Guest ContributorArticle by Mark Watson, Chief of Staff Commissionaires.
If you are a military spouse, chances are you have seen someone wearing either a blue or white uniform asking for identification or performing other security duties. And if you’re like most Canadians, you might have thought these were either public servants, part of the military or a federal police officer; however, these people were Commissionaires. They are part of the Canadian Corps of Commissionaires, an organization with a long and rich history of service to Canada and its citizens.
The Corps is unique in Canada as a not-for-profit organisation firmly rooted in the goal of supporting military and RCMP Veteran employment in the security realm for nearly one hundred years. In fact, Commissionaires is established on a social mandate founded on the employment of veterans. More recently, it has moved to expand its social mandate to include spousal employment. To understand this unique Canadian institution, it’s important to understand its origins and history.
Origins in Great Britain
The Corps originated in Great Britain in the mid-1850s. Specifically, the end of the Crimean War brought a large number of injured Veterans to the British Isles. Many of these soldiers were wounded and had a hard time finding employment; and as there was no real social safety net at the time, veterans were left to the mercies of family or charities.
Seeing their misfortune, a retired army officer, Captain Sir Edward Walter, recognized the need to provide meaningful employment to these former soldiers who had served their country so gallantly. He believed that a soldier’s innate discipline and professionalism were a natural fit for a service that would provide security and oversight over property and other duties for which a soldier’s training is well suited. As a result, in 1859, he arranged for seven disabled Veterans to provide security to local businesses in London.
French-Inspired Name
Recognizing the distinctive nature of this group of workers, Walter wanted to give this body of Veterans an appropriate name, and for this he looked to France. Attached to every hotel in every large town, were ‘commissionnaires’ who were responsible for assisting guests in getting the baggage safely through customs, running errands and carrying letters.
Not wanting to copy the French totally, he called his new organization the “Corps of Commissionaires,” Anglicizing “Commissionnaire” by taking out the second ‘n.’ The term “Corps” was added as he wanted to give it a name that emphasized the military nature of the employees.
Commissionaires Transported to Canada
In 1904, the Duke of Connaught was the Inspecting Officer for the British Corps’ annual parade, and when he became Canada’s Governor General in 1911, he remembered the ideals of the UK Corps of Commissionaires. During the Great War, he suggested “the formation of an organization similar to the Corps of Commissionaires in Great Britain should be considered” for returning Canadian servicemen.
However, nothing was done by Canadian authorities at that time to move in that direction. Instead, it was not until the 1920s, after the Great War had come to an end and brought thousands of injured soldiers back to Canada, that several prominent Canadians decided to create a Canadian version of the Corps.
The Corps offers not only full-time jobs but also an array of part-time opportunities appealing to spouses with competing obligations at home and elsewhere. Moreover, this flexibility is especially attractive to teenagers who need to find a part-time job to offset university costs. In this way, the Corps is happy to work with military family members to provide flexible employment.
In 1925, five Montreal lawyers recognized the need to support Great War Veterans and got together to lay the groundwork for a Veteran-centric organization. Soon, another agency was instituted in Toronto, and together they became known as Companies 1 and 2. Then in 1927, Vancouver became home to the British Columbia Corps of Commissionaires.
Slowly Taking Root
To be honest, the Corps was not a raging success as it was initially hard to find businesses willing to hire Veterans. Moreover, as there was little cohesion between the Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver groups, their effectiveness gradually declined. Then, in 1937, with the support of some former senior military officers and the federal government, a renewed emphasis took place.
By the end of that year, Commissionaires had been established in Montreal, Victoria, Hamilton, Windsor, Calgary, and London. The regions where Commissionaires were located constantly grew and, within two years, there were additional representatives in Winnipeg, Edmonton, Halifax, and Ottawa.
The Commissionaires were welcomed everywhere across the country so much that between 1945 and 1950, with thousands of Veterans returning to Canada, the number of units in the Corps almost doubled with the formation of another seven divisions including one that covered New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island, one in Quebec City, two in Saskatchewan and one in Kingston. Finally, the Newfoundland Division commenced operation in January 1950 – less than a year from the time the province joined Confederation.
A Unique Breakthrough
In 1945, with the end of war in sight, the newly formed Department of Veterans Affairs approved the following Treasury Board submission that recognized the Corps as an appropriate employment medium for Veterans.
In that submission, the Corps received a unique breakthrough not seen by any other private sector entity. Specifically, Treasury Board sent a letter to all Government Departments stating that: The Board considers that there is work in the Public Service of Canada that could, with advantage, be performed by personnel obtained through the Canadian Corps of Commissionaires and requests that all Departments, Boards and Commissions, give consideration to the employment in positions exempted from the Civil Service Act.
This eventually developed into a policy known as the Right of First Refusal (RFR) where Federal Government departments were required to contract security guard services with the Corps – a privilege that continues to this day. Through the RFR, Commissionaires would be found across Canada providing security at federal installations as a way to provide meaningful employment to Veterans – a situation that is still prevalent today and the reason why Commissionaires are found across the country.
