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.

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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.”

Reed Security is giving away 100 passes to the BHP Enchanted Forest, one of Saskatchewan’s most beloved holiday light tours.

It’s our way of supporting our community and thanking our clients for trusting us to keep your home and business safe! 

How to enter the draw

1. You get one ballot when you send us your name, phone number and address of the property that Reed Security protects. 

2. You get a bonus ballot when you send us a TESTIMONIAL we can use to impress others 😊

Click here to enter the draw

Draw Date:  December 5th, 2024

Winners list will be published and passes will be available for pick up shortly after.

Good Luck and Thank You for Supporting Local!

#HappyHolidays #ReedSecurity #BHPEnchantedForest

Reed Security was established in March of 2000 with a vision – we want to be the #1 security provider in Saskatchewan! Over two decades later we are known for our great local service and protect 1000’s homes and businesses across the prairies. To serve you better we have locations in Saskatoon, Regina, Prince Albert, Calgary and Edmonton.

We help businesses and organizations re-gain control, reduce theft, monitor their properties, protect staff and grow their bottom lines. From small businesses to large enterprises our professional-grade Smart Business security solutions from Reed Security provide tools you can rely on.

In our latest article, we shine a spotlight on Reed Security commercial security client - Rayner Agencies.

MEET RAYNER AGENCIES

For our latest client spotlight, Virgil Reed met with Sheldon Wasylenko, Co-Owner, GM of Rayner Agencies. (above)

Rayner Agencies Ltd. is a general insurance brokerage that has been owned and operated by the Wasylenko family since 1971. Originally established by Lorne and Ruth Rayner in 1948, the business was started in the Sutherland area of Saskatoon and has continued to serve clients throughout Saskatchewan since its opening. Rayner Agencies Ltd. is a full-service insurance brokerage representing a large number of insurance companies and offers a wide range of insurance policies for homes, automobiles, businesses, and agricultural risks.

Their patience paid off and they moved into the iconic old Sutherland Hotel and Bar location on Central Avenue. The extensive renovations to the 7500 sq ft property resulted in a stylish location that seamlessly blends heritage and modern styles including their beautiful Atrium.

Now the Rayner Agencies 23 team members have plenty of space. In addition, they rent out the impressive boardroom to 3rd parties for meetings and events.

PROTECTING RAYNER AGENCIES

When it came to the commercial security needs, Reed supplied the alarm and access control systems and the client supplied their own cameras. 

The Reed Security team is proud to work with and provide support for wonderful local businesses like Rayner Agencies. Their focus to maintain the highest level of customer service, with honesty and integrity is very much aligned with Reed Security's value and mission.

"Rayner Agencies Ltd. chose Reed Security to design it’s building and door security system for our new building project at 810 Central Avenue. Right from the beginning, the sales and design team led by Geoff as well as the support team understood our needs very well and did an exceptional job deploying their solution and providing the support we needed along the way. Their technical knowledge and post-installation support was important to us. I would confidently recommend Reed Security for handling your commercial security needs."

Sheldon Wasylenko, Co-Owner, GM of Rayner Agencies

Thank you Sheldon and Rayner Agencies for trusting Reed Security to protect your People and Property!

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