Athabasca Basin Security recognized as one of Canada’s Fastest-Growing Companies
Athabasca Basin Security reaches new heights as one of Canada’s Fastest-Growing Companies, ranking on the Growth 500 list.
Click here to read the media release.
Industry West Magazine Feature
Athabasca Basin Security was recently featured in the Industry West magazine. Click here to read the article.
Stay Safe and Secure with Athabasca Basin Security
Athabasca Basin Security Recipient of 2018 SABEX Growth & Expansion Award
Athabasca Basin Security is pleased to be the recipient of the 2018 SABEX Growth & Expansion Award given by the Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce. The gala event, sponsored by Nutrien on February 8, 2018 acknowledges those businesses in the greater Saskatoon area that have achieved a level excellence in business through the Saskatoon Achievement in Business Excellence Awards (SABEX).
The SABEX Growth & Expansion Award is presented to the business that “has made significant changes in their business resulting in growth or expansion of 15% or more of business markets, physical locations, number of employees. and which in turn has made an impact on the company’s overall ability to increase its revenues, investments and profits now or in the future.”
Athabasca Basin Security CEO, Ron Hyggen expressed his appreciation for the recognition by saying, “It is a great honour to be recognized by the Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce as this years’ recipient of the Growth & Expansion Award. I am very proud of the hard work and dedication that my team has shown as we continue to grow, diversify and expand our footprint across western Canada.”
Athabasca Basin Security LP is known as a respected leader in the security industry and has provided the mining industry’s top companies with industrial security and medical services in some of Western Canada’s most remote areas.
Established in 2002, with only fourteen (14) employees, Athabasca Basin Security today has grown to employ a workforce of 340 employees, with many of there employees coming from First Nations and rural areas.
In the past eighteen months, The Company has expanded their portfolio to include contract medical services through Athabasca Basin Medical in 2016, and All Peace Protection in Grande Prairie. Alberta in February of 2017.
Athabasca Basin Security is an Aboriginal-owned, award winning company that continues to set the bar in the industry by focusing on the need for compliance, safety and communications between the ABS team and their clients.
They understand that to be the best you must employ the best, and are attentive to ongoing training and mentorship of their staff.
In the past twelve months, Athabasca Basin Security has been recognized as a Finalist in the Mission Zero Awards program in the Large Company Category for their strong commitment to safety in the industry, and as a Finalist for the ABEX Awards for Growth & Expansion.
Today, although Hyggen is grateful to be acknowledged as this year’s SABEX Growth & Expansion Award recipient, he also shared that he and his team will now be working even harder to guarantee their widening footprint in the future.
Athabasca Basin Security Finalist for Mission: Zero Award
In June of 2014, Ron Hyggen, CEO of Athabasca Basin Security made a pledge to improve the overall safety of his employees. A dedicated commitment to help make a difference in the unfavorable numbers for injuries on and off the job in Saskatchewan.
At that time, knowing that Saskatchewan held claim to the second worst workplace time loss injury record in the country, he chose to become a leader in the tide of change by pledging his commitment to Mission: Zero.
Launched in May 2008 as an initiative of WorkSafe Saskatchewan, in partnership between the Worker’s Compensation Board and the Ministry of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety, Mission: Zero is a project targeted at working toward zero injuries, zero fatalities and zero suffering.
What it means is believing that all injuries and predictable and preventable, and that the only right number of injuries and fatalities is ZERO. It also means that you are willing to become a champion in the battle to make our communities a safer place to live, work and play by putting safety first to prevent injury to yourself, your co-workers, your family and your neighbours.
Injuries that have seen people hospitalized at twice the national average, and Saskatchewan people die 1.4 times more often than anywhere else in Canada.
Preventable injuries that not only create a one billion dollar drain on our provincial economy but also unimaginable pain and suffering to those injured and their families.
Hyggen knew the statistics, but he also knew that by signing on and creating a healthy and safe environment for his employees that Athabasca Basin Security could make a difference. So, the company began a dedicated effort to shift their approach to safety.
“We have a moral obligation to return employees to their families in the same health that we received them. It is the responsibility of every employer to do their absolute best in providing a safe place to work for their employees.”
Changes were made to ensure employees were safe on the job, with safety jumping to the top of the list as the Athabasca Basin Security team under the direction of Hyggen, developed a new strategic plan.
A budget was created to reach the goals and objectives outlined in the plan, and a new position was created.
