When Acadia Group of Companies broke ground on their state‑of‑the‑art building at 120 Prospect Road in Saskatoon’s BizHub Industrial Park, they knew their security needed to keep pace with growth.

To meet this challenge, Acadia Group of Companies partnered with Reed Security to deploy a unified security solution - combining smart alarms, access control, and video surveillance into one intuitive platform.

Project Overview

Client: Acadia Group of Companies

Location: 120 Prospect Road, BizHub Industrial Park, Saskatoon

Scope: Smart alarm, access control, and video surveillance, all managed via Alarm.com

Objectives:

- Seamless integration of alarms, cameras, and door/gate control

- Centralized management via desktop and mobile

- Easily manage security for 150+ employees

- Scalable platform to support future expansion

Our Solution

1. Smart Alarm System

   - Door sensors and smart motion detectors

   - Real‑time alerts via desktop and mobile app

   - Remote arm/disarm functionality for added convenience

2. Access Control

   - Electronic door locks and gate control using smartphones

   - Customizable user profiles and schedules for yard, shop, and office areas

   - Comprehensive audit trail of every entry and exit

3. Video Surveillance

   - High‑definition cameras covering all access points and critical zones

   - AI person and vehicle detection

   - Continuous recording with secure cloud backup

   - Instant playback and clip sharing through Alarm.com

With Alarm.com's unified interface, Acadia’s facility managers can monitor alarms, manage access, and review video footage - all from a single dashboard.

About Acadia Group of Companies

The Acadia Group of Companies, founded in 1982, is a Saskatchewan‑owned and operated family of construction firms delivering turnkey solutions for large‑scale, complex projects. It encompasses Acadia Construction Inc., Acadia Paving Ltd., Acadia Pumping & Dewatering Ltd., and Integrated Engineering Inc., bringing together expertise in earthwork & civil infrastructure, civil engineering, mining & industrial, railway, environmental remediation, paving, concrete, fluid handling, and water resources. With over 150 skilled professionals, Acadia is dedicated to excellence, safety, and community engagement - values that made them a perfect partner for this project. Learn more at acadiagrp.ca.

How Acadia Leverages Alarm.com

User Management: Quickly add, modify, or remove access for up to 150 employees - no more physical keys. New smartphones simply require new mobile credentials.  

Zone‑Specific Permissions: Define access levels for yard gates, the shop floor, and the office with tailored schedules.  

After‑Hours Monitoring: The system auto‑arms every evening at a specified time, sends confirmation when armed, and alerts on any non‑typical activity - like an HVAC service door opening at 5:10 AM or unexpected entry at 8:56 PM.  

Video Verification: Link alarms to live camera feeds to verify incidents remotely. If a false alarm occurs, Jason can disarm the system and clear the event from his phone within seconds.  

Remote Control: Arm or disarm the system and unlock doors via the Alarm.com mobile app to ensure authorized personnel can enter without delay.

Every great team has that one person who just makes everything smoother, happier, and a little more fun. At Reed Security, that person is Sarah Hardy, our Awesome Administrator - yes, that’s her actual job title (and yes, she lives up to it daily).

Sarah’s been rocking the front lines at Reed for 4 years now, and honestly, we don’t know what we’d do without her. She’s the friendly voice you hear when you call. She’s the calm in the inbox storm. She sets up your Alarm.com accounts. She helps you troubleshoot your tech when our Support Desk is jammed. She even collects your bills - but in the nicest way possible.

Basically, Sarah gets stuff done...and she does it with a smile.

But she’s not just helping clients. She’s also helping us celebrate. She’s on the Reed Security 25th Birthday Party Planning Committee (and it’s gonna be epic on May 25th). And she’s the one who sneaks out to pick up cakes or cookies for staff birthdays. Pro tip: don’t stand between Sarah and the bakery box.

When we asked her what she likes about working at Reed Security, she said:

“It feels like family here. I love helping people, and we have so much fun together.”

And she means it. Some of her favorite Reed moments include:

🎳 A full-team Bowlarama battle (yes, there were strikes… and questionable dance moves)

💪 A staff workout with a personal trainer (there were also groans and sore muscles for days)

Outside of work, Sarah’s a total family-first kind of person. She loves baking, spending time with her crew, and getting zen with Cosmic Kids Yoga (Google it - you’ll thank her later).

Sarah lives our values - Trust, Loyalty, Care, and Effort every single day, and she makes Reed Security better just by being herself.

Thank you Sarah for being Awesome!

#reedsecurity #awesomepeople

#trust #loyalty #care #effort

100% Canadian-owned

Reed Security is a 100% Canadian-owned security provider, serving businesses and families across the country for over 25 years. 

