A security guard uniform in Canada typically includes a crested uniform shirt, cargo pants, a duty belt kit, tactical boots, and body armour where the site calls for it. Across the provinces, the uniform generally has to identify the wearer clearly as security and must not resemble a police uniform. The specific rules, like required wording, placement and identification, are set by each province, so always confirm current requirements with your employer or provincial regulator.
Below is what goes into a complete uniform, what the rules generally cover, what's specific to Ontario, and how security companies can outfit a whole team without the back-and-forth.
What a Security Guard Uniform Includes
Most security uniforms in Canada are built from the same core pieces. Exact colours and extras depend on the company and the site.
- Uniform shirt: crested with the company logo and a SECURITY identifier on the chest and shoulders. Short sleeve, long sleeve and moisture-wicking polos are all common.
- Cargo pants: durable, with pockets for gloves, a memo book and keys on long foot patrols.
- Duty belt kit: an inner and outer belt with keepers, plus the gear the post requires, such as a handcuff pouch, radio holder and flashlight holder.
- Tactical boots or duty footwear: built for 8 to 12 hour shifts on concrete, and CSA-approved where the site requires safety footwear.
- Body armour: depending on the site and its risk level. Protection levels vary widely by product, so match the armour to the post.
- Patches and an identification tag, as your province requires.
- Memo book for incident notes, carried on every shift.
What the Rules Generally Require Across Canada
Private security is regulated provincially, so there's no single national uniform standard. Most provincial rules share three themes:
- Clear identification as security. The word SECURITY, and often the company name or logo, has to be visible on the uniform.
- No resemblance to police. Features associated with police uniforms are restricted.
- Licensing and identification. Guards must be licensed and carry or display identification as their province requires.
Each province has its own legislation. Ontario has the Private Security and Investigative Services Act, British Columbia the Security Services Act and Regulation, Alberta the Security Services and Investigators Act, and Quebec the Private Security Act, overseen by the Bureau de la sécurité privée. For bilingual sites or Quebec teams, French SÉCURITÉ patches are available.
Ontario Security Guard Uniform Rules
Ontario's uniform requirements fall under the Private Security and Investigative Services Act and its uniforms regulation. In general:
- The word SECURITY or SECURITY GUARD must be displayed on the uniform in the places and sizes the regulation sets out.
- The uniform must include an identification tag showing the licensee's name, licence number, or both.
- The uniform must not include police-style features, such as rank chevrons, a police-style forage cap, or stripes down the side of the trousers.
Ontario has also proposed updates to its uniform and equipment rules. Before finalizing a uniform spec, check the Government of Ontario's private security and investigative services page for the rules currently in force.
Dressing for Canadian Seasons
A uniform that works in July won't get a guard through January. For GTA summers, moisture-wicking polos keep guards comfortable through humid 12-hour shifts. For winter, add a SECURITY-identified jacket, a toque, and a hi-vis layer for sites where guards work near traffic or in the dark by 5 p.m. The outer layer needs to keep the SECURITY identification visible when a guard layers up. Our winter security gear guide covers cold-weather shifts in detail, and our cold weather collection has the outer layers.
Getting Uniform Shirts Crested
Your company crest is what turns a plain shirt into your uniform. If you already have your crests, Guardian Outfitters will crest your shirts and have them ready in 3–5 business days. If you need crests made, we create custom company crests and patches. Allow 3-4 months for crest production, then 3–5 business days to put them on your shirts.
Outfitting a Whole Security Team
For a security company, the hard part isn't picking the uniform. It's ordering it again every time someone new starts. A corporate B2B account saves your crested shirts, duty gear and pricing in one online portal. Outfitting a new hire becomes a reorder, anyone on your team can place it, and a dedicated account manager handles anything custom. New hire kits bundle the essentials into a single order. See how the B2B portal works.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a security guard wear in Canada?
Typically a crested uniform shirt with SECURITY identification, cargo pants, a duty belt kit, tactical boots, and body armour where the site requires it, plus seasonal layers. Specific requirements are set by each province.
Can a security guard uniform look like a police uniform?
No. Provincial rules generally prohibit security uniforms from resembling police uniforms. In Ontario, for example, features like rank chevrons, police-style forage caps and stripes down the trousers aren't permitted.
How long does it take to get company crests on uniform shirts?
If you already have your crests, we can crest your shirts in 3–5 business days. Making new custom crests takes a few months before they can be applied.
Do you offer bulk pricing for security companies?
Yes. Licensed security companies and agencies across Canada can open a corporate account with company pricing built into the portal, along with easy reordering and a dedicated account manager.
Can I buy my own security uniform as an individual guard?
Yes. Individual guards (18+) can shop shirts, pants, duty gear and footwear online or in our store located in Toronto. If your employer has a corporate account, check with them first, since they may supply crested shirts.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Uniform rules vary by province and change over time. Confirm current requirements with your employer or provincial regulator.
Outfitting a team? Open a corporate account and get your uniforms, pricing and reorders in one place.
Gearing up for your own shift? Shop security uniforms and apparel or visit us in North York.