A Fully Independent Organization
By the 1950s, the Corps had become a fully independent, self-supporting, non-profit organization, operating under a Federal Charter and founded on the values of good character and trustworthiness. Only ex-servicemen could become Commissionaires and they were carefully screened as to suitability. Furthermore, it was decided from the outset that the Corps would not solicit financial assistance, nor did it extend charity.
All veteran, military and RCMP families would have preferential hiring by the Corps. Specifically, the Corps’ mandate was revised as: To provide meaningful employment that meets the needs of veterans of the Canadian Armed Forces, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, their families, and others who wish to contribute to the security and well-being of Canadians.
A Veteran must first join the Corps to become a Commissionaire. He then would become available to accept such employment as the Corps could obtain for him. He received no remuneration unless he worked. Commissionaire service was provided to the general public at a cost reflecting the service rendered.
Commissionaires held responsible positions as officer assistants, receptionists, telephone operators, messengers, factory gatekeepers, checkers, and night watchmen, while still others were employed on security work at private, federal, and provincial installations. It should also be mentioned that the definition of ex-serviceman or veteran included those who served in the RCMP.
The Door is Opened for Women
In 1952 Retired LCol Mary Dover, a former Canadian Women Army Corps (CWAC) member, was elected to the Board of Governors of the Southern Alberta Division becoming the first female to serve on a Commissionaires Board in Canada, and opening the doors to women in the Corps.
This process was fully completed when, in 1972, Audrey Gertrude Morton, also a former CWAC during the Second World War, became the first female Commissionaire. The addition of women benefited the Corps greatly as this opened additional opportunities where women were required.
Beginning in the mid-1990s, particularly after the 9/11 attacks in 2001, demand for security grew exponentially in Canada – not only on federal property but also in the private sector. To keep pace with the requests for work, the Corps of Commissionaires decided to allow non-military personnel into its ranks.
The Corps is located in over 1200 communities in Canada and on every military establishment. As many positions are located on or near military bases, there might be opportunities for spouses to work near their homes – a clear benefit to someone who has a young family.
Many of those that joined were family members of already serving Commissionaires. Most recently, in 2019, the RFR was extended for three-years as the Federal Government acknowledged the benefits Commissionaires continue to offer were unequalled for not only for their quality of work but also as the single, largest private-sector employer of Veterans in the country.
Just as important as the RFR extension was the Corps decision to expand its view of Veteran support. It recognized the needs of Veterans had changed. Commissionaires noted that in the past, a single family wage earner was sufficient to meet a family’s needs and was the norm, but this was no longer the case. In fact, the vast majority of families in Canada require two incomes to make ends meet. As such, with unanimous approval of all divisions, Commissionaires Social Mandate was amended to include support to families.
Henceforth all veteran, military and RCMP families would have preferential hiring by the Corps. Specifically, the Corps’ mandate was revised as: To provide meaningful employment that meets the needs of veterans of the Canadian Armed Forces, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, their families, and others who wish to contribute to the security and well-being of Canadians.
Recruiting Military & Veteran Spouses
As all military families know, the angst and challenges of having regular postings across the country can be challenging. In addition, spouses often have a hard time finding employment in a new location. This is where the Corps of Commissionaires can assist as we recognize the unique skillsets of military and veteran family members and have recently started a new campaign to hire military and veteran spouses.
Commissionaires has been helping veterans for nearly one hundred years. Now, as the Corps moves towards its centenary in 2025, it has adapted and evolved from helping war Veterans to find jobs to helping military and veteran families with their employment objectives.
The Commissionaires is now actively recruiting military and veteran spouses as well as family members to carry on our shared proud tradition of service.
The Corps is located in over 1200 communities in Canada and on every military establishment. As many positions are located on or near military bases, there might be opportunities for spouses to work near their homes – a clear benefit to someone who has a young family.
Further, the Corps offers not only full-time jobs but also an array of part-time opportunities appealing to spouses with competing obligations at home and elsewhere. Moreover, this flexibility is especially attractive to teenagers who need to find a part-time job to offset university costs. In this way, the Corps is happy to work with military family members to provide flexible employment.
A Job Waiting for You
As noted earlier, Commissionaires are located at over 1200 locations across every province in Canada. So there is a very good chance that a job will be waiting for you when your family is posted to a new city.[i]
Further, the Corps recognizes not everyone wants security work for the long term. In that respect, the flexible hours and terms the Corps provide are ideal to support those seeking to work while requalifying or training for other opportunities. Commissionaires considers its mandate fulfilled when a military member or family member joins the Corps and eventually finds their dream job elsewhere.
Commissionaires has been helping veterans for nearly one hundred years. Now, as the Corps moves towards its centenary in 2025, it has adapted and evolved from helping war Veterans to find jobs to helping military and veteran families with their employment objectives.
If you are a military or veteran family member and believe Commissionaires may be able to help you, please contact us.
[i] Security guards are provincially licensed, so one must recertify in each province.
