Strictly speaking, Bay Lock & Security did not start as a family business, a venture handed from one generation to another. Practically speaking, though, it is the epitome of a family business.

Launched in 2000, the company is owned by brothers Dennis and Richard LeBlanc. Glenn LeBlanc has been working with his brothers since 2001 and continues to be a large part of the business. The younger generation consists of Dennis’s sons Josh as purchasing and accounting clerk, and shop technician Jordi. Rich’s son Gerard is the service manager.

“We are very proud to be considered a ‘family run-business’ born and raised here in our community,” Dennis says.

The roots of Bay Lock & Security extend back to their grandfather Alf Miskelly, a pioneer in the local electronics industry.

“My grandpa taught me the many basics of electronics, repairing items like nurse call stations, at the age of 12,” Dennis recalls.

One of the Lakehead’s first security companies, Miskelly’s Electronics started in 1969. In the summer of 1979, as a 14-year-old, Dennis began working with older brother Glenn, who provided the education and training on installing security, intercom and camera systems. When Miskelly’s was sold, Dennis moved to Apex Security in the early 1990s.

When Bay Lock & Key, a longstanding locksmith company, became available in the summer of 2000, Dennis and Rich bought it. Rich was a senior technician with Apex at the time while Dennis was the Security Division General Manager.

Today, the re-named Bay Lock & Security focuses on the commercial, institutional and corporate sectors.

“As a systems integrator, we bring all aspects of security together,” Dennis explains, “from the door, frame, associated locking hardware, automatic door operators and closers, security and access control systems, along with high definition video.”

They also continue to operate the retail locksmith shop and key-cutting business located on Bay Street.

They have a staff of 13 full-time and two part-time, of whom half-a-dozen are installation and service technicians.

While expansion of the business is something they may consider, Dennis sees security as a broad and ongoing concern.

“Security is going to continue to be a major item in society for years to come,” he says.