From retail theft and repeat offenders to organized retail crime and violence in stores, the Retail Council of Canada’s (RCC) Retail Secure Conference provided an opportunity for conversation and collaboration between retailers, law enforcement, solution partners, and thought leaders from across Canada.
The day commenced with the Retail Secure Legends Awards. Created to drive awareness and appreciation for individuals in different roles within the retail industry, the Legend Awards recognized 13 recipients across three categories: Leadership Legends, Emerging Legends, and In-Store Legends. Discover the winners here.
Violence in Stores
Staff Superintendent Joe Matthews, Toronto Police Service, opened the day with an update on the state of retail crime, delving into the unprecedented levels of violent theft and the growing influence of social media on young offenders. Calandra Guiry, Canadian Tire Corporation, joined Matthews on stage to emphasize the importance of thorough investigations and coordinated strategies in addressing these escalating issues.
Global Perspectives on Body-Worn Cameras
David Pardoe, The Works Stores Ltd., and Ian Cocklin, Reveal Media, brought an international perspective to the main stage as they shared compelling data and employee testimonials from body-worn cameras on in-store personnel. Some key findings:
-
95% of The Works Stores Ltd. colleagues agreed that cameras had led to a reduction in threats from customers and improved personal well-being.
-
Personal care retailer Boots UK experienced a 68% reduction in violent and aggressive incidents in their highest-risk store.
Cybersecurity in Retail
LCBO Cybersecurity Director Neil Hopkins examined the evolving cybersecurity landscape in retail, covering threat detection, risk mitigation, and the impact of cyber incidents. Global and Canadian insights highlighted the importance of investing in secure technology and employee training.
Strategic Technological Operations
Retail leaders Daryl Blackmore, Rexall Pharmacy Group, and Dave Cheema, Best Buy Canada, sat down with Jon Briegel, Auror, to unpack the benefits of integrating enhanced retail crime intelligence into daily operations, stressing the need for early collaboration with IT and legal teams to address privacy and integration challenges.
Emerging Fraud Threats
Detective Constable John Armit, Ontario Provincial Police, delivered an eye-opening session on emerging retail fraud threats, reminding delegates that cryptocurrency is rising as the top payment method in fraud and highlighting a $67.2M business email compromise fraud loss in 2024.
Jordan Shamir, Yofi, then spoke with Anton Nebor, Aritzia, and Raj Parmar, JD Sports Fashion, about the most common frauds facing apparel retailers—chargebacks, false claims, and gift card scams—and how they’re actively addressing these challenges by reducing data silos and merging in-store and e-commerce customer profiles.
Building Cyber Resilience Against Modern Threats
In a world where 24% of retailers are targeted by cyberattacks and 49% lack a continuity plan, Chris McDonald, Veeam Software, showcased their tools for anomaly detection and disaster recovery automation, helping retailers build cyber resilience.
Proactive Incident Management
Laura Phillips, Oxford Properties Group, and Staff Sergeant Sean Cosgrove, Toronto Police Service, provided real-life examples from their successful partnership with the Yorkdale Mall. They shared with moderator Olivia Cieri, Genetec, how they’re working directly with retail tenants to create clear, collective incident response plans.
Retail Crime Without Borders
The Canada Border Services Agency displayed how international crime groups are increasingly infiltrating Canada’s retail sector, evolving their tactics to profit both locally and globally.
How Collaboration Leads to Justice
Inspector Jennifer McKinnon presented how the Winnipeg Police Service is engaging with its retail community, internal police units, Crown prosecutors, and Crime Stoppers on retail blitzes and anti-fencing operations. Gary Evaniuk, Sobeys, and Rui Rodrigues, Retail Council of Canada, joined her on stage to discuss how increased retail crime attention in community initiatives, media, and industry groups is prompting significant government support from coast to coast to coast.
Secrets of a Former Spy
“We don’t feel a hack the way we feel an attack.” Closing main stage speaker and former Intelligence Officer Andrew Kirsch made that clear as he pulled back the curtain on life in the secret service, showing delegates that while the hacking tools remain largely the same, the social engineering tactics have evolved—and information sharing is crucial to navigating this changing threat landscape.
RCC’s 2025 Retail Secure Conference showcased not just the challenges facing the industry but also the solutions, strategies, and collaborative efforts that are paving the way for a more secure future. With rising crime rates, cyber threats, and fraud schemes, it’s more important than ever for retailers to stay informed and engaged.
Missed this year’s event? Don’t make the same mistake next year. RCC’s conferences offer unparalleled insights, networking opportunities, and expert-driven strategies to help retailers stay ahead of challenges. Join us at our upcoming events to be part of the conversation and the solution.
