Ontario injects nearly $3M to upgrade 911 technology in Barrie and South Simcoe
The province is investing nearly $3 million to help Barrie Fire, Barrie Police Services and South Simcoe Police Services transition to 'Next Generation' 911 technology.
"It'll allow our 911 services to be cutting edge, state of the art," said Barrie-Springwater-Oro-Medonte MPP Doug Downey during Friday's formal funding announcement. "We want to roll this out across our frontline services, all our emergency services, so they can work in tandem."
- Download the CTV News app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates sent to your email inbox
Barrie Innisfil MPP Andrea Khanjin also echoed the province's goal of making it easier for first responders to keep their communities safe. "Everyone has a smartphone, and now they know that they can get help with text messaging and video ...Which gives the dispatchers more information," she said.
Specifically, Barrie Fire received nearly $1.4 million, Barrie police received $1 million, and South Simcoe police received over half a million from the Ontario government to replace the aging 911 dispatching system.
"The historic system that is being replaced is was purely was based on the landlines of the past," said Barrie Police Chief Rich Johnston.
The 'Next Generation' 911 technology will enable voice messages, texts, and video to easily flow from the public to the three 911 communications centres.
"Barrie fire dispatches for 21 municipalities, just under a million people," said Barrie Fire Deputy Chief Carrie Clark. "This allows us to provide those residents we dispatch for to have the highest quality, most technologically advanced 911 system."
Emergency operators will also gain the ability to precisely identify the location of a call using GPS coordinates.
"The system will be able to handle a lot more volume with a lot better accuracy," said South Simcoe police Insp. Henry Geoffroy. "[Victims] can assist us in locating them and getting the help they need sooner than later."
Of the 242 primary dispatch sites across Canada, three of them have already switched over to the 'Next Generation' 911 technology. The remaining sites must be converted by March 2025.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A step forward': New screening criteria for sperm donors takes effect
Canadians looking to grow their families with the assistance of sperm or egg donations should soon have more options for donors as the federal health agency does away with longstanding restrictions criticized as discriminatory.
Ontario Provincial Police arrest 64 suspects in child sexual exploitation investigation
Ontario Provincial Police say 64 suspects are facing a combined 348 charges in connection with a series of child sexual exploitation investigations that spanned the province.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his head more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
What is whooping cough and should Canadians be concerned as Europe declares outbreak?
There is currently a whooping cough epidemic in Europe, with 10 times as many cases compared to the previous two years. While an outbreak has not been declared nationwide in Canada, whooping cough is regularly detected in the country.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Steve Albini, legendary producer for Nirvana, the Pixies and an alternative rock pioneer, dies at 61
Steve Albini, an alternative rock pioneer and legendary producer who shaped the musical landscape through his work with Nirvana, the Pixies, PJ Harvey and more, has died. He was 61.
Case against ex-Mountie charged with helping China can go ahead in Quebec, judge says
A Quebec court judge has ruled that the case against a former RCMP officer charged with helping China conduct foreign interference can go ahead in the province.
Ippei Mizuhara, ex-interpreter for baseball star Shohei Ohtani, will plead guilty in betting case
The former interpreter for Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani has agreed to plead guilty to bank and tax fraud in a sports betting case in which prosecutors allege he stole nearly US$17 million from the Japanese baseball player to pay off debts, federal prosecutors said Wednesday.