgiveness from God.

October 5: Dussehra
Dussehra means ‘the tenth’ and celebrates the triumph of Lord Ram over the demon Ravan who stole his wife Sita. The great Hindu epic poem, the Ramayana, is read and enacted. A big effigy of Ravan is burnt accompanied by fireworks. In Nepal it is called Dashain, and it is a major holiday.

October 9: Eid-Maulad-un-Nabi
Anniversary of the birth of Prophet Muhammad. Some Muslims mark this occasion by special prayers, whilst other Muslims may mark the occasion by dedicating more time to reading the Koran.

October 9 – 16: Sukkot
A day in the Jewish faith that remembers when the Jews journeyed to the desert on the way to the promised land.

October 13: Karva Chauth
A one-day fast kept by married Hindu women for the well-being and longevity of their husbands. The husbands feed the first bite to their wives only after they see the moon.

October 18: Birthday of the Bab
A day honoring the birthday of God’s messenger in the Baha’i faith.

October 19: Birth of Baha’u’llah
A day honoring the birthday of the prophet-founding of the Baha’i faith.

October 24: Diwali
A 5-day festival of light that combines several different festivals in honor of gods, goddesses, harvests, new year’s, etc. It is celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs, and Jains.

November 2022

November 1: Samhain
A festival in the Pagan and Wiccan religions that marks the end of the harvest season.

November 1: All Saints Day
Also known as Day of the Dead or Día de los Muertos, this day honors the saints who have attained heaven in the Christian faith.

November 4: Qudrat (13th Month)
The first day of the thirteenth Bahá’í month. The English translation of Quadrat (Arabic) is Power.

November 8: Birthday of Guru Nanak Ji
A day honoring the birth of the founder of Sikhism.

November 8: Lokashah Jayanti
This day commemorates the birth of a famous 15th century reformer, Lonka Saha, who opposed temple worship and use of images.

November 18: Day of Covenant
The eldest son and appointed successor of Bahá’u’lláh, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, referred to this day as the ‘Centre of the Covenant’ which was established to safeguard the unity of the community.

November 22: Qawl (14th Month)
The first day of the fourteenth Bahá’í month. The English translation of Qawl (Arabic) is Speech.

November 24: Martyrdom of Guru Teg Bahadur
This day commemorates his martyrdom (1621-1675). He was the ninth of the Ten Sikh Gurus and executed in Delhi by the Mughal emperor.

He died for the Sikh faith and also for religious liberty.

November 27: First Sunday of Advent
The Christian church year begins with Advent (from the Latin adventus meaning ‘coming’ or ‘arrival’) which is also a time when Christians prepare to celebrate the birth of Christ.

November 30: Feast of St. Andrew
A day honoring the patron saint of Scotland, Greece, Russia, Ukraine, Barbados, and Romania in the Roman Catholic Church.

December 2022

December 6: St. Nicholas Day
He is the patron saint of Russia, who came from a town in Turkey. Being known as a protector of children, the tradition of leaving shoes out in the hopes of receiving treats is practiced in the Dutch, German and, Eastern European communities.

December 8: Feast of the Immaculate Conception
A feast day celebrated by Roman Catholics that celebrate Mary’s conception without original sin.

December 8: Bodhi Day
In Japanese Zen, Bodhi Day is called “Rohatsu” and is the observance of enlightenment of the historical Buddha. Zen monasteries observe this day with a meditation retreat lasting several days.

On the last night of Rohatsu sesshin, monks and students often sit in meditation until dawn, as the Buddha did 25 centuries ago.

December 11: Masá’il (15th Month)
The first day of the fifteenth Bahá’í month. The English translation of Masá’il (Arabic) is Questions.

December 18 – 26: Hanukkah
The 8-day celebration of the “Festival of Lights” that commemorates the recovery of Jerusalem and subsequent rededication of the Second Temple at the beginning of the Maccabean revolt against the Seleucid Empire in the 2nd century BCE.

December 21: Yule
A Pagan and Wiccan holiday that begins at sundown at the winter solstice.

December 25: Christmas
This day celebrates Jesus Christ’s birth over 2000 years ago. Customs include lighting candles, exchanging gifts, and using evergreen decorations to celebrate this day, the most widely observed Christian festival of the year. In most communities it is a family day.

December 26: Kwanzaa
A professor who wanted to encourage African Americans to celebrate their heritage started Kwanzaa’s in California in 1966. Kwanzaa means first fruit in Swahili and is a harvest festival.

Families exchange gifts and have African-style feasts. Seven-pronged candleholders are lit on each consecutive night for the seven principles: unity, self-determination, working together, sharing, purpose, creativity and faith. The celebration continues till January 1.