Founded and headquartered in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan we understand the unique security needs of Canadians and are committed to delivering innovative, reliable and affordable solutions.

🍁 Our leadership, operations, and decision making happen right here in Canada

🍁 We prioritize Canadian suppliers and partners whenever possible

🍁 We have dealer installation partners in 11 Canadian cities

🍁 Canadian-based 24/7 Monitoring team - no overseas emergency operators

🍁 Canadian-based Support team - experienced people providing local support and service

🍁 Profits stay in Canada - revenue generated stays in the local economy; creating jobs and supporting businesses

🍁 We reinvest in our communities – helping local businesses, charities, and initiatives that make a real impact

Thank you for supporting local

We couldn’t do this without you - our loyal clients.

Your trust and support allow us to continue protecting Canadian homes and businesses, investing in local innovation, and creating jobs right here in Canada.

From our team to yours, thank you for believing in local businesses and for making security a priority.

#ProudlyCanadian

#ReedSecurity

#SupportLocal

REED SECURITY TECHNICIAN BRENDAN LEUSCHEN IS CROWNED 2024 INSTALL CHAMP BY DIRECTOR OF FIELD OPERATIONS DEREK MCDOUGALL.

Shoutout to Brendan Leuschen, our 2024 Installation Champion at Reed Security! 

Brendan is approaching his 3-year milestone with Reed Security this March, bringing his expertise as a former electrician into every project. When we interviewed him, he told us he takes the most pride in:

✅ His work ethic

✅ Quality installations that go the extra mile

✅ Efficiency - getting the job done right and on time

Above all, Brendan loves happy clients and does everything he can to provide an amazing experience. His commitment to excellence is what makes him a true champion!

About the Install Champ Program:

The Install Champ program was created 5 years ago by Derek McDougall, Director of Field Operations, to recognize the best in the business. Technicians earn points in over 20 categories, including efficiency, quality, and overall customer experience. Brendan stood out this year by consistently delivering top-tier results in all areas!

In his free time, Brendan enjoys gaming, hunting, playing hockey, and spending time with his dogs, Blue and Chaos. 

When asked what he likes most about Reed Security, he highlighted the camaraderie, support from other technicians, and the family-oriented culture. His favorite Reed Security value? Loyalty.

Congrats, Brendan! 

#ReedSecurity #InstallationChampion #SecurityPros #Loyalty #TeamReed #InstallChamp

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Brody Langager

Saskatoon StarPhoenix

Published Jan 9, 2025

Concerns about break-ins at homes and businesses are circulating online as Saskatchewan’s cold winter weather coincides with a homelessness crisis.

The province’s two largest cities don’t have the capacity to house everyone who lacks permanent shelter. Saskatoon recently reported a count of almost 1,500 people experiencing homelessness, while Regina reported at least 824.

Crime maps published by the Saskatoon Police Service and the Regina Police Service show break and enters to residential and non-residential properties in every neighbourhood.

Virgil Reed, owner and CEO of Reed Security, said cold weather increases the number of break-ins at multi-unit homes, businesses and unoccupied buildings.

“Often, it’s homeless people looking for a place to stay warm and a place to sleep,” Reed said.

Unlocked vestibules are the preferred location during late night and early morning hours, he noted.

Another method of entry is “tailgating” — an intruder following an unsuspecting tenant into a property through a main entrance or parking garage.

Reed said the company has seen an increase in demand for keyless entry systems and video surveillance with artificial intelligence.

“Access control systems restrict access to the property and require a credential such as a keytag or a smartphone to unlock a door. This limits the opportunity for unwanted visitors.”

Security cameras with AI can recognize trespassers, identify what a person is wearing and ask intruders to leave directly from the camera.

Reed said reducing property crime comes down to common sense and creating awareness.

“Always make sure your doors are locked — including vehicles. Ensure adequate lighting in parking lots, stairwells and entry points. Evaluate the security measures at your property annually and proactively implement the latest crime reduction technology.”

Based on statistical data, Saskatoon Police said break-ins don’t necessarily trend with the weather, noting the peak of break and enter crimes reported in 2024 was in August, while the highest number reported in 2023 was in May.

However, the force noted that break-ins to common areas of apartment buildings could be recorded as suspicious persons reports — which are common and can represent a variety of incidents.

In the case of a break-in to a parking garage, vehicles can often be the target, and sometimes only one of those incidents gets reported to police.

If someone got into a private building only to escape the cold outside, there likely wouldn’t be an associated charge unless there was a criminal offence, Saskatoon police noted in a statement.

“If the person is open to it, we can and would refer them to other supports. We recognize the uneasiness that might come from seeing someone unfamiliar in an apartment building, and we would encourage people to report suspicious persons if they have concerns.”