Latest news with #Commissionaires
Cision Canada
a day ago
- General
- Cision Canada
Canadian War Museum unveils new display marking the 100th anniversary of the Canadian Corps of Commissionaires Français
OTTAWA, ON, June 18, 2025 /CNW/ - In honour of the 100th anniversary of the Canadian Corps of Commissionaires, the Canadian War Museum unveils a new display. It marks the century-long history of Commissionaires by highlighting the significant contributions of the organization from its beginnings to the present day. Visitors can find the display in Commissionaires Way, the corridor connecting the Museum's main exhibitions to the LeBreton Gallery. Established to provide meaningful employment to veterans, Commissionaires was founded in Montréal in 1925. Since then, the not-for-profit organization has grown to 22,000 employees, including many veterans of the Canadian Armed Forces and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. It is the largest private-sector employer of veterans in Canada. "We are pleased to present this display highlighting the longstanding relationship between Commissionaires and Canada's veterans," said James Whitham, Director General of the Canadian War Museum. "The display offers visitors a chance to learn about the organization's evolution and its vital role in supporting veterans over a century." "We are delighted with how Commissionaires Way recognizes some of the many extraordinary people who served and continue to serve the Corps throughout our century of service to Canadians," said Commissionaires Chief of Staff, Captain Harry Harsch, OMM, CD, RCN (Ret'd). Developed by the Canadian War Museum, the display highlights veterans from all decades of Commissionaires. It features the Victoria Cross (VC) medal set that belonged to Major Benjamin Handley Geary of the East Surrey Regiment, who earned the decoration for bravery at Hill 60 during the First World War. Also featured is Lieutenant Colin Fraser Barron of the 48th Highlanders, who received the Victoria Cross for capturing three German machine-gun positions in the 1917 Battle of Passchendaele. Modern-day Commissionaires in the display include Ajit Singh and Rodney McAlpine, whose quick thinking saved lives while on the job, and who were recognized with the Commissionaires Medal of Bravery. Also included is Major (Ret'd) Sandra Perron, Canada's first female infantry officer, veterans' advocate, and bestselling author, who serves on the board of Commissionnaires du Québec. The Museum extends its sincere appreciation to Commissionaires for its generous support in bringing this important initiative to life. If you would like to have your name removed from our distribution list or if this information should be directed to someone else, please email us.
CBC
12-03-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Report recommends more peace officer presence at Edmonton transit stations
Social Sharing A new report is recommending the city increase peace officer presence and replace security guards at some train stations, to address transit safety issues. The report was commissioned by city council, after a motion to introduce fare gates was struck down in October. The report recommends taking the $5 million budget for security guard services contracted from Commissionaires and using that money to instead hire new peace officers for the transit system. If a motion is passed, the city would look at options to hire up to 30 new transit peace officers, expanding from the current 96 positions. The report identified Churchill, Central, Corona, Bay/Enterprise and Government Centre stations as potential locations to absorb the additional peace officers. Perception of safety Tim Cartmell, Ward pihêsiwin councillor, said the recommendations from the report can be extremely helpful in addressing ongoing safety concerns raised by transit users. "I think what's important to note is that 40 per cent of Edmonton transit riders still report that they don't feel safe using the system," he said. "Every step that we can take that helps people feel more comfortable and more safe using this system, I think is something we have to really consider." WATCH | A lag in perception of safety while taking transit: Do Edmontonians feel safe taking transit? 5 days ago Duration 2:31 The survey found that around 61 per cent of respondents felt safe while using transit in 2024. Peace officers who are trained to monitor behaviour on public transportation, is something that could provide an improved perception of safety, Cartmell said. "The ideal situation is that when people see disorderly behaviour, they see those that are in authority responding to that disorderly behaviour," he said. "When they respond, [they] bring the right response to that behaviour." Ward O-day'min Coun. Anne Stevenson echoes that sentiment. However, she said the issue isn't simply security presence. "What we see in our statistics is that actual crime and disorder is dropping, but the sense of safety isn't really budging," said Stevenson. "The fact that we're not seeing a similar increase in perception of safety speaks to the fact that there may be some other elements missing." She said the city should also look into improving the quality of LRT stations through better cleaning practices and fostering more positive social interactions. Doesn't address safety for marginalized groups: advocate More peace officers won't mean safer transit spaces, according to Rachelle Gladue, co-founder of the Tawâw Outreach Collective, an Indigenous-led outreach and advocacy group. For her, the recommendations don't address broader societal issues that affect safety on public transportation. "One thing that concerns me the most about increasing transit peace officers is really that it's not going to give the change that people think," she said. "It gives the perception of safety, but in my opinion, not real safety." She said the increased presence of officers might reduce the presence of marginalized people in transit spaces, which could feel safer for the general public, but some of those people don't have any other place to go. Instead, Gladue wants to see more attention put on social services that provide outreach and supports for marginalized groups. She points to work from the Community Outreach Transit Team. "It doesn't address the roots of these issues. It's just, you know, we have lack of social supports, lack of housing, lack of income supports for people," she said. "When we're just shoo-ing those people out because that's what happens when we increase law enforcement presence there, we're just displacing crime and social disorder."
