History
Where it began.
England
May 1937
The Corps of the Commissionaires was founded in England in 1859 by Captain Sir Edward Walter a retired cavalry officer, who during and after the Crimean War, was unhappy with the status of former soldiers and sailors, who had served their time in the Armed Forces and were thereafter unwanted by society. His aim was to provide dignified and worthwhile employment for veterans who were without prospects of employment. He dedicated himself to the task of making the latter days of their lives honoured and free from the fear of want.
Starting with eight Commissionaires, the Corps continued to grow into a highly respected organization whose Honourary Patron in Chief is Her Majesty, the Queen.
Canada
In 1915, the Duke of Connaught, the Governor General of Canada, suggested to the authorities that a Corps be formed in Canada. Patterned on the Corps in England, it would provide livelihood for unemployed veterans of World War I. Little effort was made to realize the suggestion until the depression of the early post war years produced a serious problem for older veterans. Finally, a Charter was issued on July 25, 1925 and three companies were formed: No. 1 in Montreal, No. 2 in Toronto, and No. 3 in Vancouver.
Toronto & Region Division
Capt W.F. Finney, O.B.E., was appointed the first Commandant of No. 2 Company and served from April, 1927 to April, 1931. He swore in the first six Commissionaires on April 13, 1927. By the end of that year, the strength increased to 25 and nine years later the strength reached 92. The Toronto Company was reorganized in 1936 as the Canadian Corps of Commissionaires (Eastern Ontario) under the amended charter granted by the Federal Government and later this was the Canadian Corps of Commissionaires (Toronto & Region). The name was again changed on June 1, 1998 to Commissionaires (Great Lakes). The Toronto & Region (or Great Lakes) Division of the Corps administered an area encompassing Durham Region on the east, Oakville and Meaford on the west and north to Parry Sound, with a strength in excess of 700 Commissionaires. This Division was also honoured to have the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario as a Patron.
London Division
The London Division was formed on December 16, 1937 when a group of distinguished London officers held a meeting at the Hotel London. It used the National Charter granted by Federal Government with Captain S.L. Gunn elected as the first commandant.
At the time of the merger with the Toronto Division in 1998, the London Division employed Commissionaires throughout an extensive geographic region reaching from Chatham on the west to Woodstock on the east and Owen Sound on the north.
Great Lakes Division
The name of the Toronto & Region Division was changed to Commissionaires (Great Lakes) on June 1, 1998 and this was followed on September 1, 1998 with the friendly merger of the former London Division as means of ensuring the Corps was appropriately organized to meet the ongoing and ever-changing challenges of the 21st century.
Commissionaires Great Lakes Today
Commissionaires Great Lakes is one of 17 divisions located across Canada that form Commissionaires Canada, the largest, best-trained and most experienced provider of a broad range of security, identification, enforcement and training services in Canada today.
Commissionaires Great Lakes is private, self-supporting, not-for-profit organization, continuing a proud tradition that started more than a century and a half ago. By operating in this manner, we are able to fulfill our original mandate of providing fair and meaningful work to ex-military personnel while providing our clients with quality service at competitive rates.
Commissionaires Canada has over 19,000 employees, predominately former military and RCMP personnel, who serve local and national clients located coast to coast. Through our training and experience, we are uniquely equipped to deliver the highest standard of service, consistently and with integrity.