Serious work, handled seriously.
ELM Investigations is a licensed, insured private investigation firm based in Ottawa and serving all of Ontario. People come to us at tense, high-stakes moments — and the difference is in the discipline and the discretion.
Most people contact a private investigator once in their life, at a moment when something important is uncertain and the stakes are real — a relationship, a hire, a claim, a case. They don't need theatrics. They need a clear head, a lawful approach, and an honest answer.
That is what we built ELM Investigations to provide. We treat every engagement as a problem to be solved methodically: understand the real question, design a lawful and proportionate approach, do the field work properly, and report it in a way that holds up — whether the audience is you, your business, your insurer, or a court.
We will also tell you when the answer is no. If what you're hoping for isn't realistic or isn't lawful, you'll hear that up front, before you've spent anything. Straight answers are part of the service.
What you can count on.
Four commitments behind every case — the things that separate a professional investigation from a risky one.
Licensed & insured
A fully licensed, insured firm operating in compliance with Ontario's Private Security and Investigative Services Act.
Strict confidentiality
Your identity, your situation, and our findings stay private — from the first message through to case closure.
Court-admissible work
Documentation built to legal standards, with clear reporting and testimony available where a matter goes to court.
Straight answers
We tell you what is realistically possible before you commit — no inflated promises, no open-ended engagements.
A disciplined intelligence cycle — not guesswork.
Every case runs through the same four stages, so you always know where things stand and what comes next.
Listen & scope
A confidential conversation about your situation. We tell you what is realistically possible and agree on a clear objective before any work begins.
Strategy
We design an approach matched to the question and the budget — lawful, proportionate, and built to produce evidence that holds up.
Investigate
Surveillance, records, and field work executed discreetly, with the situation reassessed as facts come in.
Report
A clear, organised report with documented evidence and timelines — ready for your decision, your counsel, or the court.
The same standard, whoever is asking.
Most of our work falls into three groups — each with its own pressures, all needing the same thing: facts they can rely on.
Individuals & families
Matrimonial, custody, and personal matters handled with care and total discretion — for people who need certainty in a difficult moment.
Businesses
Fraud, internal theft, claims, and due diligence for owners and managers who need to protect the organisation without fuss or exposure.
Legal professionals
Evidence, witness location, and field investigation for counsel — produced to a court-admissible standard and delivered on your timeline.
Let's talk about your situation.
Every consultation is free, confidential, and obligation-free. Describe what you need to know — we'll tell you honestly what's possible.