Ottawa · NCR · Close protection · Bilingual · PSISA licensed

Bodyguard Ottawa

Bilingual PSISA-licensed bodyguards and close protection officers for executives, diplomats, public figures and private clients across the National Capital Region.

Call our Ottawa team613-667-3388

PSISA licence #30000230
$5M Insurance
24/7

Why Ottawa businesses need real security

A bodyguard in Ottawa is the right service for a narrow set of situations — but when it's the right service, the difference between a competent close protection officer and an under-qualified one is enormous. The role is part risk assessment, part advance work, part driving, part communication and only occasionally part physical intervention. Hiring a bodyguard means hiring someone who can prevent the situations that other services only react to.

Vision Security provides bodyguard services across Ottawa and the NCR for executives, diplomats, public figures, family principals and visiting dignitaries. Every close protection officer holds an active PSISA security guard licence, works fluently in both languages, and is selected for the specific principal based on language, dress, vehicle proficiency and any required specialty. We work in suits, in business casual, in plain clothes — never in uniform unless specifically requested.

Ontario law restricts armed close protection to a narrow set of permits and use cases. The vast majority of Ottawa bodyguard mandates are run unarmed, which is appropriate for the threat profile most clients face. Where armed protection is genuinely required, we coordinate with appropriately licensed partners under documented protocols.

What's included

Executive close protection

Single-officer or multi-officer details accompanying executives, board members and family principals during NCR visits.

Diplomatic close protection

Bilingual cleared bodyguards supporting visiting diplomats, embassy staff and bilateral delegations.

Public figure protection

Discreet protection for media personalities, public figures and political figures attending events in Ottawa.

Visiting dignitary support

Short-term close protection for international visitors, federal-related delegations and trade missions.

Residential close protection

Bodyguard coverage at the principal's residence — gate, interior, escort outside the property.

Travel & transport details

Airport meet-and-greet, secure ground transport in unmarked vehicles, hotel arrival coordination and movement between meetings across the city and Gatineau.

Event close protection

Discreet close protection at conferences, weddings, galas and brand activations.

Multilingual close protection

Bodyguards available in English and French (always), plus Arabic, Mandarin, Spanish, Russian and other languages on request — selected to match the principal.

Industries we serve

Executives & boards

C-suite executives, board members and founders visiting or operating in Ottawa.

Diplomats & dignitaries

Diplomatic staff, foreign government officials and bilateral delegations.

Public figures

Media personalities, athletes and political figures attending events or visiting Ottawa.

Family offices & HNW principals

High-net-worth principals requiring confidential close protection.

Federal-adjacent professionals

Senior consultants, contractors and government-relations professionals operating in sensitive matters.

Legal & high-stakes proceedings

Witnesses, executives and family members in high-profile legal proceedings.

Post-threat situations

Individuals dealing with stalking, harassment or post-incident risks requiring temporary close protection.

Private events at residences

Weddings and milestone events where one or more attendees require an on-property bodyguard.

Ottawa neighbourhoods & areas served

Centretown — Downtown core — federal departments, embassies, towers and high-rise condos. Where most of our daytime concierge and overnight commercial work runs.
ByWard Market — Historic market district — restaurants, bars, hotels, the US Embassy, condos. Heavy weekend nightlife coverage and hotel security.
Parliamentary Precinct — Wellington and surrounding streets — Parliament Hill perimeter, federal buildings, contractor support. Sensitive operations only.
Glebe — Established residential neighbourhood with significant condo and rental activity — TD Place stadium and Lansdowne event coverage.
Westboro & Hintonburg — West-end mixed-use neighbourhoods — condos, retail strips and family homes. Strong condo and concierge demand.
Rockcliffe Park & New Edinburgh — Diplomatic residences, ambassadorial homes and high-net-worth estates. Discreet residential and private security.
Sandy Hill — University of Ottawa neighbourhood, embassy row and student housing — mixed residential and institutional security work.
Vanier — Densely populated east-end neighbourhood with significant retail and rental footprint — mobile patrols and after-hours coverage.
Kanata — Tech-corridor suburb — Kanata North business park, software headquarters, Canadian Tire Centre arena, suburban condos and retail.
Orleans — East-end suburb across Highway 174 — large suburban retail centres, condos and family housing.
Barrhaven — Fast-growing south-end suburb — large retail clusters, condo developments and residential security demand.
Nepean & Bells Corners — South-west Ottawa suburbs with industrial, retail and residential mix — strong mobile patrol territory.
Gloucester & Cyrville — East-end industrial and commercial corridor — distribution centres, business parks, mobile patrol and construction security.
Stittsville & Manotick — Outer suburbs and rural-edge communities — gated estates, banquet venues and private events.
Gatineau (across the river) — Quebec-side cross-river coverage — events at the Canadian Museum of History, federal buildings and conferences. We coordinate BSP-licensed coverage on the Quebec side as needed.

