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SP&T News Top Stories of 2024

It was another busy year in the security industry, with major acquisitions taking place, a continual focus on new technology through the lens of AI, some big changes for Canadian central stations and, in December, a new leader for the Canadian Security Association. Catch up on all the news from 2024 with our month-by-month year in review.

JANUARY

Boon Edam introduces executive team for the Americas following internal merger
Boon Edam has announced several updates to the company’s leadership following the internal merger of its commercial and manufacturing teams.

Ajax Systems says 21 products now UL certified in U.S. and Canada
Ajax Systems announced that 21 of its products have now been certified by UL Solutions for use in the United States and Canada. According to the company, additional certifications are planned.

Image: Ajax

Eagle Eye Networks outlines surveillance trends for 2024
Eagle Eye Networks recently released its 2024 Trends in Video Surveillance report, identifying six trends it says will directly impact businesses around the world in 2024.

Image: Eagle Eye Networks

FEBRUARY

New report from ASIS and SIA outlines security trends for the next two years
ASIS International and the Security Industry Association (SIA) have jointly released a new research report, Complexities in the Global Security Market: 2024 Through 2026, which covers several key aspects of the security industry including technology, services and employment. SIA and ASIS partnered with Omdia to complete the research.

Image: ASIS/SIA

Motorola Solutions acquires Silent Sentinel
Motorola Solutions has acquired Silent Sentinel, a provider of specialized, long-range cameras based in Ware, U.K.

Genetec appeals to channel partners with major update to Security Center
Montreal-based Genetec has announced a major upgrade to its flagship Security Center product, referring to it as a harmonization of its cloud offerings.

Security Center SaaS (image courtesy Genetec)

Security Summit Canada recap: cloud and AI as business enablers
Finding a comfort level with new technology was one of the major themes at this year’s Security Summit Canada, whether that means integrating AI or cloud into your business at your own pace, or raising your level of awareness so you can at least figure out a starting point.

New CEO joins Convergint

Global integrator Convergint has appointed Ann Fandozzi as its new CEO. This is Fandozzi’s fourth CEO role, having previously led RB Global, Abra Auto Body & Glass and vRide. Previously, she held senior leadership positions at Whirlpool, DaimlerChrysler, Ford Motor Company and Lockheed Martin.

MARCH

Fire Monitoring of Canada renews TMA Five Diamond designation
Fire Monitoring of Canada (FMC) announced on its website that it has renewed its Five Diamond designation, a TMA (The Monitoring Association) recognition program available to qualifying monitoring facilities.

HID publishes results of 2024 State of Security Report
HID announced its 2024 State of the Security Industry Report, based on responses from 2,600 partners, end users, and security and IT personnel worldwide, representing a range of job titles and organization sizes across more than 11 industries. Conducted in the fall of 2023, the survey identified six themes.

IDIS closes Costar Technologies acquisition
“By uniting with IDIS, we are embracing a ‘Better Together’ philosophy that amplifies our shared core values and individual strengths, paving the way for a stronger security foundation,” said Scott Switzer, CEO, Costar, in a statement.

Carrier to sell industrial fire business for US$1.425B
Carrier Global Corp. said it has entered into an agreement to sell its industrial fire business to Sentinel Capital Partners for an enterprise value of US$1.425 billion.

APRIL

Resideo to acquire Snap One for US$1.4B
“ADI and Snap One are highly complementary businesses and together will meaningfully enhance our strategic and operational capabilities,” said Jay Geldmacher, president and CEO, Resideo.

SIA announces New Products and Solutions winners at ISC West
The Security Industry Association (SIA) has announced the 2024 winners of the SIA New Products and Solutions Awards, which were presented in partnership with ISC West on April 10.

IronYun receives the Best New Product award (Image courtesy SIA)

Montreal-based Valsoft acquires WeSuite
Valsoft Corp., a Montreal-based company specializing in the acquisition and development of vertical market software businesses, announced the acquisition of WeSuite, a provider of sales management software solutions for the security and technology services sectors.

Convergint acquires Panavidéo in Quebec
Global systems integrator Convergint announced that it has acquired Panavidéo Inc., a Quebec-based integrator that specializes in the design, implementation and servicing of access control and video security solutions.

