Blackbird Security has managed to find itself the subject of human rights complaint involving the Suppers Drug Mart store in Ottawa’s Rideau Centre.  Their security guard aggressively pursued a law-abiding black make throughout the store.  His main intent was to buy milk, maybe some chips and first aid supplies.  But, all he left with that day was the humiliation of a Black Security guard who admitted to following him.   

A Shopper Shoppers Drug Mart manager there said that he was ‘simply doing his job” as if that meant following any black make who ventured in their store.  However, an employee at the store said that Ray was not the first complainant of such racially profiling behaviour by Blackbird Security.

Blackbird Security has been linked to allegations of racism through a 2020 human rights complaint filed by an Indigenous father and daughter in Coquitlam, B.C., who accused a company security guard of racial profiling. The complaint alleges the guard singled them out and demanded to search a backpack.

Key Details of the Allegations

• Targeted Incident: Heiltsuk members Richard and Dawn Wilson alleged they were singled out by a Blackbird Security guard at a Canadian Tire store in January 2020.
• Allegations of Profiling: The complaint states that while the guard demanded to search Richard Wilson's backpack, security footage showed non-Indigenous shoppers with similar bags were not stopped.
• Restorative Action: The Heiltsuk Nation is holding Blackbird Security and Canadian Tire to account, seeking a restorative justice approach, including a potential healing ceremony, as reported by Strong as Cedar.
• Company Response: Blackbird Security's diversity and inclusion policy states they do not discriminate or profile based on race, and they claim to have over 5% Indigenous representation in their workforce.

The case has drawn attention to the need for increased oversight of private security guards, who are often accused of racial profiling without the same public accountability as police.