Condor Ascent Magazine – December 2020 | Issue # 15
Magazine reader
Loading magazine…
The interactive reader could not load this PDF.
Open PDFInside this issue
Looking Towards the Future
Condor Ascent, Issue #15, December 2020.
Experience. Quality. Difference.
Announcing Employee of the Year. Plus: Holistic Wellness Programs.
2020 has been a year unlike any other in our lifetime.
We’re super excited to showcase our new website main page, and we believe this photo tells the Condor story as we move forward together during challenging times with a positive attitude, welcoming new faces, and planning new starts. You are invited to join our journey in the coming year.
View Looking Towards the Future in the magazine
Statement of Purpose and Core Values
Condor Security is a leading provider in specialized integrated security services, offering clients a combination of highly skilled security professionals and sophisticated security technologies.
Core values: quality service, training, human resource focus, forward thinking, client oriented, and social commitment.
Quality service: We provide effective, reliable, and experienced security and protective services.
Training: We develop specialized training for our employees to match clients’ expectations and exceed quality standards in the security market.
Human resource focus: We believe that our staff is an important facet of our work. We therefore recognize and hone their potential as providers of quality service through training and other professional development initiatives.
Forward thinking: We nurture our expertise as the ever-changing needs of our clients develop, and we are responsive to the present and always prepared for the future.
Client oriented: We strive to be of continuous service to our growing client base. Understanding the marketplace and our clients’ needs is primary; therefore, we are able to cater to both specific and generic client needs.
Social commitment: We enthusiastically liaise with our local communities and partners, and we are involved in different public events through local community affairs and fundraising ventures.
Condor Security is a full-service security firm. We dedicate our work to the delivery of various efficient, discreet, and reliable security solutions to meet the needs of our clients, including the protection of people and properties. Our service is aimed at bringing safety and peace of mind to our clients and their communities.
View Statement of Purpose and Core Values in the magazine
What’s Inside
Features: Kudos, “‘Three Best Rated’ Security Guard Companies in Toronto”; “We Are Happy When You Are Happy,” Google and Glassdoor.ca reviews; “You Are Superstars,” client testimonials; Everyday Hero, “ASIS Heroism Award Winner”; Social Commitment, “Masks Save Lives”; Our People, “Outstanding Employees”; COVID-19: Safety & Programs, “Holistic Programs to Boost Well-Being”; Opportunities, “Room to Learn and Grow.”
Departments: Message from the CEO; Condor Online, new website preview; 2021 Training Calendar.
“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” Aristotle.
View What’s Inside in the magazine
Learning From and Adapting to Changing Times
2020 will be remembered by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
All people of all cultures and faiths around the world have been affected by it and have had to adapt to this ever-changing society that we are experiencing today.
Only a year ago, we lived in a different world from what we know now. Importantly, we have been able to deal with all the challenges that we have faced. We implemented safety measures, learned valuable information related to health matters, and adapted to new habits, like wearing masks and washing hands regularly.
Now, even though we are not at the end of COVID-19, I can say that the Condor Team showed, as a group, great adaptability, understanding, stamina, and professionalism. I am very proud to work with great people and to see how all of us as a group are facing the challenges of these unprecedented times.
With warmest regards, I would like to wish you and your loved ones a safe and healthy Holiday Season and a Happy New Year for 2021.
We hope that you will enjoy the new look of Condor Ascent Magazine and the articles in it.
Yours truly, and best wishes for a great 2021!
View Learning From and Adapting to Changing Times in the magazine
Condor Security Among Three Best Rated Security Guard Companies in Toronto
Exciting news to share with you. We’ve been recommended by Three Best Rated in the Top 3 Security Guard Companies in Toronto.
How does Three Best Rated Canada work? Three Best Rated Canada was created in 2014 with a simple goal: to find, for its four million-plus customers per month, the Top 3 local businesses, professionals, restaurants, health care providers, etc., in key cities across the country. The company’s employees handpick the Top 3 local businesses. This is done by checking business reviews, history, complaints, ratings, nearness, satisfaction, trust, cost, general excellence, reputation, etc., using their detailed 50-Point Inspection. The website displays only businesses that are verified by their employees, and it is updated on a regular basis for quality and the latest business information.
