Loblaw using body-worn cameras at 2 Calgary stores as part of pilot project
Loblaw is launching a pilot program that will see employees at two Calgary locations don body-worn cameras in an effort to increase safety.
"Violent encounters at retail locations across the country have increased dramatically in recent years," explained Loblaw Companies Ltd. in a statement to CTV News.
"By piloting body cameras, we continue to do what we can to protect our customers and team."
The participating Calgary stores are the Real Canadian Superstore in the East Village on Sixth Avenue S.E., and the Shoppers Drug Mart next door.
Employees will be wearing Axon Body Workforce cameras.
Rick Smith, founder and CEO of Scottsdale, Ariz.-based Axon Enterprise, says the company's mission is to use technology to reduce violence.
"What might at first seem like low-level retail crime can explode into violence. We're seeing dramatic increases of violent encounters in stores," he said in a video posted to the company's YouTube channel.
In a blog post, the company points to a National Retail Federation (NRF) survey that found 67 per cent of retailers reported an increase of aggression and violence in 2023 compared to 2022.
"Today, it's actually really difficult to be on the front lines," said Fabio De Rango, Shoppers Drug Mart owner/pharmacist, in the Axon video.
"The reality is violence against our staff members, against our team members, is at an all-time high, and the trend isn't getting better – it's getting worse."
"My employees don't feel safe," he added. "They come to work and, unfortunately, they feel scared if they're isolated or if they're in a corner of the store where they're alone."
The NRF survey found that in 2023, more than 45 per cent of retailers adjusted specific store operating hours, with nearly 30 per cent reducing or altering in-store product selections, and 28 per cent completely closing store locations, due to the rise of violence.
It's an issue that Calgary's police chief Mark Neufeld is well aware of.
"We've seen a growth in violence against police and peace officers in public spaces over the last number of years, and that's carried straight on through to private spaces, so it's definitely been an issue that we're been trying to tackle here in Calgary," he said in the Axon video.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Say it to my face': Singh confronts heckling protester on Parliament Hill
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh confronted a protester for calling him a 'corrupted bastard' on Parliament Hill on Tuesday.
Bride's family speaks as West Vancouver woman sentenced for driving SUV into wedding party
Sixty-five-year-old Hong Xu, who drove her SUV into a crowd of people celebrating a wedding at her next-door neighbour's house in West Vancouver on Aug. 20, 2022, has been sentenced under the Motor Vehicle Act for driving without due care and attention.
Why it's 'very hard' to find work in Canada
Vacancies have steadily fallen since the glut of nearly one million open posts in 2022. At the time, one in three businesses had trouble hiring staff due to a labour shortage. Since then, vacancies have dropped.
Hezbollah hit by a wave of exploding pagers and blames Israel. At least 9 dead, thousands injured
Pagers used by hundreds of members of the militant group Hezbollah exploded near simultaneously in Lebanon and Syria on Tuesday, killing at least nine people.
Sean 'Diddy' Combs jailed by judge after sex trafficking indictment
Sean 'Diddy' Combs headed to jail Tuesday to await trial in a federal sex trafficking case that accuses him of presiding over a sordid empire of sexual crimes protected by blackmail and shocking acts of violence.
Canucks' Dakota Joshua reveals he is recovering from cancer
Vancouver Canucks forward Dakota Joshua revealed Tuesday he underwent cancer treatment over the summer, and will not be ready to play when the team's training camp begins later this week.
Two people charged in murder of Halifax teen; police believe remains have been found
Halifax Regional Police believe Devon Sinclair Marsman, who disappeared in 2022, was the victim of a homicide and two people have now been charged in his death.
What is racketeering? The crime, explained
Sex trafficking, cheating scandals and mob activity may appear very different. But all fall under the broad umbrella of racketeering.
Man from Phoenix, Ariz., missing after truck plunges off Yukon bridge
Whitehorse RCMP say a man from Phoenix, Ariz., is missing after the truck he was travelling in went off a bridge and plunged into the Yukon River.