Contact(s)
City of Orillia General Enquiries
50 Andrew Street South
Suite 300, Orillia
Ontario L3V 7T5
Phone: 705-325-1311
Fax: 705-325-5178
Map to this Location
Email Contact
View City of Orillia Website
Security Camera Rebate Program Overview
SCRAM Program Overview
The new Security Camera Registry and Mapping (SCRAM) Program is a community based crime prevention opportunity that enlists the help of Orillia residents and businesses. This program allows community members to voluntarily identify their residential or business video surveillance location through a simple and secure online form located on the City of Orillia website. Identified addresses will be mapped on a database of surveillance camera locations for officers to quickly and effectively direct resources when investigating criminal offences in neighbourhoods.
For more information on the SCRAM Program, please see the Frequently Asked Questions below.
Already own a security camera and want to register it? Register your camera with SCRAM.
Security Camera Rebate Program Overview
The Security Camera Rebate Program creates a rebate for residents and businesses to purchase and install security camera systems on their property and register them using the SCRAM Program. This program is intended to help deter crime and assist law enforcement with investigations.
The program provides a rebate of up to 50% of the value of the installed security camera system to a maximum of $500 per property address. The rebate is exclusively for the cost of the camera(s) and does not include installation, additional storage, repairs, accessories or any cameras that are purchased but not installed on the exterior of the building.
Camera systems must be purchased/installed on the building after April 1, 2021, and before all available funds are expended. Any costs that are incurred either before the start of the project period or after the expiration of the project period are not permissible.
For more information on the Security Camera Rebate Program, and to review eligibility criteria, please see the Frequently Asked Questions below.
Recently purchased a new camera system or are planning on purchasing one? Apply for the Security Camera Rebate Program.
Frequently Asked Questions
| Why should I register my cameras? |
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When police investigate a crime, officers often canvass neighbourhoods or plazas for security camera footage that may have captured images of suspects or criminal activity. This is a lengthy process requiring time and resources. When you register your cameras, officers can see who in the area may have captured footage and can ask them directly for help. In an investigation where every second counts, this proactive step could be crucial in helping to solve a case, make an arrest, recover property, or even save a life. Helpful details when registering include number of cameras, camera location, line of sight, video retention times and the capability of sharing footage. |
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I already have a camera system installed at my property. Can I register the existing system? |
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Yes, and we encourage you to do so. All eligible existing camera systems can be registered with SCRAM. Only new systems purchased and installed since April 1, 2021 are available for the Security Camera Rebate Program. |
| Does registering with SCRAM allow police to monitor my security cameras? |
| No. The registry is simply a database of residential or commercial addresses at which security cameras are located. Officers must still seek permission to use security footage as evidence in an investigation. |
| Will information about my address or cameras be shared publicly? |
| No. Any information collected from registrants will remain confidential. Addresses are plotted on a map used by police to identify cameras that may have captured activity pertinent to a criminal investigation. The map is not made available publicly. |
| Do I have to provide footage when requested by the police? |
| No. At all times, your participation remains completely voluntary. Police are hopeful that members of the registry will be willing to provide footage when contacted, but there is no requirement to participate. If there is an investigation near your camera, you may be contacted to ask if you are willing to share any relevant footage, but you can decline at any point. |
| How do I remove my cameras from the registry? |
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If you previously registered security cameras and wish to remove them from the registry, you may unregister your cameras by sending an email to psb@orillia.ca. Once you receive an email response, please follow the instructions provided to unregister. If you are a new owner/tenant of a residence or business at which cameras were previously registered and wish to unregister those cameras, please send an email to psb@orillia.ca with the subject line "Security Camera - Unregister". In the email, include the complete address of the residence or business at which the cameras are registered. |
| How will I share the footage from my system with police? |
| The police will not physically remove any of your equipment. Officers will provide you with a storage device and ask that you extract the data on site, at your convenience, and provide it to them. |
| Who is eligible for the Security Camera Rebate Program? |
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Applications can be submitted by an owner or tenant of a property that is used as a residence or business located in the City of Orillia where a security camera system is installed on the exterior of the building. Only one security camera system per property address is eligible. |
| I am a tenant but would like to purchase a camera system. Am I eligible for the Security Camera Rebate Program? |
| Yes. If you are not the property owner, you must submit a statement from the legal property owner at the address where the security camera system will be installed verifying that you have permission to install the security camera system and make an application for the Security Camera Rebate Program. |
