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The Smith Investigation Agency Inc.

Expert private investigators. The experience you deserve.

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Women in Business

A Private Investigation Agency in Canada


The Smith Investigation Agency Inc. is a nationally renowned, multi-year-award-winning Canadian private investigation agency. We are the largest female-owned private investigation agency in Canada, offering effective and tailored business-to-business investigative services for corporate, legal and insurance industries. In addition, we offer our private investigation services for individuals.

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Our private investigators ensure discretion in their work. Whether they’re investigating a personal affair or a corporate issue, they are thorough and offer peace of mind. These experienced professionals utilize a range of techniques in their work, including but not limited to surveillance, locate – skip tracing background checks, cyber investigations, T.S.C.M. (debugging service) & more.

We’re dedicated to quality, accurate investigations, which is why we also offer training for private investigators online. During the online course, students learn the basics of the profession, the techniques used, gain a fundamental understanding of criminal and civil law, and more. Our aim is to ensure the field is rich in available top-notch private investigators with a breadth of knowledge and skills.

With over 25 years of combined investigative experience and a long history of superior results, we boldly stand on working with the most skilled and accomplished private investigators, who handle each file with care and attention to detail because our clients deserve no less. Our agency is proud to be accredited with an A+ rating at the Better Business Bureau and maintain a 5 Star Rating on Google!

We understand that discretion is vital when it comes to surveillance and on all cases we work with, which is why all of our investigators maintain a clear channel of communication, integrity and confidentiality when conducting your investigation. Our strong commitment to exceptional customer service and outstanding results is what drives us to exceed your expectations – in every case.

From the east to the west coast and in between, we have your private investigative needs covered. We offer Private Investigator services in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario and Nova Scotia. In Ontario, we are located in Toronto, Mississauga, Ottawa, Barrie and more. In Alberta, we operate in Calgary and Edmonton. In Nova Scotia, we operate in Halifax – Dartmouth. In Saskatchewan, we operate in Saskatoon and Regina. In British Columbia, we operate in Vancouver, Surrey, Abbotsford, Kelowna and Victoria as well as throughout the province. If you need clarity today, The Smith Investigation Agency is here to help. Investigations are our passion and discretion our guarantee. The Smith Investigation Agency is a faith-based Christian private investigations firm.

Private Investigation Services


Our specialized surveillance department offers a variety of surveillance services for businesses, the legal sector and private individuals. We regularly provide WSIB Investigations, Fraud Investigations, Insurance Investigations and Corporate Investigations, as well as Family Investigations including Infidelity and Child Custody Investigations. No matter your need for surveillance our team can get you the results that you need throughout Canada.

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Our investigative research department is first-rate and can assist in cases of any kind and all levels of difficulty. We thrive on the challenge and continually push our skill level. With our agency being national it also assists as we have more information available to us and more resources in the provinces we service. Locating people throughout Canada is our goal, and we want to assist you in your skip tracing needs. Learn more about our skip trace and locate services.

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No matter your reason for a background check our team can help. We have the resources, knowledge and skill to obtain the information you need to put your mind at ease and have the facts. There is no reason to live in the unknown any longer. A Background Check from our Private Investigators is precisely what you need to make informed decisions in your business, personal life or with family matters. We can customize a background check to fit your needs. Learn more about our background check services.

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A career in private investigation is not only personally rewarding but also intellectually and financially enticing. Take a look at our private investigator training page for further details on training and to purchase our investigator training course. This is one industry that will have all your friends talking and keep you on your toes daily. For more information on our private investigation training.

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Assets searches are especially important when going through a divorce or when uncovering if a company can support itself financially and it's trustworthy. Our team can help you uncover the net worth of someone who is lying to avoid making a payment. Learn more about our assets searches services.

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Social media intelligence (SMI or SOCMINT) refers to the collective tools and solutions that allow organizations to monitor social channels and conversations, respond to social signals and synthesize social data points into meaningful trends and analysis based on the user’s needs. SMI allows us to complete a social media search with search engines and the deep web dive, to comprise a full report for our clients. Learn more about our social media monitoring services.

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Technical Surveillance Countermeasures (TSCM) is a service provided by a professional team to help keep your home, office, and other spaces secure from those who wish you or your business harm. Our team has highly trained and educated TSCM Specialists with 30+ years of experience with the right equipment and certifications for the job. Learn more about our TSCM services.

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As technology is rapidly growing, the need for organizations and individuals to embrace IT solutions is necessary. Every organization or person's need for cyber investigations will vary. We can offer a wide variety of cyber investigations such as OSINT Investigations, Penetration testing, Digital forensics, Incident response, Phishing Campgans, Cybersecurity training and more. We use industry-leading experts to develop a custom-tailored solution for each client's needs.

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Our Private Investigation Philosophy


Facts

In all cases, you deserve to know the truth and have the facts. Our team of professional private investigators will obtain the information you require. We believe that trust is not a given, it is something to be earned. If you suspect your trust has been broken, then our private investigators will help put your mind at ease.

Confidentiality

We understand that hiring a Private Investigator for some is not as easy as for others. Our team of expert private investigators understand that every case is different, but our policy on confidentiality and discretion remains the same. Hiring a private investigator often comes with the concern of someone finding out. With The Smith Investigation Agency’s track record of complete discretion, that fear quickly gets dissolved.

Compliant

Our team of highly qualified investigators will not only complete your file with discretion and expertise, but your case will be handled appropriately as per the laws and rules regarding Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA), the Privacy Law Act and Evidence Law Act.

Customer Reviews

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Consumer Choice Award Winners 6 Years In A Row!


