Services

Phoneline: 613-533-6111

The Emergency Report Centre (ERC) is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, providing the Queen's Community a central point of communication and dispatch for Campus Security and Emergency Services.

ERC's operational priorities include:

• monitoring Queen's emergency communication systems (radio, telephone, blue light, emergency & assistance phones)
• monitoring Queen's fire, intrusion, and mechanical alarms
• dispatching Campus Security and Emergency Services staff as well as other Queen's emergency services
• dispatching municipal emergency services

Campus Security and Emergency Services can be called upon to assist with locating members of the Queen’s community for whom others have lost contact or have grown concerned for the safety and well-being of the person being sought.

The Emergency Report Centre is available 24 hours a day at 613-533-6080 (non-emergency), 613-533-6111 (emergency); or by using a Blue Light Emergency Phone.

Blue Light Emergency Phones

View Blue Light locations on Queen's campus interactive map

Outdoor Emergency Phones are easily identified on campus by their blue lights and yellow boxes with a large red button. They are located on frequently traveled routes to create better access to Emergency services along those areas.

When the red button is pushed, the phone is connected directly to the Emergency Report Centre (ERC), where the exact location of the phone is indicated, and two-way audio communication is established. The ERC will ask the caller how they need assistance.

While the phone can pick up sounds up to 10 meters (30 feet) away, the caller should try to stay close to the phone for communication with the ERC. If no voice is heard, Campus Security and Emergency Services staff respond immediately.

All calls from Emergency Phones receive the highest priority response. Security Supervisors and any other nearby Security staff are immediately dispatched to the scene and will search the surrounding vicinity if no one is sighted when they arrive. For this reason, it is vital that people do not maliciously activate these phones as they can take security personnel away from genuine emergency situations.

While the presence of these phones cannot guarantee your safety, they do provide an effective method of getting help in an emergency situation. The phones are intended to be used in any situation where you feel threatened or anxious, if you witness an accident or a crime, or if you wish to be escorted. Make yourself familiar with the location of the blue lights along the routes you typically walk. If you begin to feel uneasy, concerned, or afraid, don't hesitate to use them.

Assistance Phones

These phones assist in a more direct manner than ordinary telephones. No coins are needed; just lift the receiver and press the appropriate service. The Assistance phones offer direct lines to:

• Security
• Safe Walk Service
• Walkhome Service
• Taxi Service (one specific company)
• Kingston Access Bus

In a crisis situation, the fastest way to contact security is to push #1 (no need to wait for the voice message to finish). However, if no buttons are pushed, the line will automatically connect to Security after about one minute. The phone indicates to the ERC the exact location of the call. If no voice is heard, the situation is considered an emergency, and Security staff are immediately dispatched to the location of the phone.

Pay Phones

Pay Phone can be used for free to contact Campus Security and Emergency Services. Just lift the receiver, press the button labeled "Campus Security", and you will be connected to the Emergency Report Center. As well, all pay phones can dial the Emergency Report Center (613-533-6111) free of charge.

This program was launched initially as a part of Campus Security’s vision to increase our visibility on campus and to decrease our response time to situations requiring our assistance. To date, we have received a number of favourable comments from students and staff expressing their support for this program. Together with the greater Queen’s community, we will continue working to maintain the safety of Queen’s campus for all students, staff, and visitors.

Look for Security Bike Patrols specifically during Orientation Week and Homecoming. Should you require our assistance at any time, do not hesitate to stop us or you can call Campus Security's Emergency Report Centre at 613-533-6080.

Campus Security provides contract security to university departments and affiliated groups on a limited basis to monitor campus events or for other specialized purposes. Please note that there is a three-hour minimum commitment for Campus Security contracts.

Campus Security can also arrange to provide Kingston Police Constables for special events on campus. Please note that there is a four-hour minimum commitment for Kingston Police contracts.

Longer term contract security can also be arranged through Campus Security based on the needs of the department or organization making the request.

Campus Security requires notice of five business days for small events that require one or two Security Patrols, and ten business days for larger events that require Security Supervisors or several Security Patrols.

Please note that certain conditions and restrictions may apply to contract security. Contracts are limited to Queen's University campus only. As Queen's University is considered private property, any contract security must be booked and coordinated through Campus Security acting on behalf of the university. Campus Security reserves the right to determine appropriate staffing levels for any event or refuse contracts on the basis of staff safety and availability. Kingston Police also reserve the right to determine appropriate staffing levels for any event or refuse contracts on the basis of Officer safety or availability.

