Questions About Hiring Security in Victoria

Onward was started by a guard. Akash Sidhu spent almost ten years working sites and events before starting the company in 2020, and it still runs the way a guard would want it to: one flat hourly rate, guards paid a living wage so they stay, and the owner on the phone when you call. We are locally owned in Victoria, BC, and BBB A+ accredited.

Yes. Every Onward guard holds a valid BC Security Worker Licence. The company carries commercial general liability insurance and WorkSafeBC coverage for every deployment. Both are included in your rate.

For urgent requests we can typically have a guard on site within 2 to 4 hours anywhere in Greater Victoria. For scheduled events and ongoing contracts, 48 hours' notice lets us assign the guards best suited to your site.

Yes. We staff overnight construction sites, weekend events, and continuous retail coverage across Greater Victoria, seven days a week.

Akash reads every request personally and replies within 1 business hour during business hours (Mon–Sat 8:00 AM–6:00 PM PT). For larger sites and events he will offer to walk the site before quoting.

It depends on the service, the hours, and how many guards you need, so we quote every job individually. What does not change is what the rate covers: guard pay at a living wage, WorkSafeBC, liability insurance, shift logs, incident reports, and Victoria-based supervision. There are no add-on fees, and we match written quotes from comparable licensed providers in Greater Victoria.

Everything. Guard pay, WorkSafeBC premiums, commercial general liability insurance, shift logs, incident reports, supervisor check-ins, and local management. The rate on your quote is the rate on your invoice.

Yes. Bring us a written quote, dated within 30 days, from a licensed and insured security provider in Greater Victoria for the same coverage, and we will match it. Emergency and last-minute bookings are excluded.

Event bookings have a 4-hour minimum. Construction and retail contracts are scheduled around your hours; tell us what you need and we will quote it.

Weddings, private parties, corporate events, concerts, festivals, sporting events, and community gatherings across Greater Victoria. Guards are trained in crowd management, access control, BC liquor compliance, and de-escalation.

It depends on venue size, attendance, whether liquor is served, and the crowd. As a starting point: one guard per 75 to 100 guests for low-risk seated events, one per 50 for licensed events, and one per 25 to 50 for high-energy or outdoor festivals. Tell us about the event and we will recommend a number.

Yes. Event guards are trained in BC liquor service rules: checking ID, watching for over-service, and keeping your event inside the conditions of your Special Event Permit. It is part of the standard event service, not an add-on.

Yes. Most site theft and vandalism happens after hours, so overnight and weekend coverage is most of what we do for builders. Guards control the gate, patrol the perimeter, log deliveries and visitors, and protect equipment and materials across Greater Victoria.

Gate and perimeter control, equipment and materials checks, delivery and visitor logs, overnight and weekend patrols, incident documentation with photos, and a written incident report to your project manager within 24 hours.

A visible, professional guard is a deterrent on its own. Beyond that, our guards cover the floor, watch high-risk areas, and deal with theft calmly, without confrontations that drive away paying customers. Prevention and customer safety come first.

Yes. Retail guards greet shoppers, give directions, and keep the store feeling welcoming while they watch for theft. A friendly presence is better for both security and sales.

All of Greater Victoria: Victoria, Saanich, Langford, Colwood, Esquimalt, View Royal, Sooke, Sidney, and Oak Bay. We are based in Victoria, so response times are short across the Capital Regional District. Need coverage elsewhere on Vancouver Island? Ask; we can often arrange it.

No. The same rate applies across our whole service area. A site in Langford, Saanich, or Sidney pays the same as one downtown, with no mileage or travel surcharge.