Profile: Border Services officers

Border services officers at work

What is the Canada Border Services Agency?

It’s time to rethink what you might know about border services officers. These officers of the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) are our first line of defence in preventing inadmissible people, contraband and other illegal substances from coming into Canada and in helping our country’s economy to grow and prosper. 

Every year, nearly 100 million travellers enter Canada, over eight million commercial importations are processed and several billion dollars’ worth of duties and taxes are collected. Whether clearing travellers at an airport, X-raying packages at a postal centre or being involved in a deep-sea rummaging operation, border services officers ensure that all people and goods entering Canada comply with Canadian laws and other requirements.

For the security of Canadians

Border services officers also contribute to the fight against international terrorism and illegal immigration, and guard against the introduction of human, animal and plant diseases into Canada.

When necessary, officers carry out enforcement activities by applying various levels of sanctions, including warnings and monetary penalties, and by seizing goods and assets. In this way, they help Canadian businesses stay competitive and ensure the smooth flow of legitimate travel and trade across the border.

Advanced technologies knowledge-based job

To perform their important work, officers rely on the latest technology and techniques. For example, mobile vehicle and cargo inspection machines use gamma rays to detect contraband, weapons and other potentially dangerous goods hidden in containers. Officers use ion-mobility spectrometers to detect drugs, laser range finders to detect false walls in containers and multi-gas monitors to detect poisonous and explosive gases on marine vessels. They also use biometric (iris scanning) technology at certain airports as part of the NEXUS program so that pre-approved travellers can move quickly and securely across the border.

But technology is not the only solution. Detector dogs are an invaluable tool for officers, and they are used across Canada at air, highway, marine and rail locations to detect narcotics, firearms, currency and agricultural products that could contain harmful pests and diseases.

Extensive training for skilled employees

Border services officers receive extensive training, including use of force and firearms training, to help them detect illicit activity and behaviours and to act quickly and decisively to apprehend and stop the entry of terrorists and high-risk people. These skills have also helped officers to reunite more than 1,500 missing and abducted children with their legal guardians through Our Missing Children, a joint program of the CBSA, the RCMP, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada and the Department of Justice Canada.

So, who becomes a border services officer? Professional men and women who thrive on diversity and adventure and who are committed to public service and to protecting Canada’s national security and economic well-being. Every day, border services officers are working on the front line and behind the scenes in service to Canada and Canadians.

Careers can take many paths

The careers of border services officers can take many paths. Sandy Chatha has been an officer for 16 years at the Metro District in Vancouver and has worked in almost every aspect of border services and law enforcement. Sandy was the first female Sikh RCMP officer in Canada and the first Indo-Canadian officer to serve in a small town in Alberta in 1989. She always had an interest in immigration issues and in serving the public, so after returning to Vancouver, she decided to apply for a position as a border services officer. Sandy started her border services career at the Vancouver mail centre and then moved on to Commercial Operations. She is currently part of the Exports Team and has worked in every unit within the Warehouse and Waterfront Operations of the Metro District.

Lasting impression

Sandy’s greatest satisfaction comes from helping new immigrants when they arrive in Canada. “As border services officers, we are the first point of contact for new immigrants and visitors and we leave a lasting impression,” says Sandy. “Whether steering immigrants through the primary inspection process, or helping them fill out a form, I believe that we should leave a positive, welcoming impression and show pride in our work and our country.”

Equality and diversity

Sandy actively promotes equality and diversity and has served on the Metro Vancouver Employment Equity and Diversity Committee since its creation in 2000. As chairperson of this committee, she has inspired co-workers to join her in promoting equality and diversity in the workplace.

Law enforcement officer

The work of border services officers has many facets and it’s this diversity that draws an equally diverse group of people to the job. Take, for example, Officer Marlene Elliott who became a border services officer after completing her law degrees. Marlene always knew she wanted a career in law enforcement. “After becoming a lawyer, I realized that public service work was my real calling,” says Marlene. She came across a job poster for a border services officer and knew right away that this was the job for her. She became an officer in November 2006 and is currently working at Macdonald-Cartier International Airport in Ottawa.

Beyond the call of duty

Border Services Officers often go above and beyond the call of duty. This was certainly the case for Joel Grondin, a border services officer in the Windsor–St. Clair region who was assigned to Vehicle and Cargo Inspection System (VACIS) operations. While operating the computer inside the VACIS truck, he saw a front loader driving out of control. Officer Grondin could see that the driver appeared to be unconscious, so he quickly exited the VACIS truck and ran towards the loader. He climbed up onto the driver’s side, grabbed the steering wheel and applied the brakes, preventing the loader from going through a fence and into an area where vehicles were waiting to be cleared through border services. Through his heroic efforts, Officer Grondin saved the driver and possibly countless others from harm.

• Next: Florence Chumpuka’s professional path has taken many turns, had many bumps, and has spanned two continents. She now looks back at her accomplishments with a sense of pride.
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