Image: Convergint

MAY

Armstrongs opens monitoring station in Laval, Que.
Armstrongs, a wholesale monitoring company with service across Canada, recently opened its latest monitoring station in Laval, Que. Collectively, the company monitors more than 250,000 accounts in Canada.

Dan Small (President, Armstrongs), Justin Bailey (President, Becklar Enterprise Monitoring), Mme. Seta Topozian (Conseillère Municipale du District Renaud et Chargé des Dossiers de l’enfance), Patrick Straw (Executive Director, CANASA), Troy Iverson (VP of sales, Becklar Enterprise Monitoring), Clint Halverson (chief people officer, Becklar), Mathieu Lamontagne Lagacé (station manager, Laval, Armstrongs) Image courtesy Armstrongs

Securitas marks 90 years in business
Established in Helsingborg, Sweden, in 1934 by Erik Philip-Sörensen, the company says it has “evolved from a traditional night guard operation into a global leader in security solutions.”

Paladin Technologies opens new ULC-certified monitoring facility in Ottawa
Paladin Technologies announced it has opened a new monitoring station in Ottawa. The facility received its ULC certification in March 2024.

From left: Antony Strube, executive vice-president, monitoring, Ted Reid, CEO, Iain Morton, COO, Paladin Technologies (image courtesy Paladin Technologies)

JUNE

ASSA ABLOY acquires Canadian manufacturer Wesko Locks
ASSA ABLOY announced it has acquired Wesko Locks Ltd., a Canadian manufacturer and supplier of electronic and specialty locks. The company’s main office and factory are located in Mississauga, Ont.

Allegion acquires Quebec-based Unicel Architectural
Founded in 1964 in Montreal, Unicel Architectural is a manufacturer of glass, timber and aluminum building solutions. The company’s products are primarily sold across Canada and the U.S. and installed in health care, education, government and other non-residential facilities.

Toronto-based Xtract One announces contracts with NHL, MLB and NBA teams
According to the company, these contracts were awarded following Xtract One’s recent announcement that SmartGateway has been designated as a U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) SAFETY Act Qualified Anti-Terrorism Technology (QATT).

Quebec-based Vosker secures US$125M in debt financing for growth
Vosker was founded in 2018 and is based in Victoriaville, Que. The financing round marks “a significant milestone,” according to the company, enabling it to recapitalize its debt structure and position itself for future growth.

Dean Drako acquires Cobalt AI
As Cobalt’s owner, Drako will serve as the company’s chairman, while Ken Wolff, Cobalt’s CEO, will continue leading the company. Cobalt AI will operate as an independent company with its current management team and entire staff, according to a statement.

JULY

Toronto-based Invixium acquires Triax Technologies in the U.S.
The acquisition will expand Invixium’s current portfolio with Triax’s Real-Time Location Systems (RTLS) technology and connected worker solutions.

Image: Invixium

Everbridge acquired by investment firm Thoma Bravo for US$1.8B
Thoma Bravo, a Chicago-based software investment firm, announced the completion of its acquisition of Everbridge in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately US$1.8 billion.

dormakaba opens new production facility in Montreal
dormakaba says the Montreal facility, which employs 600 people, produces hundreds of thousands of lock assembly units annually for hospitality, vacation rental and multifamily housing.

Image: dormakaba

Axis Communications celebrates 40th anniversary
Established in 1984, Axis Communications is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. Axis currently has approximately 4,000 employees in 50-plus countries and is headquartered in Lund, Sweden.

Canadian central stations prepare for ULC redundancy requirements
With ULC’s new redundancy requirements for Canadian central stations set to come into effect in January 2025, monitoring providers have been making the necessary adjustments to their own operations in order to comply.

Paladin Technologies recently opened a new monitoring station in Ottawa. The facility received its ULC certification in March 2024. (image courtesy Paladin Technologies)

AUGUST

Ajax Systems expands Yale partnership into Canada and U.S.
Ajax Systems’ and Yale’s customers in the U.S. and Canada will now be able to manage Yale Smart Locks directly from the Ajax Security System app. This step follows previous introductions of the integration in 35 countries worldwide.

ONVIF hits 30,000 conformant products
ONVIF announced that more than 30,000 product models in the US$120B global physical security market now meet the ONVIF conformance requirements for interoperability. According to ONVIF, the number of ONVIF-conformant, interoperable products has doubled in the last three years and tripled since 2018.