All accounts are due within 30 days of the date of invoice.

Rates for May 1 2023 - April 30 2024

• Security Patrollers (part-time, casual) - $28.50* per person/hour ($42.75* per person/hour for Statutory holidays and for hours that qualify as overtime).

• Security Practitioners (full‐time) ‐ $37.00* per person/hour,  $55.50* per person/hour for hours that qualify as overtime, and $74.00* on Sundays (Double Time)

• Supervisors ‐ $52.00* per person/hour, $78.00* per person/hour for hours that qualify as overtime, and $104.00* on Sundays (Double Time)

*$50.00 administration fee for Security Contracts.

Campus Security reserves the right to substitute staff subject to availability and operational requirements.  *13% HST applies to organizations external to Queen's University.

Vehicle travel expenses for contract security beyond main and west campuses may be recovered at a rate of $0.55 per kilometer.  Rental vehicle expenses may also be recovered in their entirety as per requirements.

Contract Security Request Form

The Campus Watch program is a joint initiative by Campus Security and Environmental Health and Safety (EHS). Currently, there are over 140 volunteer Safety Officers at Queen’s, reporting to the Director of Environmental Health and Safety. Each of these officers is responsible for a building, unit or area on campus. Their duties include safety inspections, recommending enhancements to health and safety measures and acting as a conduit for safety related information between their unit and EHS.

The Campus Watch program adds security issues to their current terms of reference. Safety Officers will now have the following additional responsibilities:

• Ensure all individuals in their building, unit or area know that they are the Campus Watch representative and that they should bring their security concerns to them, or directly to Campus Security.
• Report any crimes or security concerns to Campus Security.
• Receive and circulate security related information to all unit personnel. Such information will include security alerts and warnings, crime prevention posters and brochures, and notification of training or educational opportunities such as self defense training. To facilitate this, the Safety Officer email list will subscribe to the security Alert-L list.
• Monitor the crimes and trends reported for their area and advise Campus Security of any concerns. An example would be an increase in thefts over a certain period.
• Recommend improvements to existing security measures to Campus Security and your unit head.
• Act as the on-site unit coordinator in emergencies or disasters involving their building, unit or area. The role of the coordinator would be to assist Campus Security or other emergency services in restoring and maintaining a safe environment. Specific tasks could involve assisting with building evacuation in the case of a bomb threat, fire or toxic spill, identifying unit personnel and keeping the department or unit head informed of the situation.

This system allows for quick and effective distribution of security related information, especially alerts, throughout the Queen’s community. It also provides all faculty, staff and students with an individual in their workplace to turn to with security concerns who can then work with both the unit head and Campus Security to enhance their internal security measures. The result is a safer and more secure campus.

If you work alone at night, on weekends or holidays, feel free to phone the Emergency Report Center (ERC) at 613-533-6080 and report:

• where you are working,
• how long you will be there,
• and the phone number of the closest phone.

The ERC Operator will ask you:

• to call again before you leave,
• approximately what time you expect to be leaving your work space,
• and if you would like a security escort at that time.

If you do not call at the end of your work period, security staff will come and check on you.

You can now use the "Work Alone" feature on the SeQure app and set up automated monitoring.  This feature is only available on campus, location services and notifications must be turned on to use this service.

The User creates a profile, and selects:

• an emergency contact
• time period for check ins
• intervals for check ins

If the user fails to check in when prompted by the app, with in 5 mins, the emergency contact will be called and and provided location information and options for checking on the user.

Download the SeQure app today.

AMS Walkhome

Walkhome is a service provided by the Alma Mater Society that offers safe walks to students, both on the Queen’s campus and within the Kingston community.

Stop by the kiosk in the John Deutsch University Centre (JDUC), or call 613-533-WALK (9255). View hours of operation.

Website: walkhome.ca

Safe Walk

Campus Security provides escorted walks from one point on campus to another for staff, faculty and students when Walkhome is off duty. This service is provided at any time, day or night, all year round.

Anyone who wishes to be escorted can call 613-533-6080. Security Staff will be sent to meet you and will escort you to your destination.

Campus Security and Emergency Services offers various types of training for faculty, staff and students.

Verbal Intervention Training

Verbal Intervention Training will provide you with the skills and knowledge you need to recognize and manage crisis behaviours you may encounter in your office or the classroom.  This half-day course is facilitated by CSES staff who have been trained by The Crisis Prevention Institute. 

