News Releases
December 1, 2008
Security Canada Central 2008
CANASA’s Security Canada Central International Security Conference and Exposition is Canada’s premier and largest security industry event attracting hundreds of exhibitors and thousands of attendees from across North America. This year on October 22 and 23, exhibitors from physical, electronic and information security came together at Security Canada to showcase their latest and greatest products and services.
True to its form, this years’ expo featured new products, industry experts, great educational sessions and plenty of networking opportunities. With approximately 2,200 attendees, 165 exhibiting companies and over 300 booths to visit, you could spend hours reviewing and discussing the latest technology.
This year’s conference theme was Optimizing the Use of IP Ready Infrastructure. Conference sessions covered everything from the convergence of physical and information security and strategically installing IP to the economics of deploying high definition video. Attendees were able to see and hear first hand from their peers the latest techniques and trends in the industry.
Always exciting and interesting are the Manufacturers’ Technical Sessions (MTS). These sessions allowed manufacturers to show their newest technology to a willing crowd of security professionals.
A highlight of the show was the luncheon keynote speaker Chief William Blair of the Toronto Police Service. Chief Blair used this opportunity to make a commitment to the private security industry to move forward in a partnership that he hopes will decrease crime in Toronto.
“There was a time and perhaps that time dwindles a little when we might have been seen to be incompatible, in competition and that the police did not want to work with the private sector. But I want to come here today to assure you all that we have come to the realization in my business where we have to line ourselves up and work with your business if we are going to be successful,” he said.
Chief Blair agrees that we are the experts in our industry and he has no intentions on telling us how to run our business. In fact, we’re doing such a great job; he can see how we can help even more.
“You’ve probably read a lot about police cameras in Toronto, I have 24 of them, and you’ve installed thousands of cameras. When we go looking for those video images that are going to help us solve crimes, it’s your cameras we’re looking at. The effort that you’ve put into improving your technology, making technology available and accessible to us has proven tremendous evidence in solving very serious violent crimes.
The relationship between the private security sector and the police has always been a rocky road. Chief Blair has brought a refreshing new vision of the two sectors working together.
With the success of the show, the commitment from the Chief of Police and our exciting plans for 2009, we couldn’t end the year on a better note.