The North Island 911 Corporation will be using a new model to delivery primary 911 call answering services, following a study of options for 911 call-taking and fire dispatch. Read the news release here.
Vancouver, B.C.—E-Comm, the regional emergency communications centre, is pleased to announce its 2014-2015 board of directors. The announcement follows today’s Annual and Special General Meeting (ASGM).
“On June 8 E-Comm celebrated 15 years of service and I’d like to commend our board of directors past and present, for their leadership and expertise in achieving this milestone and for their contribution to E-Comm’s vision of safer communities in B.C. through excellence in public-safety communication,” said David Guscott, E-Comm president and CEO. “We are pleased to have such accomplished professionals govern our organization.”
E-Comm’s board is comprised of 19 directors and includes elected officials, representatives of emergency services and the provincial government, along with municipal staff and local community and business leaders.
2014-2015 Board of Directors:
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E-Comm 9-1-1 answers approximately 860,000 9-1-1 calls each year for Metro Vancouver, the Sunshine Coast, Whistler, Squamish and the southern portion of the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District, provides dispatch services to 32 police and fire departments, and operates the wide-area radio system used throughout Metro Vancouver by police, fire and ambulance personnel.
Media contact:
Jody Robertson
E-Comm 9-1-1
604-215-4956 or 604-640-1342 (pager)
[email protected]
Vancouver, B.C.— Recognizing the dedication of 9-1-1 call-takers, dispatchers, technology specialists and support personnel, the Province of British Columbia has declared April 13-19 as Emergency Service Dispatchers’ and 9-1-1 Awareness Week. As part of the week’s recognition, E-Comm—the emergency communications centre for southwest British Columbia—is reminding the public of the proper use of 9-1-1 and ways in which callers can support the efforts of call-takers who are here to help 24/7.
“Those who answer emergency calls and dispatch first responders during times of crisis are often the unsung heroes working behind the scenes to help those in need,” explained E-Comm CEO David Guscott. “Our staff are highly trained, dedicated professionals and we want to take this opportunity to recognize their important contributions to public safety.”
E-Comm has answered more than 13 million 9-1-1 calls since 1999, and while the vast majority of people use the system responsibly, there are many ways the public can help ensure important lifelines are not misused.
E-Comm 9-1-1 call-takers’ top five tips:
Got questions for a 9-1-1 call-taker? On April 17 starting at 4pm E-Comm will be ‘live’ tweeting #911Awareness.
E-Comm answers close to 900,000 9-1-1 calls each year for Metro Vancouver, the Sunshine Coast Regional District, Whistler, Squamish and the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District (South) and provides dispatch service to more than 30 police and fire departments.
For tips on using 9-1-1 and more information visit www.ecomm911.ca or follow @EComm911_info.
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Media Contact
Jasmine Bradley
E-Comm Corporate Communications
604-215-5023
604-640-1342 (pager)
Vancouver, B.C.— E-Comm—the 9-1-1 answer point serving Metro Vancouver and other parts of southwest British Columbia—today launched Canada’s first Text with 9-1-1 (T9-1-1) service for members of the Deaf, Hard-of-Hearing and Speech Impaired (DHHSI) community, in conjunction with its emergency-service partners.
The specialized text messaging system means any DHHSI person in E-Comm’s service area who has pre-registered their cellphone for the service will be able to communicate with police, fire and ambulance call-takers in case of emergency.
“This is an important day for the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing and those with Speech Impairments,” said Janice Lyons, Head of Interpreting Services for the Western Institute for the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing. “To be able to reach this lifeline through a cellphone is a major improvement over current technology we are using.”
In order to access the service, DHHSI callers must:
When E-Comm receives a 9-1-1 call from a DHHSI person who has pre-registered with their wireless carrier and is located in E-Comm’s service area, an alert will trigger at the 9-1-1 centre to indicate there is a DHHSI caller on the line. The 9-1-1 call-taker will then launch the special messaging system, allowing them to communicate with the caller through a special text session. This will ensure they get the emergency service they need.