What does it take? As mentioned, all security guard companies face a rigorous 50-Point Inspection, which includes everything from checking reviews, ratings, reputation, history, complaints, satisfaction, trust, and cost. It’s an honour to have achieved this recognition. Here are some highlights of the inspection process that Condor and other security companies in Toronto underwent.
Three Best Rated Canada 50-Point Inspection: The following list shows some of the key areas of the 50-Point Inspection process that employees of Three Best Rated conduct. Some items may not be applicable to all businesses.
History: Experience. Master of their craft, based on years of quality experience and education.
Online history: A detailed review of the business’s website and other pages to check if they are keeping the webpages updated throughout the years.
Ownership history: To see if the business is family-owned, LLC, partnership, sole proprietorship, or corporation, and its history.
Services: Exact services. The exactness of the services offered by the business relative to its core industry.
Special features: Complementary services that have been offered by the businesses to their customers as a sign of good gesture. For professionals, this could mean offering a free case study, case evaluation, etc.
Service diversification: Variety of services offered by the businesses related to their field.
The bar chart shows the high scores achieved by Condor.
Social media: Social media presence. Verifying a business’s official pages on all social media platforms.
Page maintenance: Keeping all social media platforms updated on a daily basis.
Followers ratio: Businesses with the highest followers-to-following ratio show that they have a good reputation among the people.
Awards: Awards history. The history of awards and titles a business has won consecutively over the years.
Multiple awards: Numerous awards conferred to the business from multiple legitimate sources.
Achievements: Number of milestones and acknowledgments such as making an appearance in the award honours list.
Complaints: Three Best Rated complaints. Complaints that Three Best Rated receives about the business from customers who used the services of the respective business.
Response from owner: The way the owner responds to a complaint from Three Best Rated and other review sites.
Fake complaints: Three Best Rated verifies the authenticity of the complaint and eliminates the fake ones.
Lawsuit: Ongoing cases or lawsuits filed against the business or professionals.
Reviews: Legitimate ratings. We check for the legitimacy of the reviews and ratings posted by the customers.
Current evaluation: Current evaluation involves the evaluation of recent reviews, meaning people are actively using the services of the business.
Fake reviews: Fake reviews are all over the internet. We make it a priority to check and eliminate such reviews.
Reviewer’s info: We analyze the identity and background of the reviewers.
Reviews study: A thorough study of the reviews the business has received throughout the years.
Social media responsiveness: How often the owner replies to customers’ good and bad reviews and feedback.
Negative reviews: Businesses with high negative reviews won’t be considered for the listing.
Review analysis: Specific reviews praising the skills of the team or thanking the professionals by mentioning their names.
Reviews accuracy: Reviews that describe the accuracy of the services offered by the business or the professional.
2020 Security Guard Companies in Toronto.
View Condor Security Among Three Best Rated Security Guard Companies in Toronto in the magazine
We Are Happy When You Are Happy
We’re always pleased when an employee, former or current, takes the time to leave us an online review of our services, our work environment, and our management. We believe there is always room to learn and grow. Here is a sample of some unsolicited comments employees have submitted on Google and Glassdoor.ca within the last six months.
Reviews.
Karan Sehgal: “Positive: professionalism, responsiveness, value. I have been working with Condor Security for more than a year and I must say that this is the best security company. Condor Security provides a lot of exceptional benefits to its employees. The company has most of its contracts with luxury condominiums where employees work happily and get respect. Condor Security management personnel are very cooperative and helpful. If an employee is hardworking, then there are various opportunities for growth within the company.”
Shivam Vasudeva: “Positive: professionalism, quality, responsiveness, value. I worked with Condor Security for 4 years. It was the most amazing experience. Best training protocols. If you worked with Condor Security you are a much better concierge with great skills than many big names in the industry. I live in a condominium now. And one of the biggest security companies is there as a concierge service. They are awful, with zero customer service and zero sense of empathy. I will highly recommend Condor Security for condominium security as well as a great place to work.”
Glassdoor.ca reviews.
Great company to work with: “I have been working at Condor Security part-time. Pros: Good pay, flexible hours, great management staff.”
Dynamic & professional company: “I have been working at Condor Security part-time for less than a year. Pros: It is a best professional security company and provides various training programs to its employees which give them an opportunity to learn, grow and perform effectively at workplace. Cons: For me it’s a great company. Until now I do not have any negative point to write.”
View We Are Happy When You Are Happy in the magazine
You Are Shining Stars
Kevin P.: “I am a resident at CampusOne in Toronto. The team is always professional, welcoming and clearly focused on their task. It is clear they take their job seriously.”
Melissa T.: “My condo uses Condor and I have nothing but good things to say about their employees. Very friendly and efficient staff.”
Mary L.: “I am a frontline health care worker who was deployed to work in an outbreak area, so am leaving for work very early in the morning. It has been so touching that both night shift concierges have wished me a safe day every morning for the past month. It has given me strength to actually leave my safe home and continue my deployment assignment.”
View You Are Shining Stars in the magazine
Condor Concierge Receives ASIS Ralph Day Heroism Award
ASIS International Award Winner. Everyday Hero.
Some work days start out just like any other. Then, in the blink of an eye, things can change and you’re called upon to dig deep within yourself and rise to a level of service you’re professionally trained for and prepared to handle. The following summary of events that took place in spring of this year is reprinted from the Canadian Security Magazine article at canadiansecuritymag.com/toronto-security-guard-acknowledged-with-asis-ralph-day-heroism-award/
Congratulations to Vipasha Sharma on receiving the ASIS Ralph Day Heroism Award.
“Vipasha Sharma, who works for Toronto-based Condor Security, is the recipient of ASIS International’s Ralph Day Memorial Security Officer Heroism Award this year.
“Sharma was recognized for her calm and professional management of a series of traumatic events that occurred at the high rise where she is employed as a concierge.
“According to a blog post on the Condor Security website, one night in April, a fire broke out in the building which resulted in a fatality, and a domestic disturbance occurred that same evening.
“Sharma recounted the events in the blog post: ‘The incident that occurred on 17th April, 2020, consisted of four major events: a domestic dispute, a fire, a flood, and a death of one of the residents in a unit affected by the fire. All events overlapped, and time was one constraint that was not working in our favour that day…
“‘Then I thought, I am the person who is here to provide security to all the residents of the building and if I show signs of panic and nervousness then all the residents interacting with me are going to panic and lose courage, therefore I did what as a Security Guard one must do: show courage, be calm, think on the feet, and come up with solutions as things occur. Eventually, that helped me handle this situation.’
“Sharma was able to separate the victim from the attacker by moving the victim to the lobby. She stayed in touch with residents while the building was evacuated due to the fire and coordinated with first responders when they arrived on scene.
“Sharma thanked her colleagues and mentors at Condor for their support, particularly Eric Senior, Condor’s operations and training manager, and her site supervisor Hosni.
“Condor management noted in the blog post: ‘Condor is extremely proud of the actions taken by Vipasha, the Condor Concierge on duty during this incident. Your actions have saved lives and you can be proud of your response for the rest of your life.’”
A grateful condo community: One of the members of the condo’s Board of Directors shared these words of thanks: “Thank you Condor. Hats off to the exceptional training that your firm delivers to your staff. Vipasha (and Hosni) are superstars!”
Statement from the Board of Directors: “On behalf of the Board of Directors and the residents, we would like to acknowledge the exceptional efforts made by Vipasha during the unfortunate incident in our building that occurred on April 17, 2020.
“Throughout this unprecedented event, Vipasha displayed a calm, efficient and professional manner while responding quickly to the rapidly changing demands that were asked of her. Not everyone could step up the way she did in a split second but she didn’t hesitate.
“Her caring and compassionate nature was in full force and helped to diffuse the worry and stress that everyone was experiencing.
“She is a credit to your company and we are very grateful to her. Please share your feedback with others in your company as you see fit.”
Vipasha Sharma with the ASIS Ralph Day Award.
View Condor Concierge Receives ASIS Ralph Day Heroism Award in the magazine
Masks Save Lives
“We couldn’t do it without organizations like yours.”
