What advice would you give to aspiring women looking to make an impact? My advice is simple: don't wait for permission to do something you believe needs to be done. When I started Duncan Investigations Inc. more than 36 years ago, private investigations was very much a male-dominated industry. I had to prove myself, build credibility, and sometimes work twice as hard to be taken seriously. But I never allowed that to define what I believed I could accomplish. I've also had se

By Janie A. Duncan Private investigators can play an important role in assisting the accused or criminal defence counsel with the preparation and preservation of witness evidence, including the obtaining of statements that may be considered for admission under the principles established in R. v. B. (K.G.). A KGB Statement is not determined solely by whether it was obtained by police. The focus is on whether the statement was obtained in a manner that satisfies the required le

By Janie A. Duncan For more than three decades, surveillance has remained one of the most effective investigative techniques in our business. While technology has dramatically changed the investigative landscape—with social media, GPS data, open-source intelligence (OSINT), digital forensics, and artificial intelligence providing valuable information—there is still no substitute for observing a person's real-world activities. At Duncan Investigations Inc., surveillance inves

There is something deeply compelling about discovering the story of a life. Most people begin researching their family history because they are curious about where they came from. They want to know who their grandparents were, where their ancestors lived, or why their family immigrated to Canada. At times, they made need to locate a biological parent or child. What often begins as simple curiosity, however, quickly becomes something much more profound. At Duncan Investigat

by Janie A. Duncan There is something strangely powerful about buying something new. Walking into a store and finding the perfect outfit can create an immediate sense of excitement. A new jacket, a new pair of shoes, or a new style can make us feel like we have stepped into a different version of ourselves. For a brief moment, we feel more confident, more attractive, and more alive. The new purchase represents possibility. It represents change. It represents the feeling that

By Janie A. Duncan Every investigation begins with a story. Sometimes that story is truthful. Sometimes it is incomplete. And sometimes it is intentionally misleading. I have learned one lesson that has never changed: people don't always tell the truth—but evidence does. At Duncan Investigations, we conduct witness credibility investigations because decisions worth thousands—or even millions—of dollars should never rest solely on what someone says happened. Why Witness Credib

By Janie A. Duncan When a workplace harassment complaint lands on your desk, everything changes. Whether the allegation involves bullying, sexual harassment, abuse of authority, or a toxic work environment, one decision can have a lasting impact on your organization: Who is going to investigate? For many employers, the instinct is to handle the matter internally. After all, they know their employees, understand the workplace culture, and want to resolve the issue quickly. Unf

By Janie A. Duncan For more than 36 years, I have investigated the moments that changed people's lives forever. I have walked into homes where families were desperately searching for answers they feared they would never find. I have investigated fraud that destroyed businesses, abuse that shattered trust, workplace conflicts that ended careers, and missing person cases that left loved ones suspended between hope and heartbreak. I have seen the aftermath of violence. I have me

By Janie A. Duncan Every day, corporations, government agencies, healthcare organizations, insurers, educational institutions, and private employers place enormous trust in licensed professionals. Whether hiring a nurse, engineer, accountant, real estate professional, security guard, private investigator, physician, lawyer, or other regulated professional, employers often assume that an applicant's credentials are accurate and current. Unfortunately, recent disciplinary cas

Jordy Duncan As a private investigator, I have worked with countless individuals navigating the difficult journey of separation and divorce. Every situation is unique, but one thing remains remarkably consistent—the overwhelming feeling of loneliness that often follows the end of a relationship. Over the years, clients have occasionally asked me if I have any advice beyond the legal and investigative aspects of divorce. My answer often surprises them. Invest in a dog. Not b

By Janie A. Duncan When Expert Opinions Begin to Replace Evidence Family courts face some of the most difficult decisions in the justice system. Judges are asked to determine parenting arrangements, assess allegations of abuse, evaluate a child's best interests, and resolve highly emotional disputes between parents. To assist with these decisions, courts frequently rely upon parenting assessments, psychological evaluations, custody reports, social worker opinions, and other e

By Janie A. Duncan Most businesses understand the value of their physical assets. They insure their buildings, protect their equipment, and invest heavily in security systems. Yet for many corporations, their most valuable assets cannot be touched. They are ideas, inventions, proprietary processes, technical drawings, training programs, software, digital products, and the countless hours of innovation that transformed a concept into a successful business. When those assets ar

By Janie A. Duncan Addiction can affect every aspect of a person’s life — including their family relationships, employment, financial stability, and personal safety. While many people associate addiction solely with drugs or alcohol, destructive behaviours can also involve gambling, compulsive spending, or other addictions that negatively impact decision-making and responsibilities. For families and employers, the effects can be devastating. Loved ones are often left dealing

By Janie A. Duncan An affair rarely begins with the intention of destroying a family. Most people do not wake up one morning planning to traumatize their children, shatter the trust of someone who loved them, divide families, lose their home, drain their finances, or spend years fighting through bitterness, custody disputes, and emotional devastation. Yet this is often exactly where affairs lead. In today’s culture, infidelity is frequently romanticized. Movies portray affa

By Janie A. Duncan In today’s business environment, corporations are facing risks that extend far beyond ordinary financial loss. Fraud, reputational damage, cyber threats, undisclosed conflicts of interest, regulatory violations, organized crime infiltration, and deceptive business practices have become increasingly common across industries. A single bad partnership, vendor relationship, acquisition, or employee hire can expose a company to millions of dollars in damages, le

By Janie A. Duncan The recent public controversy involving Dianna Russini and Mike Vrabel has sparked widespread discussion regarding workplace relationships, professional ethics, media objectivity, and the consequences that can arise when personal relationships intersect with professional responsibilities. While much of the public discussion surrounding the matter remains speculative, several facts have become publicly known. Russini resigned from The Athletic during an int

by Janie A. Duncan Internal fraud has become one of the most costly and destructive problems facing businesses today. While many organizations focus heavily on external threats such as cybercrime, theft by customers, or online scams, some of the greatest financial losses originate from within the company itself. In many cases, the individuals responsible are trusted employees, managers, contractors, or long-term associates who understand the organization’s systems, weaknesses

When a loved one goes missing, time stands still for families. Every moment is filled with uncertainty, fear, and an overwhelming need for answers. Yet for many across Canada, the investigative process is marked not only by urgency, but by silence.

by Janie A. Duncan In missing persons investigations involving water, one of the most persistent questions is when a body will surface. It is a question often shaped by assumption rather than science. The reality is far more complex, particularly in colder climates such as Winnipeg, where environmental conditions can significantly delay recovery. When a person enters the water, the body will typically sink. This occurs because the lungs no longer contain air and the natural d

by Janie A. Duncan The Toronto Police Service “Missing and Missed” review stands as one of the most significant examinations of missing persons investigations in Canadian history. It is not simply a report filled with recommendations. It is a public acknowledgment that, for years, critical failures existed within investigative practices—failures that impacted real families searching for answers. At its core, the review forced an uncomfortable but necessary question into the s