• Home
  • Courses
    • Ontario Courses
    • Alberta Courses
    • Manitoba Courses
    • Saskatchewan Courses
    • British Columbia Courses
  • Getting Started
    • Ontario FAQ
    • Alberta FAQ
    • Manitoba FAQ
    • Saskatchewan FAQ
    • British Columbia FAQ
  • Blog

    Training and Licensing

    Ontario Security License

    Security Guards

    Private Investigator Course

    Private Investigation

    Use of Force Training

    Jobs and Careers

    Loss Prevention

    Safety and First Aid

    Private Security Business

  • Contact
    • Cart

      0
    • LOGIN
Have questions?
+(888) 409-1118
training@securityguardcourse.ca
Ontario Private Investigator License
  • Home
  • Courses
    • Ontario Courses
    • Alberta Courses
    • Manitoba Courses
    • Saskatchewan Courses
    • British Columbia Courses
  • Getting Started
    • Ontario FAQ
    • Alberta FAQ
    • Manitoba FAQ
    • Saskatchewan FAQ
    • British Columbia FAQ
  • Blog

    Training and Licensing

    Ontario Security License

    Security Guards

    Private Investigator Course

    Private Investigation

    Use of Force Training

    Jobs and Careers

    Loss Prevention

    Safety and First Aid

    Private Security Business

  • Contact
    • Cart

      0
    • LOGIN

security jobs

A Brief History of Private Investigation in Canada and Beyond

  • Posted by SGC Staff
  • Categories security jobs
  • Date July 11, 2018
  • Comments 0 comment

The history of private investigation immediately makes one think of 1920s private eye detective novels and movies. You might be surprised to find out that the reality of how private investigation agencies started isn’t far off from the smokey interrogation rooms and dapper attire of Sherlock Holmes or Sam Spade in The Maltese Falcon.

Today, becoming a private investigator is a legitimate career path for many types of individuals, but it takes certain personality traits to be truly successful in solving cases, whether it be a missing person or a con-man husband on the run. You must be insightful, dedicated, persistent, intuitive, and most importantly you must be creative and able to think outside of the box.

The First Private Investigation Agency

In Canada during the 17th and 18th century, there were people employed as watchmen and citizen patrol, who were essentially used pseudo-police mainly to uphold law and order in Ontario and Quebec. But this wasn’t the birth of the private investigation industry officially.

To find the birth of the industry we must go back to France in 1833, where a man by the name of Eugène François Vidocq (aka the father of modern criminology) founded the first private detective agency called the Le Bureau des Renseignements (office of information).

A career criminal, inmate, police spy and war veteran, Vidocq’s backstory and upbringing was so incredibly interesting that it inspired such prolific writers as  Honoré de Balzac, Victor Hugo, and the immortal Edgar Allan Poe in some of their most notable works.

Known for almost exclusively hiring ex-convicts, Le Bureau des Renseignements spent their time assisting citizens against fraudsters and crooksters, usually by means that were against the ethics of local law enforcement. These methods used by Vidocq often resulted in police intervention and even a search a seizure which resulted in him being charged with the acquisition of money by deception and corruption of civil servants, among other things.

Prior to starting the agency, Vidocq served as an informant for the police and spent 21 months in the French prison system relaying information to local law enforcement units. In 1811, he was released and started the Brigade de la Sûreté (security brigade). His time working with the police was contrasting at best, but these adventures would eventually lead him to start his private investigation agency and pioneer many criminology methods and terms still used today.

Private Eye Detectives in North America

Some of the earliest private investigators were no more than glorified mercenaries and military men helping private companies (with wealthy owners) keep an eye on employees and enforce policy, often with the use of physical intimidation.

Notable Private Eyes in American History

The most popular detective agency in North American history is definitely the Pinkerton National Detective Agency, known today simply as Pinkerton, which was founded in Chicago by Allan Pinkerton in 1850.

Born in Scotland, Pinkerton originally became interested in the process of criminal detective work after running into a group of counterfeiters while trying to find trees to make barrel staves. He continued to observe their activities over a period of time, eventually reporting them to the local sheriff leading to their arrest.

This act of stellar investigation led to Pinkerton being hired as Cook County, Illinois’ first police detective in 1849. After a year in this position, he eventually partnered with a local attorney named Edward Rucker and started the North-Western Police Agency, which went on to become Pinkerton National Detective Agency.

Some notable cases lead by Pinkerton agents included being hired to track Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, outlaw Jesse James, and the Reno brothers to name a few.

