Billed as the oldest security company in Canada, Victoria-based Price’s Alarms is now part of the Telus empire.
The family-owned company, which grew out of a locksmith business started in 1895, is now a division of Telus, which intends to integrate the operations over the next few months.
“This acquisition enables Telus to serve even more customers with our best-in-class security services and products for residential customers and businesses,” said Telus spokeswoman Liz Sauve in a statement.
Price’s head office is in Victoria, but it has expanded to include six other Island locations, five locations around the province and an Edmonton store.
In a letter to customers, Bob Price, president of Price’s Alarms, said Telus is committed to providing the same service that clients expected from his company, and that Telus can provide the best access to products and pricing. Price noted Telus offers automation and security services to businesses and homes across the country, and will use its wireless and fibre-optic networks to improve service to Price’s customers.
Sauve said Price’s customers will continue to access their security services just as they always have, and will continue to be supported by the team at Price’s Alarms.
It’s the latest move by Telus into the security realm.
Last year, Telus paid $700 million for ADT Security Services Canada, which the company claimed was part of a strategy to provide monitoring for fires, floods, carbon monoxide leaks, break-ins, internet-controlled automation features and remote patient care.
Companies such as Telus have noted that home-security and home-automation services are growth opportunities for their new generation of networks.
Bell Canada parent BCE Inc. bought AlarmForce Industries for about $182 million in a deal that closed in early 2018, and then sold 30,000 AlarmForce customer accounts in British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan to Telus for about $66.5 million.
Rogers Communications Inc. also offers customers home-security services.
aduffy@timescolonist.com