Licensing & compliance

Every bodyguard Vision Security deploys in Ottawa holds an active PSISA security guard licence. Where applicable, close protection officers also hold security clearances and additional permits issued by the appropriate authorities.

Insurance & trust

Vision Security carries $5,000,000 commercial general liability and full WSIB coverage in Ontario. Higher liability limits can be arranged for specific mandates on request.

Emergency availability

Urgent staffing: Interim bodyguard typically within 4 hours, sustained close protection typically 24–48 hours after signing

When a close protection need arises suddenly, our 24/7 NCR dispatch can place an interim bodyguard typically within 4 hours and start a full sustained close protection plan typically 24–48 hours after signing.

Frequently asked questions

When does someone actually need a bodyguard in Ottawa?

Genuine close protection needs typically arise from a specific threat, an elevated public profile creating sustained exposure, or a temporary high-risk situation. Most people don't need a bodyguard. When you do, the right answer is a properly licensed PSISA officer.

Are your bodyguards licensed in Ontario?

Yes. Every bodyguard holds an active PSISA security guard licence.

Are your bodyguards bilingual?

Yes. Every bodyguard we deploy in Ottawa is bilingual. Multilingual coverage in additional languages is available on request.

Are your bodyguards armed?

Most Ottawa bodyguard work is run unarmed under PSISA, which is legally appropriate for the typical threat profile. Where armed protection is genuinely required, we coordinate with appropriately licensed partners.

How discreet is your bodyguard service?

Officers can be deployed in suits, business casual or plain clothes — never in uniform unless specifically requested.

How much does a bodyguard cost in Ottawa?

Hourly rates for PSISA-licensed close protection in Ottawa typically run $55–$110 per hour depending on the principal's profile, threat level and vehicle requirements.

Can you provide bodyguards for visiting executives, diplomats or dignitaries?

Yes. Short-term close protection for visiting principals — including airport pickup, ground transport, hotel arrival and meeting movements — is regular work for us.

How quickly can you provide a bodyguard in Ottawa?

For urgent mandates we can place a bodyguard typically within 4 hours of the intake call. Complex sustained mandates start typically 24–48 hours after signing.

The risk of hiring the cheapest security agency

When a bid comes in well below market, the savings are usually being generated somewhere illegitimate. The most common shortcuts:

Unlicensed guards. Officers without active provincial licences working under another guard's name. If anything goes wrong on site, the legal liability lands on the client.
Insurance gaps. COIs that look real but expire mid-contract, or commercial general liability limits well below what a prudent property owner would accept.
No supervision. No site visits, no log reviews, no named supervisor. Officers go ungoverned and post orders quietly stop being followed.
Cash-only payroll. Officers paid under-the-table without WSIB or CNESST coverage — illegal and a direct liability transfer to the client if an officer is injured.
National call-centre dispatch. Overnight calls go to a generic answering service that just takes a message. By the time anyone responds, the situation has escalated.

Ask any agency for: agency licence number, $5M COI naming you, training records, supervisor schedule and a 24/7 dispatch number that rings to a real person. If they can't produce all five, walk away.

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Hire a licensed bodyguard in Ottawa

Tell us about the principal, the schedule, and any specific concerns. You'll get a confidential proposal and a quote within 24 hours.