The Canadian Corps of Commissionaires National Historic Event

The Canadian Corps of Commissionaires

The founding of the Canadian Corps of Commissionaires in Montréal, Toronto, and Vancouver between 1925 and 1927 supported veterans of the First World War in rebuilding their lives in the aftermath of their wartime experience. Reorganized into a Canada-wide body in 1937, the Corps offered war veterans preferred employment status and, over time, focused increasingly on providing security guards for federal installations. In 1945, this private non-profit company won right of first refusal on security contracts for federal buildings and installations. This national organization grew to include female veterans, the families of veterans, and former members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

In its early years, the Canadian Corps of Commissionaires was a small part of a fledgling system of job training, land distribution, and rehabilitation which aimed to reintegrate veterans into society. The Corps was initially established on 25 July 1925, when five Montréal lawyers received federal authorization to launch an employment assistance program for veterans. They were inspired by Governor General, H.R.H. the Duke of Connaught who, a decade earlier, had proposed a Canadian organization similar to the British Corps of Commissionaires, which was established in 1859 in England after the Crimean War. The goal was to help veterans make the transition to civilian life, by primarily offering security services in the case of the Canadian Corps. This first modest division of the Canadian Corps of Commissionaires in Montréal was followed by other divisions in Toronto and Vancouver in 1927. The early years were challenging. The Montréal Division was short-lived and quickly became dormant. In early 1937, it was revived with pressure from the Department of Pensions and National Health. In British Columbia, the Disabled Veterans Association evolved into the BC Corps in 1927 without collaboration with the Montréal and Toronto divisions.

During the Second World War, many of the Corps members left to serve overseas in the various branches of the Canadian Armed Forces or joined other organizations supporting the home front such as the Veterans Guard of Canada that provided security at prisoner-of-war camps and military infrastructure such as armament plants. As the war drew to a close, the Corps successfully lobbied the federal government for the Right of First Option (later called the Right of First Refusal Policy) on public service security, requiring federal government departments to obtain their security guard services from the Corps, guaranteeing quality jobs for its members and their ability to serve the Government of Canada.

In 1967, the national headquarters moved from Montréal to Ottawa and a period of restructuring followed to address its expansion. The October Crisis of 1970 resulted in a review of security requirements for federal buildings and increased responsibilities and training associated with the Commissionaires. The Corps continued as a private, non-profit organization, and membership eligibility expanded to include not only those with direct war service but also all former members of the Canadian Armed Forces, many of whom had served in peacekeeping roles, and former members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).

“We are honoured to be recognized as part of our nation’s rich history. In 2025, Commissionaires celebrates 100 years of supporting veterans by providing employment and assisting their reintegration into civilian life. This designation is a testament to the enduring legacy of commitment that defines who we are. We are grateful to the Government of Canada and the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada for recognizing our century of service to Canada."

This press backgrounder was prepared at the time of the Ministerial announcement in 2024.