Axis Experience Vehicle makes first road trip to Canada
Earlier this summer, Axis Communications wrapped up a mini tour of central and eastern Canada, taking its “Axis Experience Vehicle” (AEV) on the road to cities and communities that might not otherwise see the company’s technology first-hand.

Image courtesy Axis

SP&T News Top 10 Under 40 2024
Whether they work in systems integration, manufacturing, monitoring or channel solutions, these professionals share some commonalities such as vision, ambition, a devotion to customer service and an appreciation of the security industry itself. Please join us in congratulating this year’s winners. SP&T’s Top 10 Under 40 list is sponsored by Digital Watchdog.

Anna Semenina, Mircom Technologies

SEPTEMBER

ASSA ABLOY partners with Boston Dynamics, maker of Spot robot
At this year’s Global Security Exchange (GSX) in Orlando, ASSA ABLOY introduced a new digital access solution that allows Boston Dynamics’ Spot security patrol robots to unlock and open accessed-controlled automated doors autonomously.

Image: ASSA ABLOY

Graybar opens new branch in Oshawa
Graybar Canada announced via its e-newsletter the opening of a new branch location in Oshawa, Ont. “The Oshawa team has settled in beautifully, and their grand opening last month was a great success,” stated the company.

SP&T News announces Integrator of the Year 2024
SP&T News is pleased to announce Met-Scan Canada as Integrator of the Year 2024. Founded in 2004, Toronto-based Met-Scan provides security integration services to customers across Canada.

Image courtesy Met-Scan Canada

OCTOBER

Axon completes acquisition of Dedrone
“The acquisition unites two companies with a shared mission to improve public safety and national security by staying ahead of persistent and escalating threats, enabling faster, more effective responses and ultimately protecting more lives in more places,” stated Axon.

The ongoing search for skilled technicians
The security industry is experiencing a hiring crunch as it gets tougher to replace retiring technicians and installers with new recruits.

Allegion acquires SOSS Door Hardware
Allegion announced it has acquired, through one of its subsidiaries, SOSS Door Hardware (SOSS). A manufacturer of hinges and door hardware, SOSS primarily sells its solutions in North American non-residential markets.

Hall Telecommunications celebrates 50th anniversary with gala event
Hall Telecommunications, a distributor of security, connectivity, and assistive living devices, recently celebrated its 50th anniversary.

OliverIQ comes to Canada through partnership with Quebec alarm company
OliverIQ, a Smart Home as a Service (SHaaS) company, announced that it has signed Centrale D’Alarme De Bromont in Quebec as its first security provider partner in Canada.

NOVEMBER

Survey indicates growing support for skilled trades amongst Canadians
The survey, conducted by Leger and commissioned by Classic Fire + Life Safety, indicates that 52 per cent of respondents think more highly of the trades now than they did a few years ago, while 80 per cent believe there are more options for employment than before.

Daisy-Daisy / iStock / Getty Images Plus

Wesco to acquire Ascent, a provider of data centre facility management services
Wesco International announced it has entered into an agreement to acquire Ascent, a provider of data centre facility management services, for US$185 million.

GardaWorld completes Stealth Monitoring acquisition
Montreal-based GardaWorld said in a company statement that it has completed the acquisition of Stealth Monitoring. The acquisition was first announced on Oct. 21.

DECEMBER

CANASA appoints Kim Caron as executive director
Kim Caron is a respected veteran of the Canadian security industry, beginning her career as a monitoring station operator in 1988. Since then she has held several senior level positions within the alarm monitoring industry, including sales director for Armstrongs.

Triton to acquire Bosch Building Technologies’ security products business
According to a Bosch statement, the transaction includes three business units: video, access and intrusion, and communications. The division’s 4,300 employees across 90 global locations will move over with the new ownership structure.

Image: Bosch Building Technologies

Hall of Fame 2024: Anita Brunet
Approaching her 35th year in the professional security industry, Anita Brunet is just as excited to be a part of it now as she was back in 1990.

Hall of Fame 2024: Mark Cup
Access Direct, the company co-founded by Mark Cup, now has a dozen brands in its portfolio and currently has a team of seven full-time staff, with offices in Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto and Vancouver.

Hall of Fame 2024: Robert Mowles
Back in 2002, Robert Mowles saw a gap in the home automation market and thought he could help fill it. Smart home technology was relatively new, as was e-commerce, but Mowles believed Canadians would soon embrace both.