Changing of the Guard

September 7, 2023

I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself as the new CEO of Commissionaires, Northern Alberta, Northwest Territories and Nunavut Division. I am extremely grateful and honoured for this opportunity to join the Corps of Commissionaires and this Division and I am looking forward to working with all our personnel over the days and years to come.

Like many employees of the Commissionaires, I am a proud veteran. I served with the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry as an officer for 28 years and retired from the Canadian Army in 2016. After spending a short time in the private security sector, I joined the Alberta Government in 2017 and worked in both the Environment and Forestry Departments as an Executive Director where I was responsible for environmental emergency response and enforcement programs and most recently the wildfire management branch. I learned a lot about the provincial public service and I am grateful for the opportunity to have contributed to this province.

Earlier this year, I was fortunate to spend time shadowing our former CEO, John Slater, as part of the handover process, prior to John’s retirement. That quality time allowed me to gain a greater understanding of the organization, the various departments and work venues, and meet with a number of staff, both within the Division Headquarters, at various locations in Edmonton and elsewhere in the province.

Since assuming the CEO role, I have continued to visit members and clients in various locations including Wainwright and Yellowknife. As I learn more about our Division, including our responsibilities in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, I am struck by the high degree of dedication and professionalism throughout the organization and the impressive track record that has been created over the past decade and more.

It is evident that there is a high degree of trust and compassion among members of our team and with our clients, combined with a strong desire to collaborate to solve issues. The work our commissionaires are doing on a daily basis to keep people and facilities safe, and the challenging environments and different situations that our people operate in have not gone unnoticed. I appreciate all our commissionaires’ dedication, impressive contributions and professional approach in all they do. I also value the longstanding relationships we have with our clients and the trust they place in us.

Looking to the future, I believe there is a great deal of opportunity ahead for us. Over the coming months, as my awareness and understanding of the Division and the overall Corps of Commissionaires grows, I look forward to stewarding the Division’s positive trajectory. I will be working closely with the Board of Governors and senior management to strategically focus our efforts in our region and within the greater Corps of Commissionaires Federation.

I am proud to be part of this team and look forward to building upon this solid foundation together.

Nick Grimshaw, CEO