December 26: The Feast of St. Stephen
Also called Boxing Day, this day commemorates the life of a saint known for his service to the poor who became the first Christian martyr.

December 30: Sharaf (16th Month)
The first day of the sixteenth Bahá’í month. The English translation of Sharaf (Arabic) is Honour.

Do you feel we have missed anything? Let us know! Contact our Diversity and Inclusion committee at
inclusive@security-asp.com

On September 30, 2022, Canadian’s recognized the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, a federal statutory holiday which was established to honour those who were impacted by Canada’s residential school system. The purpose of this day is to ensure that public commemoration of the history and legacy of residential schools remains a vital component of the reconciliation process.

The Truth

As National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is all about honouring the truth, it is important to recognize the abhorrent residential school system that operated within Canada from 1831 – 1998. Throughout this time, 140 federally run residential schools were created for the sole purpose of indoctrinating indigenous children into a Euro-Christian way of life. This cultural genocide was put in place because the Canadian government wished to deny itself of its legal and financial obligations to Aboriginal people and gain control over their land and resources.

Under the leadership of Sir John. A. McDonald, Indigenous children were ripped away from their families to eliminate all ties to their culture. Upon arrival at the school, children were separated from their siblings and forced to strip out of their own clothing.

They were then made to wear westernized uniforms that were poor in quality and not at all suited to Canada’s weather conditions.

After joining the schools, extreme neglect and abuse became a part of everyday life for these children. They were prohibited from speaking their own languages, and they were physically punished, isolated and humiliated if they misunderstood staff directions. A lack of Supervision created situations where students became prey to abuse, and laborious chores took precedence over learning. Poorly built and maintained buildings contributed to the spread of infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, and many innocent children died because of this blatant disregard for human life.

Reconciliation

By establishing the long overdue National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in 2021, our government took the first step in recognizing that this is an issue that all Canadians need to recognize and address. Reconciliation is the responsibility of every Canadian, and it is about establishing and maintaining a mutually respectful relationship between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal peoples in this country. For us to support this mutually respectful relationship, we must be aware of our past, acknowledge the harm that has been inflicted, and make positive actions to change the future.

Wearing Orange

The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is also known as Orange Shirt Day, an Indigenous-led day of commemoration which honours the children who survived residential schools and remembers those who did not. The orange shirt symbolizes the stripping away of culture, freedom and self-esteem experienced by Indigenous children over generations. The symbol directly relates to the story of Phyllis Webstad, a Northern Secwpemc (Shuswap) from the Stswecem’c Xgat’tem First Nation who was forced to remove her orange shirt on her first day at a residential school.

Many of our ASP employees took part in Orange Shirt Day as part of this commemoration. Below are the photos that you submitted to show your support. Thank you to all those who participated!

The results of the Engagement Matters – 2022 Employee Satisfaction Survey are in!

Thank You to Our Participants

Before we share the engagement survey results, we’d like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank all ASP employees who participated this year. Your candid feedback will be the driving force behind our 2023 engagement initiatives as we continue to work on improving the employee experience at ASP.

The Results

The infographic provides a quick comparison between our 2021 and 2022 results. As you will see, we listened to your feedback from 2021 and executed change accordingly to improve feelings of engagement in areas such as overall happiness, recognition, and relationships with leadership.

What’s Next?

We recognize that we have room for improvement, and our survey respondents made some great suggestions in the comments on how we can create meaningful change in 2023. As we speak, the leadership team is meeting to create a 2023 action plan based on your responses. They are reviewing key findings and making both immediate and long-term plans based on the results. We hope that in 2023, the initiatives we implement continue to improve your experience as an employee at ASP. Once again, we would like to thank all those who took the time to complete the Engagement Matters – 2022 Employee Satisfaction Survey. Without your essential feedback, this endeavour would be meaningless.

Survey Response Winners

Congratulations to our participation incentive winners! To promote our survey, employees that responded were entered into a draw for their work group. The following individuals were randomly selected and won a $20 gift card:

Not pictured winners:

• Readeat Kerie – Respite Supervisor
• Tajinder Sunner – Terminal Access Control
• Shilpa Shilpa – Security Guard, Commercial Division
• Gurmeet Garcha – Terminal Patrol at Calgary Airport

The following new hires have joined ASP since our last newsletter was published. Please join us in welcoming them to the ASP family!

Don Wall

Don Wall joined ASP on September 26, 2022, as our Operations Manager at Calgary Airport.

Don is an accomplished operations executive with over thirty years of core operations experience in the aviation industry. He started as a Customer Service Manager for Air Canada, which led him to the role of General Operations Manager of Air Canada in Calgary for ten years.

