Security for premises & events

Security for premises and events in Canada

Updated 4 November 2026

Guard services for premises and events in Canada cost about CA$28 to CA$45 per hour in Calgary and CA$30 to CA$65 per hour in Toronto, depending on the role and training. These are approximate prices, according to sellers' websites, November 2026. For current prices for your site or event, send one request on BlaBlaPrice.

Licences and permits to check

In Ontario, a guard working event security must hold a valid security guard licence, and a company that supplies guards needs an agency licence. That licence costs CA$700 to apply or renew, or CA$1,400 for a dual licence. Serving alcohol at an event needs its own permit: an Ontario special occasion permit, or a BC special event liquor permit, where a security plan can be required. Small private gatherings in a private home generally do not need licensed security in Ontario. Ask the company for its licence details before you book.

Season and event dates

Canada has a cold winter from December to February and a warm summer from June to August, and outdoor events are mostly planned for the summer months. Booking in late autumn leaves more time for December events. State the date, the term and the hours in your request, and say whether an outdoor site is covered.

How it is priced

Prices are per guard per hour. Calgary private events often carry a four-hour minimum. Patrols and alarm responses are priced differently: mobile patrols run CA$50 to CA$100 or more per patrol, and alarm response starts at about CA$75. Unarmed guards can start around CA$15 to CA$20 per hour in one general guide. Say how many guards and how many hours you need, because the price is counted per guard.

What to write in your request

Name the site or event, the address and the number of guards. Give the schedule, the date or term, the number of guests for an event and any extras, such as a patrol or alarm response. Say whether you need an armed or unarmed guard, and whether the guard must hold a licence. Add your budget. These details decide whether sellers can give you a comparable price.

Describe the job in your own words in the BlaBlaPrice chat. BlaBlaPrice's AI asks for anything missing, looks through sellers' websites and price lists in Canada, and shows the prices and businesses it finds. Registered sellers receive your request and reply in the chat with their own price and terms. Your contacts stay hidden until you choose whom to contact. For other business services, see business services.