Taxpayers to benefit from City of Barrie and Markham partnership
With nearly 350,000 people, the City of Markham is now Barrie's largest customer for emergency dispatch.
"It's important in the most difficult moment in their lives when people reach out through an emergency call that the person on the other end of the line is able to assist them," said Barrie Mayor Jeff Lehman.
Barrie Fire and Emergency Services now provides 24/7 emergency call-taking and dispatch service to Markham Fire and Emergency Services.
The addition brings the total number of service agreements with client municipalities to 21.
"Markham is known for their professional and progressive approach in serving their community, and being selected as their communications provider recognizes the tremendous service levels we are able to provide here at Barrie fire," said Barrie Fire Chief Cory Mainprize.
Last year, the Barrie centre dispatched more than 23,000 calls. Add Markham, and that number is expected to jump to 30,000.
"Not only are we saving, we are increasing our levels of service and are leveraging a partnership with an industry expert," said Markham Fire Chief Adam Grant.
The agreement is expected to save both taxpayers in Markham and Barrie money.
The city said the addition would help offset capital and operating costs in maintaining the centre.
"That oversees the cost of staffing and upgrades to our computer systems and stuff in order to provide the services to that municipality," said Carrie Clark, deputy chief of communications.
Seventeen full-time and part-time staff, including four from Markham, will work out of the Barrie-Simcoe Emergency Services Campus, home to Barrie police and County of Simcoe paramedics.
The agreement began last week and will also speed up EMS services for Markham residents, as Barrie is already linked to the Central Ambulance Communications Centre (CACC).
"As the CACC receives their call-in information and enters it into their system, we can see it in ours simultaneously. We can then dispatch our apparatus at the same time as EMS service providers, and now Markham will be doing the same thing," Mainprize said.
"When we implemented that system here in Barrie, it was about two to two and a half minute difference in response time."
The shared service agreement is expected to prepare Markham fire services and Barrie for the transition to Next Generation 911 in 2024.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian gov't proposes new foreign influence registry as part of wide-spanning new bill
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is proposing a suite of new measures and law changes aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada, amid extensive scrutiny over past meddling attempts and an ever-evolving threat landscape.
Boeing Starliner capsule's first crewed test flight postponed
The long-awaited first crewed test flight of Boeing's new Starliner space capsule was called off for at least 24 hours over a technical issue that launch teams were unable to resolve in time for the planned Monday night lift-off.
Teacher charged in historical sexual assault of Calgary teenage girl
Calgary police have charged a teacher with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl more than 20 years ago.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Newfoundland and Labrador latest province to tighten rules on Airbnbs
Newfoundland and Labrador is the latest jurisdiction to bring in stricter rules for short-term rentals, with a coming set of regulations that will force operators to register with the provincial government.