Meet The Face Behind CSI Security

I’m Carl W. Waddell, the proud owner of CSI Security.

I look forward to sharing my story. I hope that you will enjoy getting to know me better.

I was always passionate about helping people, so I became a firefighter in Ottawa. Consequently, assisting families in times of crisis and devastation profoundly changed the way I thought about safety and security.

I worked forty-two hours a week, but when my shifts finished, I made sure I found time for my favorite past times. I was very interested in cars and had purchased a 76 Trans-am, which I wanted to protect from getting stolen. 

It inspired me to come up with a security system that prevented the car from starting, which proved successful. So I began to install the device for friends, and it all snowballed from there.

Eventually, I met a guy who wanted a specialized remote start system installed in his car. It was complex, but I managed to achieve what was seen as high tech stuff at the time.

He was impressed with my work and requested me to install the system for his clients, including government agencies, embassy’s, and oil company executives. It was great fun, and I traveled around Canada and the USA to complete the jobs.

In 1980, I was asked by a client to install a security system in a home. I said ‘why not,’ and after completing the project, I found myself installing house alarms systems in my spare time, while still maintaining my firefighting job and car security side hustle.

Later in the ’90s, car safety started to change a lot with airbags and other devices, which made wiring complicated. So, I stopped the cars and focused on home and business security systems where the industry was expanding.

My security company continued to grow from the early eights to 2002. Also during that time, I decided to open a twenty-four-hour monitoring station, and along with my partners, grew the customer base to more than thirty-five thousand. It became the largest independent monitoring facility in Eastern Canada and Western Quebec. It was called Security 24 Monitoring Network Limited.

I later sold the monitoring station to a multi-national in 1998 and began to pursue new technology. I started to use innovative systems that send secure signals to my monitoring unit, which prevents break-ins and helps me achieve milestones. In 2002 I sold my security company to the same multi-national firm. I became their Director of Sales for Central Canada.

In 2004, I decided to leave as it was hard to work for a multi-national firm after running my own for so many years. In 2006 I opened up CSI Security and continue today to sell and install security systems.

I’ve now been in the industry for over forty years, and I’m proud that my son has joined me. While the business is growing, the industry has become more challenging, as people do not want to pay for the best systems, so I have to convince them that staying safe comes at a price.

As a result, I’m committed to quality, and as an individual, I believe what sets me apart from the others is my integrity. I would rather walk away than compromise a system with cheap equipment to win a contract.

I also attribute my success to customer service, as I enjoy meeting new people and listening carefully to understand their requirements. At the end of the day, I want my customers to have a system that is reliable, easy to use, and makes them feel safe.

So, after installing systems that provide peace of mind and perform at an optimum level for many years, it’s rewarding. Besides, when long-term clients recommend me to loved ones, it fills me with immense satisfaction.

When I’m not securing buildings, I love working on classic cars from the ’60s and 70’s and hot rods. I also tinker with modern automobiles, as there is nothing quite like driving a car with a powerful engine.

I have enjoyed sharing my story about the things that matter to me and how they influence the way I do business.

If you or someone you know could benefit from my expertise as a security camera and alarm system professional in Ottawa, I invite you to get in touch. Please visit my website at www.csisecurity.ca.

Sincerely,

Carl