“We invested by hiring a dedicated safety resource and developing a company-specific safety program rather than continuing the use of the construction based safety program we had been using.” Hyggen explained. “The safety program had specific items that our team deemed vital to the success of the program.”
They developed a safety orientation program and video that clearly explained the importance of working safety, and implemented a management and supervisor training program to ensure a complete understanding of the Athabasca Basin Security Safety Program.
All staff must now pass a competency test upon completion of the safety program, and complete mandatory review of safe work procedures at every weekly toolbox meeting.
Other milestones included the development of a registry outlining all hazards that employees face at sites, and safety training and testing for all frontline employees.
Three years later, their team efforts are paying off.
“Safety makes good financial sense,” Hyggen said. “A by-product of having a workforce that works safe is WCB discounts and time save by not having to manage claims”
In the three years since signing the Mission: Zero Charter, Athabasca Basin Security has witnessed their WCB rates steadily decrease from paying a surcharge to a discount of thirty percent for 2017.
However, the bigger payoff is knowing that your employees will go home safely at the end of the day and that the safety knowledge that have gained at work will also help to keep both them and their families safe at home as well.
Perhaps then it should come as no surprise that Athabasca Basin Security also saw another huge payoff for their tremendous commitment to safety this past June when they were nominated as one of three companies in the large company category to be recognized for their success in the Mission: Zero Charter.
With this being only the second year for the Mission: Zero Awards, these prestigious awards recognize those companies, in the categories of small, medium and large based on employee numbers, that have shown true leadership and commitment as a Signatory of the Mission: Zero Charter.
A charter that has continued to grow each year, and now incorporates more than six hundred Saskatchewan business who like Hyggen are committed to making preventable injuries a part of their past. And of those six hundred businesses, Athabasca Basin Security is now in the top nine for their overall commitment to seeing their employees go home safety each and every day.
So, does this story end here?
According to Ron Hyggen, this is story is far from over. “Mission: Zero will not be over until we no longer see preventable injuries and deaths in our workplace, our homes or our areas of play”.
View the awards video here that was presented at the June 8th Charter Event.
Athabasca Basin Security completes Acquisition of Alberta-based All Peace Protection
Athabasca Basin Security is pleased to announce the acquisition of All Peace Protection, a security company based in Grande Prairie, Alberta. Please click here for a copy of the official news release.
Athabasca Basin Security Promotional Videos
Athabasca Basin Security has released a promotional video, along with a client and employee testimonial video. You can view the videos here.
Three First Nations and Saskatchewan Security Firm To Provide Services for BHP Billiton’s Jansen Project
MEDIA RELEASE
April 28, 2015
Saskatoon, SK – BHP Billiton has signed an agreement with Athabasca Basin Security (ABS) to provide security services for its Jansen Potash project. ABS has partnered with local First Nations through the Kawacatoose Daystar Muskowekwan (KDM) Business Development Corporation, for the training and employment of band members by the Saskatchewan-based security firm. The MOU signing between ABS and KDM took place on Friday, April 24, 2015.
“BHP Billiton is pleased to be able to provide this opportunity to ABS and KDM through our current level of activity at the Jansen Project” says Alex Archila, President of Potash, BHP Billiton. “This is in line with our Local Procurement Plan which seeks to make a broader economic contribution that helps to continue building the business capacities of local, Saskatchewan, First Nations and Métis businesses.”
The contract will supply 40 jobs to the area. KDM will be responsible for security training and ABS will provide pre-employment requirements and jobs across Western Canada for the people who meet them. The First Nation becomes the sole provider of training for the company in the region.
“We are very excited about this agreement, as it’s a win-win for everyone,” says Ron Hyggen, CEO of Athabasca Basin Security. “As an aboriginal-owned security company, we take pride in providing a top-tier service to our clients, as well as providing meaningful career opportunities with transferrable skills for aboriginal people. We look forward to working with KDM to provide employment, training and a stellar industrial security service to BHP Billiton.”
In October 2013, BHP Billiton and Kawacatoose Day Star, and Muskowekwan First Nations signed an Opportunities Agreement for the Jansen Potash project. The agreement with BHP Billiton included mutually beneficial opportunities in employment, business, and community development for the three First Nations.
“The agreement we signed with BHP Billiton has led to this current partnership with Athabasca Basin Security,” says Chief Reg Bellerose of the Muskowekwan First Nation. “We believe that collaboration through the creation of strategic alliances is the key to successful workforce development for our membership as well as for the collective business pursuits of our three First Nations, and this agreement is a good step towards our goal to provide people in our communities with access to education, training, and employment in a long-term, meaningful career.”