The Smith Investigation Agency Inc. since day one has taken a proud stance on the fact that “We Think Different.” We want to not only be a positive change and service to our clients but a positive change in our industry and community. We have won various awards within the industry, but the Consumers Choice Award for Business Excellence certainly stands out and we are thankful to have won this award 6-years in a row. Thank you to all of our customers and clients, and we vow to continue offering the best investigative services in Toronto, Ontario. As well as in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Nova Scotia. Thank you!

Frequently Asked Questions

Certified private investigators in Canada are professionals governed by rules set out by various acts, including PIPEDA, the Ministry of the Solicitor General, and other governing bodies. They are permitted to carry out carefully managed investigative services for private individuals and businesses in a discreet, law-abiding manner in accordance with these regulations.
Our fully certified and legal team of private investigators can perform many services, including the following (click on any of the links below to learn more about each of them):

Private investigators in Canada are permitted to carry out services such as surveillance for a variety of clients which include insurance and legal claims along with legal and corporate fraud cases. They conduct surveillance for family and personal matters as well such as child custody situations, family wellness checks and investigating cheating spouses. In addition, we also locate individuals, perform thorough background checks, conduct asset searches and do investigative research. Completing all in a law-abiding manner. Contrary to the image that popular culture and entertainment media paints of these professionals, there are legal limitations to what they can and cannot do, again governed by strict privacy and security laws. These laws differ in Canada from those in the United States in a variety of ways as well.

In order to become a private investigator, you must first have no criminal record, and you must meet minimum age requirements. Second, you need to have completed a training program approved by the Ministry where you reside. In Ontario for instance you would work with the Solicitor General to obtain an Ontario Private Investigator license. We offer this training for those who wish to become private investigators, security guards, or hold a dual license. In Ontario, a minimum of 50 hours of training is required in addition to passing the exam before you’ll be able to apply for your license if all other criteria are met. Upon receiving your license, you must operate out of a fully licensed private investigation agency, such as us at The Smith Investigation Agency.

Absolutely! The only thing to bear in mind is that one needs to be realistic about which services they expect a private investigator to perform. The role is very different from the version depicted in movies or on television. We must adhere to federal and provincial operating regulations, a wide array of Acts, and otherwise. Therefore, should we decline a specific request, it’s almost certainly due to it not falling within our legally permissible operations. In other cases, we may only be able to get so far with limited information, but we’ll do our utmost to deliver optimal results. In addition, by operating legally and as a certified private investigative agency, the evidence we obtain can be entered into legal proceedings.

The primary action a private investigator is permitted to carry out, within legal regulations, is to monitor an individual’s actions and report on their activities. They can also obtain information via public records, and select private databases outside the public eye, but it’s crucial to be aware that they cannot obtain sensitive data pertaining to the government, CRA, disability, welfare, or other similar sources. If you’re unsure whether we can meet your needs, don’t be afraid to discuss your private investigative requirements with us – we’re happy to do so in a discreet manner that safeguards your privacy and security. That way, it’s easier to make an informed decision.

There are ways that we can legally obtain select pieces of information pertaining to an individual’s finances, but we do know that there are limitations. For example, a private investigator is not allowed to get ahold of private bank statements, and you should avoid agencies offering this at all costs as they are therefore not operating legally. Instead, we may be able to determine whether someone is hiding assets through other resources as permitted by law. Whether you need us for a fraud investigation, an asset search, or to look into an insurance claim conflict, we’re here to help in any way we can.

The price of hiring a private investigator not only varies depending on the time they put into the work, how they charge and other individual factors, but also the agency itself. For instance, with us, we promise to deliver the quality and professionalism that you pay for, going above and beyond for each client to ensure optimal results even with legal and/or information access limitations. Evidence is obtained with care to ensure it can be used in your legal defence or argument, communications are transparent between us but discreetly keep the outside world out, and any surveillance duties we perform are handled with care and respect for all involved parties.

Private investigators, as already detailed, can fulfill a wide array of duties in accordance with governing privacy and security laws, among other regulations. Compliance is crucial if one is to operate as a professional, dependable private investigator. We cannot use firearms, hack into computers or smartphones, request sensitive data from bodies like the CRA, trespass on private property, or follow through with other unrealistic propositions. We must operate legally, proactively, and very much discreetly, both to protect ourselves and our clients.

Our Blog


Are Private Investigators Legal in Canada?

Are Private Investigators Legal in Canada? You’re likely familiar with Hollywood portrayals of Private Investigators that would lead you to wonder if they’re even legal in Canada. It’s a fair question given how unrealistic tv and films make PIs look (think James Bond, Nancy Drew, and just about any tv-star-PI posing as a murder detective). …

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2023 Infidelity Statistics: Are Men or Women more likely to cheat? Plus, a Behind-the-Scenes story of a PI Catching a Cheater in the Act

Some of the most adrenaline-packed–if not heart-wrenching, to say the least-files a private investigator can find themself on is an infidelity surveillance case. A suspected cheating spouse/partner, lies, cover-ups, and sneaking around. At the same time, these can be some of the most satisfying cases to crack – as a PI has to out-sly the …

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Four Benefits of Choosing TSCM Services

Some industries require their employees to deal with sensitive and proprietary information. As a result, some companies might try to steal that data by bugging your phone or setting up monitoring equipment to keep an eye on you. Technical Surveillance Countermeasures (TSCM) is a service provided by qualified professionals to help keep your home, office, …

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Our Service Areas


No matter the location throughout Canada The Smith Investigation Agency is the pragmatic choice when searching for the best private investigative firm.

British Columbia

British Columbia

Alberta

Alberta

Manitoba

Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan

Manitoba

Ontario

Ontario

Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia