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Canadian Security magazine dubs OPP auxiliary member Security Director of the Year 2020

Harold Wax, senior director and chief security officer of corporate security and business continuity management, BGIS Global Integrated Solutions, has been named Security Director of the Year 2020 by Canadian Security magazine, Blue Line’s sister publication.

Wax was selected for the award by Canadian Security magazine’s editorial advisory board based on a nomination submitted by a colleague. The nomination stressed Wax’s commitment to security, considerable volunteer efforts and accomplishments, as well as leading a recent integration between his organization’s corporate security program, business continuity and emergency response programs, which has proven to be instrumental during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Wax has been an auxiliary member of the Ontario Provincial Police since 1996, and has held various roles throughout the province including constable, sergeant, staff sergeant/unit commander, regional sergeant major, and inspector/regional director. He also continues to volunteer with the OPP and is currently assigned to the Highway Safety Division.

In addition, Wax served as a commissioned reserve deputy marshal with the Lafayette City Marshal’s Office in Lafayette, La., from 2016 until 2019. In April 2019, he was commissioned as a reserve police officer with the Lafayette Police Department in Lafayette.

Wax has worked in the corporate security field for more than 20 years. At BGIS, he is currently responsible for leading the organization in the areas of physical security, personnel security, investigations, vendor security compliance, business continuity and emergency response.

BGIS is a provider of real estate management services, including facilities management, project delivery services, energy and sustainability solutions, building performance management, workplace advisory and management, and real estate services.

Prior to joining BGIS in 2017, Wax spent more than 11 years as chief security officer for Mississauga-based financial services provider Symcor. Before that, he worked in the cash-in-transit industry, cutting his investigative teeth working as corporate security for Universal ATM, Securicor, and G4S Cash Services.

Wax is a subject matter expert in cheque fraud and critical infrastructure protection. He has provided training and instruction to numerous investigative and law enforcement agencies across North America including the Toronto Police Service, RCMP, OPP, Hamilton Police Service, Winnipeg Police Service, Competition Bureau of Canada, Canada Border Services Agency, IAFCI, Louisiana Fraud and Forgery Investigators Association, ASIS International, U.S. Secret Service, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

Wax is an associate member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the National Sheriffs’ Association, and the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police where he currently sits as a member of the Private Sector Liaison Committee and serves as the committee Sergeant-at-Arms. He is also a member in good standing with associations ASIS, ACFE, and the IAFCI.

Among his accolades, Wax was awarded the Province of Ontario Auxiliary Policing Medal for Long Service and Good Conduct in 2018, and in 2019 was awarded the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers by Julie Payette, Governor General of Canada.

You can learn more about Wax in the fall issue of Canadian Security magazine. He will also participate in Canadian Security Honours, a virtual event to be held Oct. 1, where he will receive his Security Director of the Year award.

About CS Honours

Canadian Security first launched its awards program honouring lifetime achievers, community leaders and emerging professionals in 2018 to help celebrate the magazine’s 40th anniversary. The program, known today as Canadian Security Honours, is now an ongoing recognition program under the Canadian Security umbrella. Canadian Security will host a virtual awards program on Oct. 1 to acknowledge this year’s winners as well as the 2020 Security Director of the Year, our longest-running award program (14 years and counting) which recognizes senior security leaders across Canada. For more information on how you can attend or get involved in CS Honours on Oct. 1, please visit www.canadiansecuritymag.com/cshonours.