His performance got him appointed to Manager for Operational Excellence in Air Canada. He successfully designed, executed, and managed initiatives for cost savings and performance improvement using Lean and Six Sigma Methodologies.

Don’s recent position was at SkyCafe in Calgary as General Manager for Operations. He led a team of operations and duty managers overseeing the delivery and execution of SOPs while optimizing customer satisfaction.

Reporting directly to Garinder Grewal, Director of Aviation, Don is responsible for the management, supervision, training, and operations of YYC’s security team. He will ensure compliance with our contract requirements and government legislation. Don will be the primary operational point of contact with the client.

Katarzyna Szumacher

Our Residential and Commercial team had the pleasure of welcoming Kat Szumacher as an Operations Manager on October 11, 2022.

Based out of our North York office, Kat is responsible for managing our Respite operations as part of our Commercial division.

Kat is well-versed in the world of security, having previously worked at Logixx as a National Account Manager and at Allied Universal Security Services as a Security Director.

Don’s recent position was at SkyCafe in Calgary as General Manager for Operations. He led a team of operations and duty managers overseeing the delivery and execution of SOPs while optimizing customer satisfaction.

She is experienced in client management, team development, and handling complex operations. Kat is a wonderful addition to our team, and we have no doubt that she will succeed in her role as Operations Manager.

Fatema Pipalyawala

On October 10, 2022, Fatema Pipalyawala joined ASP’s Human Resources department as a Recruiter and is based in our North York office.

In her role, Fatema is responsible for employee sourcing, selection, community outreach, social media, and onboarding assistance for our residential and commercial division.

Prior to joining ASP, Fatema worked for Logixx Security as a Recruiter, where she was responsible for the full-cycle recruitment process. Additionally, Fatema holds a Master of Commerce in Business Administration, Management and Operations from the University of Mumbai.

We are delighted that Fatema chose to join our dynamic recruitment team here at ASP.

My name is Humberto Pimentel and I’m the Vice President of Operations for ASP Security. As the Vice President, I plan to build relationships with our stakeholders and delegate operational efficiencies based on your strengths. I look forward to working closely with Dean and the entire ASP team on finding creative ways to deliver outstanding customer services, grow our business and reduce our spending so we can use our budget effectively. With the creative abilities and dedication of all whom I have met thus far, I can see us doing great work. One of the reasons I accepted this position is the welcoming company culture, which made me eager to join the team. I hope I get to meet all our employees in person over the next few weeks when I visit our clients. Prior to working with ASP Security, I held senior general management roles in the security and financial industries. My personal interests include listening to all genres of music and catching a live show when a great band is in town. I’m happy to share more about my role here at ASP Security, and want to learn how I can best support you.

The following new hires joined our head office in Q2 and Q3 of 2022. Please join us in welcoming them to the ASP family!

Sarah McCutcheon – Real-Time Resource Agent

Sarah McCutcheon joined ASP’s Resource Planning team as a Real-Time Resource Agent on April 5, 2022. Sarah is experienced in workforce management and analytics, having previously worked with several well-known organizations in both Ontario, Canada and Edinburgh, Scotland. ASP is thrilled that Sarah chose to bring her customer service and analytical skills to our organization.

Antoniette Freeman – HR Business Partner

We are happy to announce that Antoniette Freeman joined our Residential/ Commercial division in the role of HR Business Partner on May 9, 2022.

Antoniette leads the Residential/Commercial division HR team and provides professional and administrative support to the Human Resource Department, along with HR advisory services to department managers and all employees.

Antoniette is a HR Management Diploma holder from Sheridan College and is currently pursuing a course on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion from George Brown College. She has over five years of rich, progressive Human Resources experience in the unionized retail and industrial products and services industry.

Lucy Nguyen – Front Office Coordinator

Having joined ASP as our Front Office Coordinator on May 30, 2022, Lucy is the friendly face that will greet you when you enter our North York Office. She plays a key role in ensuring that our operations run efficiently, and she supports our team with administrative expertise.

Lucy holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Global Management Studies, with a Minor in HR Management from Ryerson University.

Balqisa Mohamed – HR Administrator

If you currently work for ASP at Pearson Airport, you may have seen Balqisa in the office or walking the floor. Balqisa joined our HR Department as our HR Administrator at Pearson on June 6, 2022, and she is the first HR point of contact for our frontline employees at this location. Her friendly and approachable demeanor is well-suited to her position. Balqisa holds a Bachelor of Human Resources Management from York University and has previous experience in Security, Recruitment, and HR.