Notable Private Eyes in Canadian History

Another Scottish native by the name of John Wilson Murray was a police detective and sailor who would come to be known as the Great Canadian Detective, and a pioneer of scientific and forensic criminology in Canada and beyond.

After spending some time in the US Navy supervising prison camps, Murray defected during the civil war and started working as a detective for the Canadian Southern Railway. It was during this time that he attracted the attention of Attorney General who in 1875 appointed Murray as the first Detective for the Government of Ontario.

While he wasn’t a private investigator by job title, his methodologies and influence in security, law enforcement, and criminal investigation were unmatched. During his tenure (and until his death) Murray solved hundreds of notable cases, including the murder of Cornwallis Benwell and the “Million Dollar Counterfeiting” case. Murray would go on to play a pivotal role in the forming of the Ontario Provincial Police, and inspiring the CBC television series Great Detectives, as well as the character Detective William Murdoch from the Murdoch Mysteries novels and tv show.

While the World Wars were going on, Canada saw an increase in the need for protection and intelligence. Since police can’t be everywhere all at once, these citizen patrol groups were given extra privileges and responsibility, which would eventually lead to today’s private security and private investigation sectors. Since World War II, the growth and need for private detective and security firms have expanded well beyond hiring actual police officers.

The Current Role of Private Investigators

In Ontario, to become a private investigator or security guard one must pass a Ministry of Community Safety & Correctional Services exam which is governed by the province, and typically offered through private training institutes like SecurityGuardCourse.ca.

Today, security officers and private investigators outnumber police officers worldwide, 2 to 1. With the rise of technology and crimes being committed through digital means, the need for private investigators, detectives, and intelligence experts is continuing to grow.

Tag:Private Investigator Course

  • Share:
author avatar
SGC Staff

Previous post

Why Everyone Should Be Trained in Emergency First Aid
July 11, 2018

Next post

Top 5 Reasons To Be A Security Guard
September 2, 2018

You may also like

techniques for conflict de-escalation
Mastering De-Escalation: Techniques to Defuse Conflict Effectively
14 March, 2025
successful security guard
What It Takes To Be A Successful Security Guard
17 February, 2025
de-escalation training
De-Escalation And Conflict Prevention In Private Security
24 January, 2025

Leave A Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Search

Categories

  • Blog
  • Business
  • Events
  • First Aid and CPR
  • Help
  • License Process
  • Loss Prevention Training
  • Private Investigator Jobs
  • security jobs
  • Services
  • Training
  • Use Of Force

ABOUT US

Security Guard Course is run by private security industry experts who are committed to the success of our students.

Since 2012, we have supported over 10000 students who have completed our Ontario Security Guard Training and Private Investigator courses.

Let us help you take the first step down the path of your new career! Learn more at Getting Started Guide. We offer a full range of Ontario Security Training, Private Investigator Training and Loss Prevention Training Courses.

SECURITY TRAINING

  • Use of Force and Cooperative Handcuffing
    $159.00
  • Security Guard – First Aid not included
    $99.00
  • Dual Package: Security Guard + Private Investigator
    $325.00
  • Online Loss Prevention Training
    $199.00
  • Private Investigator
    $229.00
  • Emergency First Aid & CPR Training Level C + AED
    $89.99
  • Alberta Basic Security Guard Training Course – ABST
    $99.00

CONTACT US

  • 10 Milner Business Court Suite
    300 Scarborough, ON M1B 3C6
  • 400 - 2 County Court Blvd Brampton,
    Ontario L6W 3L7
  • 401 Bay Street, 16th Floor Toronto,
    Ontario M5H 2Y4
  • 750 - 2 Robert Speck Parkway,
    Mississauga, Ontario, L4Z 1H8
  • 116 Albert Street, Suite 200 & 300,
    Ottawa, Ontario, K1P 5G3
  • McDougall Centre 2500, 639 – 5th Avenue
    SW Calgary, AB T2P 0M9
  • First Edmonton Place 10665 Jasper Avenue Suite 1400 Edmonton,
    Alberta T5J 3S9
  • +(888) 409-1118
  • training@securityguardcourse.ca

LOCATIONS

  • Brampton
  • Scarborough
  • Toronto
  • Mississauga
  • Ottawa
  • Calgary
  • Edmonton
© 2020 Security Guard Course Inc. - securityguardcourse.ca. All Rights Reserved.

Terms and Conditions

Login with your site account

Lost your password?