Program Objectives:

• Identify and know how to respond to various levels of crisis behaviours.

• Recognize how to manage your own consistent, calm behaviour in order to influence a positive outcome in a crisis situation.

• Learn strategies to strengthen nonverbal communication.

• Develop limit-setting strategies when verbal intervening to de-escalate defensive behaviours.

• Learn intervention strategies to maximize safety and minimize harm.

• Explore a framework to help guide staff and the individual in distress through a process of re-establishing the relationship.

Campus Security and Emergency Services has partnered with Human Resources to make Verbal Intervention Training more accessible to University staff.

For more information, contact the Manager, Security Risk and Training, Murray Skeggs at 613-533-6733 or email murray.skeggs@queensu.ca.

The Working Mind

The Working Mind (TWM) is an evidence-based program designed by the Mental Health Commission of Canada to promote mental health and reduce the stigma around mental illness in the workplace. The workshop has two types, one for Employees and one for Managers (anyone who supervises staff or leads a team). By taking the course, all participants will learn to:

• understand mental health and mental illness
• recognize signs and indicators of mental health and mental illness in yourself and others
• reduce stigma and recognize negative attitudes toward people with mental health problems
• support colleagues with mental health problems
• maintain your mental health and improve your resilience.

In addition to the above, the Manager course will teach you to:

• support your employees’ mental health and well-being
• enable all employees to be more fully productive
• ensure the workplace climate respects and involves all employees, including those with mental health problems
• encourage employees to seek support for mental health challenges.

Queen’s staff can find posted workshops on the Human Resources’ Learning Stream site. Departments interested in training together as a group can reach out to facilitator Merideth Smith at Merideth.smith@queensu.ca for more information and to set up a workshop.

Security Awareness Training

If you would like to know more about the services and programs offered by Campus Security, or what you can do to keep yourself and your property safe on or off campus, we would be happy to have one of our senior staff speak to your group.

Please contact the Manager, Security Risk and Training, Murray Skeggs at 613-533-6733 or email murray.skeggs@queensu.ca to arrange a training session that meets the specific security awareness needs of your group.

If you have concerns about the physical security of your building, department, office, classroom or lab, we can perform a physical security survey of your facility and advise you on the options available to you to enhance your physical security. We can provide advice and guidance on physical layout, security systems such as alarms, access control systems or CCTV and internal procedures to enhance physical security.

For CCTV inquiries, contact Manager, Security Operations Joel Keenleyside at joel.keenleyside@queensu.ca

View the Lost or Stolen Wallet Checklist

The Campus Security and Emergency Services department takes possession of numerous lost and found items during the year. When we receive wallets, purses, or any article that provides an indication of who the owner is, we will endeavor to contact the owner as soon as possible.

• Contact: lost.found@queensu.ca
• Where: Lost & Found is located in the Security office at 355 King St West, 1st floor.
• When: Hours of operation: Monday to Friday, 8:30 am – 4:00 pm

When claiming a lost article, please have photo identification with you.

Campus Security will hold on to property for a period of one month. After one month, any unclaimed property is sent to a local charity or disposed of. 

*Bank cards, and credit cards are shredded within 7 days due to privacy and security concerns.

Other places on campus where you can check for lost items:

• John Deutsch University Centre Information Desk: Room 202 (Second floor)
• For student ID cards: Registrar's Office in Gordon Hall

When emailing the Lost and Found regarding your item, please include the following information.

Subject line: Lost and Found Report

Name:

Email:

Daytime Phone:

Evening Phone:

Type of Item (i.e. clothing, books, electronics, jewelry, etc.):

Date Lost:

Area or Building it was Lost (or Found) in:

Detailed Description:

Note: Due to the volume of Lost Item reports we receive, only those people whose items have been recovered will be contacted.
(i.e., we do not respond to Lost Item reports to tell people that their items have not been found.)

Queen's First Aid is an on-call and event-based service for First Aid assistance, providing prompt response that is both confidential and free of charge. Dispatched by our Emergency Report Centre, they have been trained to the level of Emergency First Responder, Oxygen Administration, and Brigade-Training System Level 1, on top of current Standard First Aid and Level C CPR certifications. They also offer standard First Aid and CPR courses and recertification.

To request their on-call service, contact the Emergency Report Center at 613-533-6111, or use any blue light emergency phone. This service is available 24/7 during the regular academic year, excluding Thanksgiving weekend, Reading Week, and exam periods.

For more information, check out their website: queensfirstaid.com.