News Release
“Modern-Day Veteran” Honoured for Service to Canada
Commissionaire awarded Distinguished Service Medal
September 25, 2008, Ottawa, ON - Sergeant Bill Jones, a veteran and commissionaire who has devoted decades of service to Canada, was recognized with a Distinguished Service Medal at Commissionaires Ottawa's Annual Medals Ceremony yesterday afternoon. His wife Ellen, also a veteran and a former commissionaire, was by his side.
Born on March 2, 1920, Sergeant Bill Jones spent 9 years in the Royal Air Force and 15 years in the Royal Canadian Air Force before spending 14 years as a self-employed contractor working with the Federal Government. He joined Commissionaires Ottawa on July 30, 1982 and has spent nearly all of the past 26 years as a commissionaire deployed to support one the organization’s largest clients, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
Paul Guindon, CEO of Commissionaires Ottawa, had high praise for the veteran: “As a man who has courageously served our country, Bill exemplifies the four cornerstones of Commissionaires values: dedication, trust, loyalty and honesty. His work ethic is exceptional – to the extent that although he is now in his late 80s, he recently upgraded his computer skills and is now authorized to operate a complex software system that tracks and schedules thousands of employees.”
The CEO added, “Bill is a modern-day veteran, characterizing traditional values and yet eager to adapt to the advanced tools and practices that will lead us into the future.”
During the ceremony, 117 commissionaires were recognized for dedicating between 12 and 35 years of loyal service to the organization. The guest of honour was Colonel (Retired) Patrick B. Stogran, MSC, PEng, CD, Canada’s first-ever Veterans Ombudsman. Commissionaires Ottawa officials, senior staff, clients, and family members were also in attendance.
Mr. Guindon said, “At Commissionaires Ottawa, we know that attracting skilled, reliable people to our organization is an important focus, but retaining them is another important measure of success. Despite an unprecedented increase in new employees over the past couple of years, our turnover rate remains by far the lowest in the private security industry. That’s not only great feedback that our employees are loyal, but it also ensures that our clients benefit from a stable, familiar and dependable on-site team of security professionals.”
The Annual Awards Ceremony has been a longstanding tradition of the organization. Over the past five years alone, 475 commissionaires have been honoured for dedicating at least 12 years of service. The Distinguished Service Medal is one of the most prestigious awards issued by Commissionaires. It was established by the National Board in June 1989 to recognize distinguished service of significance above and beyond the faithful performance of duty.
Commissionaires Ottawa is the largest, best-trained and most experienced private security services provider in the region, employing over 3,500 commissionaires. The organization offers a comprehensive range of identification, enforcement, training and security solutions and is contracted at over 200 private and public sector client sites in the National Capital Region, Petawawa and across Northern Ontario. As part of its social mandate, Commissionaires Ottawa has been focused on hiring former and serving military personnel since 1939. It also hires RCMP veterans and other security-focused citizens who share a passion to safeguard their fellow Canadians.
For more information relating to Commissionaires Ottawa, visit www.commissionaires-ottawa.on.ca, or contact:
Andrée Paige, Media Relations
communications@commissionaires-ottawa.on.ca
Office: (613) 745-2312
Cell: (613) 863-1828
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