“E-Comm is proud to have played a part in the development of T9-1-1 and congratulates everyone involved in creating a uniquely Canadian solution,” says Doug Watson, E-Comm’s vice-president of Operations. “As the primary 9-1-1 answer point we have been working diligently to test the technology developed by our partners at TELUS, and to train our staff in using it. We are very pleased that it’s now in service and know that other 9-1-1 centres across the country are following suit.”
It is important to emphasize that this service is only available to the DHHSI community. Voice calling remains the only way to communicate with 9-1-1 services for a person who is not Deaf, Deafened, Hard- of-Hearing or Speech Impaired. Text messages sent directly to the digits “9-1-1” do not reach emergency services anywhere in Canada. Text with 9-1-1 for the public-at-large is anticipated in the future as the nationwide 9-1-1 infrastructure evolves.
“TELUS worked closely with E-Comm to help them implement this technically challenging and sophisticated solution, together creating an effective way for the DHHSI community to connect with emergency services when they need help,” said Chris Langdon, vice-president, TELUS Consumer Products and Services . “This new service has the potential to save lives and we commend E-Comm for their great work ensuring DHHSI residents of communities where E-Comm provides service are the first people in Canada to benefit from Text with 9-1-1.”
The T9-1-1 service is a joint effort of Canada’s telecommunications services providers, representatives of emergency services from across the country, and leaders in the DHHSI community, who worked together as part of a special CRTC committee.
T9-1-1 will be available at different times across the country as each public service answer point (PSAP) will implement the service separately.
Members of the DHHSI community should visit www.TextWith911.ca to register their cellphones with their wireless service provider and to learn more about how the system works. For more information on E-Comm visit www.ecomm911.ca.
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Locations where T9-1-1 will be available to the Deaf, Deaf-Blind, Hard-of-Hearing and Speech Impaired:
Metro Vancouver – Anmore, Belcarra, Bowen Island, Burnaby, Coquitlam, Delta, Electoral Area A (University of BC, University Endowment Lands, Barnston Island), Howe Sound Communities (Ocean Point, Strachan Point, Montizambert Wynd, Bowyer Island and Passage Island), Indian Arm/Pitt Lake Communities (Boulder Island, Carraholly Point, Northern Portion of Indian Arm and West side of Pitt Lake), Langley (City and Township), Lions Bay, Maple Ridge, New Westminster, North Vancouver (District and City), Pitt Meadows, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Richmond, Surrey, Vancouver, West Vancouver and White Rock.
Squamish Lillooet Regional District South – Electoral Area C (Pemberton Meadows, Mt. Currie, D’Arcy Corridor, Whistler-Pemberton Corridor), Electoral Area D (Furry Creek, Brittania, Porteau, Upper Squamish, Upper Cheakamus, Ring Creek, Pinecrest/Black Tusk Village), Pemberton, Squamish and Whistler.
Sunshine Coast Regional District – Egmont, Elphinstone, Gibsons, Halfmoon Bay, Pender Harbour, Roberts Creek, Sechelt, West Howe Sound.
Media Contacts:
For 9-1-1 related questions contact:
Jody Robertson
E-Comm 9-1-1
604-215-4956
[email protected]
For questions related to the technology contact:
Liz Sauvé
TELUS Media Relations
604-719-6715
[email protected]
For questions related to the DHHSI community contact:
Janice Lyons
Western Institute for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
604-614-7458 text or sms ONLY
[email protected]
For questions about registration and public education:
Ashlee Smith
Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association
613-233-4888 ext. 227
[email protected]
9-1-1 call answer services will have a new provider in the Fraser-Fort George, Cariboo, Bulkley-Nechako and Kitimat-Stikine Regional Districts. Beginning this fall, 9-1-1 calls from these areas will be answered through E-Comm, the emergency communication centre located in southwest British Columbia. Read more in this news release.