Every day during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, news sources reported on the various challenges faced by health care providers, especially those working in hospitals and long-term care homes. There were delays in delivering PPE that often resulted in shortages of much-needed masks and other indispensable safety supplies.
Stories like these prompted Condor to decide to partner with an organization that oversees long-term care homes in the GTA for a PPE donation campaign. The goal was to donate 5,000 surgical and KN95 masks to long-term care homes in urgent need of them for onsite staff, including personal support workers, kitchen, administrative, and medical staff. After conducting a search of health care providers, the Better Living Health and Community Services Centre at Thompson House was more than pleased to accept Condor’s mask donation.
Condor staff at Thompson House to drop off the donation of 5,000 masks.
View Masks Save Lives in the magazine
Mask Donation to Better Living at Thompson House
“Thank you for reaching out to us and for considering our long-term care home, Better Living at Thompson House,” said Emily Hope, Senior Manager, Quality and Decision Support. “As we continue to implement universal masking among our staff working in the home, we certainly are willing to accept a donation.”
“Better Living is committed to the health and safety of our residents, clients, staff and members. As COVID-19 is continuing to have a major impact on long-term care homes across Ontario, donations are crucial during this time. We are incredibly grateful to Condor for organizing this initiative and helping Better Living protect our community. As staff are required to wear masks and other PPE, this donation will help offset some of the increased costs we incur to cover this essential need. Through generous donations like these, we are shown just how much we must stick together as a community in order to get through these unprecedented times. Thank you!”
Thank you to all the organizations that gave generously to help with the donation of masks to Better Living at Thompson House. We couldn’t have done it without you!
Organizing the delivery of 5,000 PPE masks to Better Living at Thompson House.
Condor wishes to thank the following Social Commitment Partners for their generous contribution to help sponsor this much-needed community donation during difficult times: Alliance REIT; The Coppola Group; CCI-Toronto and Area Chapter; Duka Property Management Inc.; Oliberté; Precision Toner; and Royal LePage.
View Mask Donation to Better Living at Thompson House in the magazine
Outstanding Employees
Join us in congratulating our employee of the month, of the quarter and of the year.
Employee of the Month: Jose Alberto Ron Noyola, Porter. “I am proud to be part of the Condor Security family these last three years and still counting. I started off as a patrol guard and the privilege of various opportunities were provided, which also included promotion to concierge post. Within the scope of these three years, I’ve grown exponentially both personally and professionally. Thanks to all the MPS Team, Condor management and site supervisor Lovepreet, who aided me in realizing my true potential through constant training and feedback. I recommend everyone to be part of the Condor Security family. Golden learning and development opportunities are available for those who are passionate about growing in the security field.”
Employee of the Quarter: Head Concierge. “I would like to thank Condor management Ben Tabesh and Eric Senior in presenting myself with the Employee of the Quarter Award. I am deeply honoured and very grateful to have received this award. At this time, I would like to acknowledge all the others who have received this award. It’s a great honour to join your ranks. I have learned that it is not an individual performance but a team effort. Condor has a strong team starting with management of the office, staff and mobile patrol, to which they can find any answer to any question a security personnel may have. I have had the pleasure of working on sites where one can draw off each other’s strengths and become a stronger team member through training. This is only possible if we have a strong team lead, which Condor does. It is an honour to be part of this strong team.”
Employee of the Year: Wyatth Llewellyn Hyde. “I am delighted to be a part of the Condor Security team for the past four years. Condor Security values employee development. The best thing about working with Condor Security is the teamwork I experience daily, the relationships I have developed and the fact that Condor cares about their employees. The best part of my job is being able to work with people at all levels and apply my training in each situation. I am extremely proud and honoured to be part of Condor’s staff and the Employee of the Year.”
View Outstanding Employees in the magazine
Holistic Programs to Boost Well-Being
When COVID-19 was first declared a pandemic by the WHO earlier this year, everyone thought we would get through this after a full initial lockdown, with the exception of essential services. Sadly, coronavirus had other plans. Now, as we enter a second wave and another lockdown in Toronto and Peel, it’s clear that the virus won’t go away without a concerted effort from all citizens, organizations and governments. The good news is there are promising vaccines on the horizon.