Humberto Pimentel – VP of Operations

We are pleased to announce that Humberto Pimentel joined us as VP of Operations on July 11, 2022. Humberto has over 25 years of management and operations experience in multiple sectors of the security industry. He is proficient at managing client SLAs and KPIs as well as leading and coaching the teams responsible for the management of service contracts. Humberto is responsible for executing on strategic plans and improving the fiscal performance of teams across ASP. We look forward to his support in recruitment, labour management, client retention, increasing share of wallet, and developing new business opportunities.

Most recently, Humberto was VP of Operations at Logixx Security where he focused on mentoring Operations Managers, improving recruitment, and managing the resolution of escalated issues. He has experience in implementing overtime accountability to reduce labour costs and developing LEAN SOPs to reduce operational costs.

Humberto has Operations Management & Business Foundations Certifications from the Project Management Institute. He is a Certified Process Manager (York University Schulich School of Business) and has a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration and Management.

Jashandeep Singh

ASP had the pleasure of welcoming Jashandeep Singh to our Resource Planning team as a Real-Time Resource Agent on July 17, 2022. Jashandeep is both an experienced security professional and scheduler, having worked for another well-known security company previously. Impressively, Jashandeep can speak three languages – English, Punjabi, and Hindi. This is just one of the many skills Jashandeep brings to his position as Real-Time Resource Agent.

Rob Alidina

We would like to share with you all the appointment of Rob Alidina to the ASP/ ICTS family. As of August 29, 2022, Rob joined us in the capacity of Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and holds all accompanying responsibilities with a specific focus on immediate, short- and long-term fiscal guidance and planning, acquisitions, monetization of proprietary technologies, and finance.

Rob Alidina is an accomplished strategic finance executive with extensive financial and operational experience in a multitude of industries including telecommunications, industrial and consumer goods, retail, and pharmaceuticals. In addition, he has been exposed to ownership structures that include large and small-cap publicly traded organizations (including multinationals domiciled in the United States), along with privately-owned firms. His diverse skills transverse across the finance and accounting realm that span financial reporting, planning and analysis, audit, treasury and risk management, supply chain and operational finance, capital budgeting, as well as tax planning. His passion and business acumen has translated in sustainable profitable growth in various organizations including manufacturing, serviced based industries, as well as the wholesale and distribution segments of the markets. Rob’s leadership skills have allowed for the opportunity to facilitate strategy and business transformation, change management, and ensured finance is a valued business partner to the business’s he’s operated.

Rob has held senior finance roles and his advancement led to being a Chief Financial Officer at two division at United Technologies including Carrier as well as Chubb Fire and Security. His most recent role was the CFO for Olon Industries. Rob graduated from Concordia University with a Bachelor of Commerce with a major in accounting and a minor in finance. He subsequently completed his Master of Business Administration from McGill University in finance and international business with honors. In addition, Rob holds his professional license from the order of the Certified Professional Accountant of Canada.

For many people, public speaking instills a dreaded, irrational fear. Just the thought of it makes their blood pressure rise. But public speaking is no different than playing an instrument at a concert. If we didn’t know how play it and hadn’t practiced the music, it would be a disaster. So, when people tell me they have a fear of public speaking, I always ask – have you practiced?

My first time in front of an audience, I was on panel discussion. It was a blistering hot day in July, and it felt like it was 50 degrees Celsius backstage. I peeked out, and the room was packed. I felt very, very unprepared, and I was a trembling, nervous mess. To make matters worse, I had sweat stains under my arms – super embarrassing, right? I survived the experience but vowed to never be unprepared again.

After thinking about the event, my main take away was the need to practice. I started telling personal stories in front of my friends as if I was speaking in public and asked for their feedback, which I took in stride. I also embraced my nervousness and accepted my speaking cadence. While I’m never going to be a professional speaker, I can get up in front of a room and that is ok. I’m also never going to play in an orchestra. So set realistic expectations.

In terms of what to say while speaking in the public, I am a big believer in positive body language and being polite, even if am disagreeing with someone when on a panel. A lot of public speaking is about understanding your audience, reacting to the audience, and being confident.

Avoid looking at your notes and make eye contact with as many people in the audience as possible. Looking at the folks in the back of the room helps to project your voice. Most importantly, being friendly and positive helps create a connection with the audience and gives an air of confidence.

I also like to include personal anecdotes because I know the stories inside out. Before going on stage, I always write a couple of words in my notes to remind me of different stories I could tell, depending on the how the audience is reacting. An amusing story or two can be extremely helpful when you see the audience starting to get restless and a little pizzaz is needed to reaffirm the connection.

Finally, expect the unexpected. For my second public speaking event, the room was super air conditioned, and I was freezing. It felt like I walked out on to the stage as stiff as a board because I was so cold. But I did way better than the first time.