| How much of a rebate am I eligible for? |
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Applicants are eligible for a rebate of up to 50% of the value of the installed security camera system up to a maximum of $500 per property address registered under the SCRAM Program. For example, if you purchase a security camera system for $250, you are eligible for a rebate of $125. As another example, if you purchase a security camera system in the amount of $1,500, you are eligible for a rebate of $500. |
| How long is the rebate camera program being run for? |
| The Security Camera Rebate Program will be in effect until all allocated funds are used. The Orillia Police Services Board has initially allocated $25,000 for the project. |
| When can I apply for the Security Camera Rebate Program? |
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Intake of applications for the rebate program will be accepted four times per participating year with an application deadline of the last day of January, April, July and October. Once applications have been received, they will be reviewed at the next Orillia Police Services Board meeting. |
| If I purchase a system, do I automatically qualify for a rebate? |
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No. All eligible applications received will be reviewed by a Review Panel to ensure they are assessed equitably and consistently. If the application is deemed complete and eligible, it will be assessed by a Review Panel against program eligibility requirements. Successful applicants will receive their rebate cheque in the mail or via Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT). Please note that applications will be considered on a first come/first serve basis with the exception that priority consideration will be given to properties located within certain areas that include: - Mississaga Street from Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital to the Port of Orillia - Colborne Street from Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital to Front Street; and - West Ridge Boulevard between Frost Court and Hunter Valley Road. |
| What type of system should I buy? |
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The camera system must: - meet minimum technical and video quality specifications; - retain video footage for ideally at least forty-eight (48) hours;
- be installed on the exterior of a building and
- be designed for the outdoors with weatherproofing as opposed to modifying a camera designed for indoor use.
Applicants are responsible for keeping their camera system functional. A broken or dysfunctional camera may also constitute a compliance issue, so applicants are strongly encouraged to address such issues as soon as possible. |
| What technical and video specifications does my system need to have? |
| Please review this chart for information on technical and video system specifications. |
Privacy Information
Privacy Considerations:
Private sector privacy laws require that organizations' need to conduct video surveillance must be balanced with the individual's right to privacy, which includes the right to lead their lives free from scrutiny.
To help organizations achieve compliance with private sector privacy legislation, the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Canada has developed Guidelines which set out the principles for evaluating the use of video surveillance and for ensuring that its impact on privacy is minimized. These Guidelines apply to overt video surveillance of the public by private sector organizations in publicly accessible areas.
The Board has also developed a checklist below to assist businesses in assessing whether they have met their privacy obligations prior to apply for the Security Camera Rebate Program. Please note this checklist is a tool for information only and does not constitute a legal document. The Board does not assess this information and is unable to certify whether a business has met its legal obligations under privacy or any other legislation. For additional information on how businesses must satisfy privacy obligations, the Board recommends contacting a legal professional or the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner.
Privacy Planning Checklist for Businesses:
- Has your business experienced incidents that warrant surveillance?
- Does your business have a written policy regarding surveillance?
- What kind of surveillance does your business plan to use/currently use (i.e. video, audio, other).
- Will you post a clear, understandable notice about the use of cameras that is visible before individuals enter the premises?
- In what areas of your business will cameras be installed?
- How will your business limit collection of unnecessary personal information through camera placement?
- How will your business limit access and prevent unauthorized viewing of the footage?
- Will the data collected from the cameras be encrypted?
- Will the data collected from the cameras be available through an online connection or on-site or both?
- Will the data collected from the cameras be stored on an encrypted local device or a third party server or both?
- How will the data collected from the cameras be destroyed?
This checklist is provided as an informational tool to assist business owners in complying with privacy legislation. Please complete and retain this checklist for your own records.
If you have any further questions about the SCRAM or Security Camera Rebate Programs, please contact:
The City of Orillia Police Services Board's website includes links to web pages or sites operated by third parties that will take you away from our site to destinations over which we have no control. Our privacy statement does not apply to the sites of third parties and we do not assume any responsibility for the actions of third parties. We encourage you to review the policies of these sites yourself upon your arrival.
We attempt to make our website documents accessible. However, some of these documents may not completely meet AODA accessible requirements. If you require assistance or communication supports, please contact the Board office at 705-325-2310.
