Most people who look for a bodyguard in Vancouver are not celebrities. They are business owners, families and individuals who have a specific reason to feel exposed: a public role, a dispute, a high-profile event, a family member who needs an extra layer of care, or simply a sense that their routine has become too predictable.
Den Protection Group provides personal protection services in Vancouver, Surrey and across British Columbia for exactly those situations. Our approach is quiet by design. A good personal bodyguard is not the largest person in the room. It is the person who has already walked the venue, planned the route, and noticed the problem before you did.
What a bodyguard does in BC (and what they do not)
In British Columbia, guarding an individual is regulated security work under the provincial Security Services Act. That shapes what professional personal protection looks like here. It is built on planning, positioning and awareness rather than force:
- Advance work. Your protection officer surveys each location before you arrive: entrances, exits, parking, who will be there and where the nearest hospital is.
- Route planning. Primary and alternate routes between home, office, school and venues, so your movements are less predictable.
- A protective presence. A calm, trained professional close to you who manages approaches, crowds and unwanted attention, and moves you away from a problem early.
- Coordination. Liaison with venue staff, drivers, your household and, when needed, emergency services.
Licensed security workers in BC are not permitted to carry firearms, and Den's protection officers in BC are unarmed. We think that is the right model for the way our clients live: protection that prevents problems rather than escalating them.
Personal protection services we provide
Every engagement starts with a confidential conversation and a threat assessment. From there, most clients choose one of three programmes, described in full on our How We Protect page.
Personal Protection
Executive Guardian
A dedicated protection officer assigned to you personally for your daily schedule, meetings, public appearances and evenings out. Your officer does the advance work on every location and stays close when it matters. Includes secure chauffeur service and 24/7 on-call emergency coverage.
Residential & Family Protection
Estate Shield
Protection for your home and the people in it: an on-site protection officer on 12 or 24-hour coverage, a weekly security audit of the property, a review of access control and cameras, secure transport for family members on request, and school-run protection for children.
Comprehensive Family Coverage
Legacy Elite
For families who need continuous coverage, a team of two to three protection officers on rotating shifts provides 24/7 protection for every member of the household, including children's activities, travel and private events, with a single point of contact at Den at all times.
Clients can also add event security for private dinners, galas and weddings, and short-term protection for a specific trip or occasion.
Who hires a personal bodyguard
- Business owners and executives with a public profile or a sensitive matter underway
- Families who want discreet protection at home, on school runs and at weekend activities
- Individuals dealing with harassment, a stalker or a difficult separation, alongside the police and legal advice
- Hosts of weddings, milestone celebrations and private events with high-profile guests
- Visitors to Vancouver who want a protection officer who knows the city
If you lead a company or need a structured protection programme for an executive team, see our page on executive protection in Vancouver and BC.
Areas we cover in Vancouver and BC
Den is based in Surrey and works across Metro Vancouver, including Vancouver, West Vancouver, North Vancouver, Burnaby, Richmond, Surrey, Delta and Langley. We also cover Whistler and travel elsewhere in British Columbia with you when your plans take you there. For families travelling from BC to visit relatives in India, read our guide: Is it safe to travel to Punjab?
How hiring a bodyguard with Den works
- 1. Confidential consultation. Tell us what is happening, who needs protection, and the dates and places involved. Everything is handled discreetly.
- 2. Threat and risk assessment. We look at your routine, locations, travel and public exposure to understand the real risks, not assumed ones.
- 3. A protection plan. We recommend the level of coverage that fits: one officer for an evening, a dedicated officer for weeks, or a family team.
- 4. Advance work and deployment. Your officer surveys the locations and routes before you arrive, then works alongside you, as close or as distant as you prefer.
- 5. Review. We debrief after each event or period of coverage and adjust the plan as your situation changes.
What a bodyguard costs in Vancouver
We do not publish standard packages or pricing, because two clients rarely need the same thing. The cost of a personal bodyguard depends on the number of officers, the hours and days covered, how much advance work and travel is involved, whether a driver and vehicle are needed, and how much notice we have. Share your requirements and we will give you a clear proposal.
For a fuller breakdown of what shapes the price, from the number of officers and hours to travel and advance work, read our guide: How much does it cost to hire a bodyguard?
Licensed in BC
Den Protection Group holds BC Security Business Licence #B7603, issued under British Columbia's Security Services Act.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to hire a bodyguard in Vancouver?
It depends on how many officers you need, for how many hours, and what the assignment involves. A single evening event with one officer costs far less than 24/7 family protection over several weeks. Advance work, travel and transport also affect the price. Den builds every proposal around your actual requirements rather than a fixed hourly package.
Can bodyguards carry guns in Canada?
In British Columbia, the Security Services Act prohibits licensed security workers from carrying firearms while working, with a narrow exception that does not apply to personal or executive protection. Bodyguards in BC are unarmed, and so are Den's protection officers here. Professional personal protection relies on planning, awareness and early avoidance of problems.
Are bodyguards legal in BC, and do they need a licence?
Yes. Personal protection is legal in BC, but guarding an individual is regulated security work. The business must hold a BC security business licence, and each person doing the work must hold a BC security worker licence. Den holds BC Security Business Licence #B7603. Before hiring any provider, ask to see their licence.
Can I hire a bodyguard for one day or a single event?
Yes. We provide short-term protection for a single day, an evening event, a wedding or a visit to Vancouver, as well as ongoing coverage. The more notice you can give, the more advance work we can do, so contact us as early as possible.
What is the difference between a personal bodyguard and executive protection?
The terms overlap. A personal bodyguard usually means one protection officer close to one person or family. Executive protection is the broader discipline, combining threat assessment, advance work, secure transport and close protection, often for business leaders and their companies. See our executive protection page for more.
Do you protect families and children?
Yes. Estate Shield covers protection at home and secure family transport, including school runs. Legacy Elite adds a rotating team so that every family member, including children, has coverage for school, activities and travel.
How do I hire a bodyguard with Den?
Use our confidential contact form or email shield@denprotection.com with the dates, locations and number of people involved, and anything that is concerning you. We respond within 24 hours.