Condor is constantly developing programs to support and contribute to our team’s health and careers.
View Holistic Programs to Boost Well-Being in the magazine
COVID-19 Contingency Planning in Action
At Condor Security, we stand by and act on our Statement of Purpose every day. We pride ourselves on being forward-thinking, industry-leading and customer-focused.
We are committed to developing specialized training for our employees to ensure we are constantly providing our clients with the support they need at all times and under all conditions. That is why, in mid-January, we set out to create a COVID-19 contingency plan, which included training on COVID-19 preparedness and prevention measures.
Our plan was put to the extreme test over a weekend early on in the pandemic.
A community member, who was in contact with 20 Condor staff members, was perceived to be COVID-19 positive. Our Operation Team immediately executed the plans and made sure all staff and all other individuals who made contact went into self-isolation. All common areas were professionally sanitized and a new team was deployed in a matter of hours with no disruption of service.
Luckily, the community member was deemed negative, but the swift action and execution of the contingency plans ensured the safety of everyone.
Below is an incredibly kind note we received from our client after the incident took place.
“We are swimming in very unfamiliar & scary waters and so much is changing minute to minute.
We had an urgent situation we had to react to on Saturday night and the Condor Team did not let us down. Thank you for having our backs and allowing us to count on you. We truly could not have survived this without you. I can imagine what we caused in your office on Saturday night having to contact all the guards and find us coverage… so appreciated.
Our dedicated guards took this seriously and did what they had to do to secure our property and leave it in the hands of those who had never been to our property. I know we scared you and for that I’m sorry, but I think we all learned a great deal about the severity of this virus and how we need to respond.”
Our clients and staff know that we will continue to update and adapt our contingency plan on a regular basis as the coronavirus situation changes to ensure the safety of everyone.
View COVID-19 Contingency Planning in Action in the magazine
Mindfulness and Exercise Series
From lockdowns to masking to social distancing, it’s easy to understand how COVID-19 is taking an emotional toll on many individuals. We are being asked to adjust our lives and lifestyles. Our employees and their well-being are of utmost importance to us. We are constantly developing programs to support and contribute to our team’s health and careers.
We invited Sarah Kinsley, a Registered Clinical Counsellor, BA (Hons.), BEd (Primary), MEd (Counselling), to create a short series of Mindful Consultation videos for our staff and community.
We know that these times can be challenging, both on the personal and professional side. Practicing mindfulness can help reduce anxiety and equip you with more tools for your life. From feedback we received, we learned that this series of videos was well received and enjoyed. You can find the Mindfulness Series here:
Three-Minute Breathing Space: condorsecurity.ca/mindfulness-series-1
The Breath: A Powerful Ally: condorsecurity.ca/mindfulness-series-2
The First Foundation of Mindfulness: The Body: condorsecurity.ca/mindfulness-series-3
You’ve heard the saying Strong Body Strong Mind. The benefits of exercise are noticeable whether we walk, run, lift weights, dance or practice yoga. Outwardly, we see our bodies become more fit, muscles tighten and posture improves. But the benefits of exercise also extend to our mental health and emotional well-being. We’re happier, calmer and even more social. Maintaining our health and staying active is important, now more than ever, as we deal with these challenging times.
We continued our focus on health and wellness by introducing an Exercise Series with Chris Brown from CGBFitness. Chris created a customized routine that staff and clients could do from the comfort and safety of their homes, with no equipment.
Condor Exercise Series with Chris Brown, Core Workout: condorsecurity.ca/exercise-series-core-workout-routine
Upper Body Workouts: condorsecurity.ca/exercise-series-upper-body-workout-routine
Lower Body Workouts: condorsecurity.ca/exercise-series-lower-body-workout-routine
After all the positive feedback we received on the Chris Brown workout series, we had to come back with another! This time, Cory Myles, personal online trainer and health coach, created a customized two-part series just for Condor staff and clients.
Condor Exercise Series with Cory Myles: condorsecurity.ca/condor-exercise-series-cory-myles
To ensure the constant well-being of our employees and community, we are continuing to develop programs to contribute to their success. Stay safe, healthy and active!
Continue to follow our blog at condorsecurity.ca/blog, where we hope to post more health and wellness videos in 2021.
Cory Myles, personal online trainer and health coach, created a customized two-part fitness series just for Condor employees and guests.
View Mindfulness and Exercise Series in the magazine
Room to Learn and Grow
Congratulations to a Condor employee who has crossed over from the security profession to condo management with Del Property Management Inc.
We take great pride in our in-house training and education programs. They prepare our guards and concierges to handle everyday tasks and sometimes difficult situations.
Partners and clients within the industry also recognize the value added Condor staff bring to their sites. From time to time, however, we must say “farewell” to staff who make a successful transition and follow a career path into condominium management, where there is a growing need for skilled talent. One former staff member who successfully crossed over is Pratibha Banwala. She now works for Del Property Management I c. While we are always sad to lose a valued employee, we can wish her well in her new job.
I would like to take some time to share my journey with Condor Security, which further led me to start my career with Del Property Management. I started working in Condor Security as a concierge, and later on I got promoted as a Site Supervisor in one of the luxury condominiums. Being in that role, I learned to deal with various difficult and unusual situations on site. I would have never been able to grow within the company without the support of Condor management and their vigorous training that enhanced my skills over time and always motivated me to do better in my role.
Honestly speaking from experience, working with Condor Security gives an employee a vast amount of exposure, and there is always enough room for everyone to learn and grow with the company. Always push yourself to do more and more, as it will ultimately increase your learning potential. One thing I would like to say is:
“If you are dedicated to your job today, and have a feeling to always perform at your best, then no one can stop you to do better in your life.”
View Room to Learn and Grow in the magazine
Condor Online: New Homepage
The new Condor Security website homepage includes navigation items for 416.665.1500, Employee Portal, Join Our Team, Get a Quote, Security Services, Condominium Services, Security Systems, Security Training, Careers, About and Contact Us.
Our Security Services: Condor Security is a leading provider of professional, integrated security solutions and services based in the Greater Toronto Area, and aimed at bringing safety and peace of mind to its clients and their communities.
Service categories shown include Commercial Office & Condominium Security, Protection, Home Enforcement, Parking, Shopping Mall & Retail, K12 Campus & School Security, Mobile Security and Training.
Social Responsibility & Commitment: Condor Security I c. partners with non-profit, charitable organizations through its core value of social commitment.
Join Our Team: Security jobs and careers are available in an expanding, stable, and diverse field. Working towards a career in law enforcement or police? Looking for a flexible part-time position to support yourself through school? Seeking a challenge? Explore your potential!
Apply now for a position with opportunities for growth and promotion from within.
Security Officers: Apply Now. Condominium Services: Apply Now. Mobile Patrol Guards.
“I found the training very useful. It helps us to manage the situation under control when there is danger. It helped me in a normal life too.” Andrew V., Condor Employee
Condor’s Blog includes “Neighborhood Watch Security Program & Training in Toronto,” dated June 29, 2020; “Free Security Guard Training,” dated September 17, 2017; and “Canine Romeo’s Fight with Cancer,” dated June 17, 2020.
Do you want to be a Security Guard in the Toronto area and need a Security Guard License? Getting your Security Guard License in the province of Ontario requires an applicant to complete a few steps, explained in this guide, How to Become a Security Guard. Free Security Training: Condor Security provides free security guard license…
Romeo, a Cane Corso, has been a much-loved member of the Condor family since 2012. He’s a highly social dog, quick to make friends and gentle with kids. He’s participated in some of Condor’s social commitment programs in terms of raising awareness of cancer…
We hope you enjoy the new and upgraded Condor Security website homepage. The design and functionality are elements aimed to enhance the user experience. We are always striving to create an efficient and interesting user experience for both our staff and the communities we serve.
View Condor Online: New Homepage in the magazine
2021 Web-Based Training Calendar
Over the next few weeks, we will be announcing our 2021 training calendar. These have proven to be extremely popular with employees and the general public.
Watch these pages, and our blog, as we confirm the rollout of our training webinars for 2021.
View 2021 Web-Based Training Calendar in the magazine