For more information, please contact:
Alison Boulding, Project Manager
Muskowekwan Resources Ltd.
aboulding@mrl.ca
306.242.5746
Ron Hyggen, CEO
Athabasca Basin Security
ronhyggen@basinsecurity.com
306.382.1030
KDM Business Development Corporation KDM represents Kawacatoose, Daystar and Muskowekwan First Nations who formed a limited partnership with goal of collectively pursuing business, employment, and capacity building opportunities within the region.
Athabasca Basin Security Your trusted partner for industrial and mine site security, Athabasca Basin Security provides the Canadian mining industry’s top companies with a full range of industrial security solutions. Based in Saskatoon, the company is owned by the seven communities in northern Saskatchewan’s Athabasca Basin.
Ron Hyggen, CEO of ABS, Muskowekwan First Nation Chief Reginald Bellerose, Kawacatoose First Nation Chief Dennis Dustyhorn, and Day Star First Nation Chief Lloyd Buffalo sign an MOU to provide security services at BHP Billiton’s Jansen site.
Links
Aboriginal Company Provides Mine Security
Sustainability in Action: Enhancing Aboriginal Opportunities
When you enter PotashCorp’s Patience Lake mining facility east of Saskatoon, you will be greeted by a security guard from Athabasca Basin Security (ABS).
Click on the link below for the full story.
http://www.potashcorp.com/sustainability/overview/demonstrating_value/aboriginal/
Certified Aboriginal Business Designation
Athabasca Basin Security has become a Certified Aboriginal Business (CAB) through the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB). The CAB program ensures that Aboriginal businesses are easily identified by industry, government and other organizations.
To learn more about the CAB program and CCAB, go to their website www.ccab.com/cab
“Business in Focus” Feature
Athababasca Basin Security was recently featured in Business in Focus magazine’s September issue. Click here to read the entire article (see pages 36 to 41).
Long Service Awards Presented
During the course of 2011 Athabasca Basin Security has proudly presented 5 year service awards to the following staff: Coreen Hugarth, Jean Tsannie, Terry Toutsaint, Catherine Roberts, Lindsey Morin, Gretta Mercredi, Kendra Senko and Ron Hyggen Sr. Members of the management team visited with each award winner and presented them with a 5 year service plaque and a gift. The length of service, commitment and dedication by these staff members is indicative of the growth of the company and can be attributed to Athabasca Basin Security’s commitment to employee wages and benefits as well as its desire to build respect and compatibility between management and its employees.
First Nations Agreement Signed
Athabasca Basin Security CEO Ron Hyggen Jr. is proud to announce the signing of an agreement with Chief Glen Pratt and the George Gordon First Nation as well as George Gordon Security Inc.. This agreement will allow for financial contributions to George Gordon First Nation as well as employment and training opportunities for its band members. George Gordon First Nation is representative of the strong voices within the Touchwood File Hills Qu’Appelle Tribal Council and ABS is excited to be associated with such a proud member of the Saskatchewan First Nation community.
ABS Awarded ISO Certification
In June 2011 Athabasca Basin Security, a First Nations owned security company was successfully audited by QAS International auditor Ravi Suntharamoorthy and received ISO 9001:2008 certification. ISO is a quality assurance program which will help ABS to maintain and improve their current methods of conducting business.
ABS Awarded Gunnar Mine Paramedic Contract
Saskatoon, SK May 9, 2011 Athabasca Basin Security Limited Partnership (ABS) has been awarded the PARAMEDIC CONTRACT for services for the Gunnar Mine Site Decommissioning Project. This project is a highly anticipated project funded by the Government of Saskatchewan with Quantum Murray LP providing general contracting.
“The Gunnar site is an abandoned uranium mine site the provincial and federal governments are cleaning up in the Uranium City area. This “Cold War legacy mine” was a small, short-term mining operation from the 1950s and 1960s near Uranium City. Following completion of operations, the uranium mine was abandoned at a time when environmental controls for decommissioning and reclaiming such sites were limited or non-existent.” – Schneider, Roy. (2011). Government of Saskatchewan, Energy and Resources, from http://www.gov.sk.ca/news?newsId=7683ce47-672a-4d44-b756-4e4280925a36
Athabasca Basin Security has moved it’s office!
We are now located in the Grasswood Business Center on Highway 11, beside the Subway.
Our mailing address is:
207 – 2553 Grasswood Road East Saskatoon SK S7T 1C8