Whitehorse Daily Star

Image title

Photo by Vince Fedoroff

READY TO ASSIST – Gaylene Shoemaker, the RCMP’s unit commander, speaks at Tuesday’s unveiling of the territory’s new 911 call centre. In the background, left to right, are call centre operator Shannon Wyers, RCMP commanding officer Peter Clark and Justice Minister Brad Cathers.

Government unveils new 911 call centre

If all goes well, Yukoners will soon be able to dial 911 for emergencies in any community in the territory that has cell service.

By Aimee O'Connor on February 17, 2016

If all goes well, Yukoners will soon be able to dial 911 for emergencies in any community in the territory that has cell service.

On Tuesday, the Yukon government unveiled the territory’s new 911 call centre – which had been relocated from the Whitehorse RCMP detachment to the Emergency Response Centre.

The RCMP operate the call centre on behalf of the government.

“This (work) has required much effort from many people, and more effort and technical work than simply moving staff, resources, furniture and equipment across town,” Justice Minister Brad Cathers said at the facility unveiling.

The move came in the wake of criticism from the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) – that the Yukon government was “lagging” on 911 implementation.

In response, the government allocated $334,000 to move the call centre and $733,000 for hiring and training new staff for the new facility.

Computer equipment and systems were also upgraded and modernized.

Comfortable workplace add-ins have been utilized, like rising desks that allow phone operators to work while standing.

“This facility is the nerve centre for RCMP operations in the territory,” said Chief Supt. Peter Clark.

“Employees working in this room have a vital role in responding to the public and supporting the safety of first responders across the Yukon.”

The significant difference in this, being, that residents in Yukon communities would be able to dial 911 for emergencies and speak to an operator.

As it stands now, residents have to know the specific seven-digit numbers to call for fire, ambulance or police.

“When anyone dials 911 ... it will ring in this room,” said Gaylene Shoemaker, the RCMP’s unit commander.

Employees receiving calls are tasked with assessing information and dispatching callers to the right departments, all the while keeping in mind the safety concerns for the callers and RCMP officers who will go out and attend the scenes.

The target, for now, is to have the expanded 911 service available to Yukoners by the summer of this year, Cathers said.

It is a goal being worked on by the government, RCMP, Association of Yukon Fire Chiefs and the Association of Yukon Communities.

More details will be shared from the government as the date for expanded service nears.

“The ability to call 911 eliminates any doubt or delay in using the correct emergency number,” association president Jim Regimbal said in a statement. “The Association of Yukon Fire Chiefs has advocated for the expansion of 911 service in Yukon.

“When people are in need of help from first responders, we need to be able to find you to help you, so ensure that you know your civic address and that it is visible to first responders.”

As for the signs on the outskirts of Whitehorse city limits informing highway drivers that they are leaving the 911-zone, they could soon be obsolete. The service will be available to landline users as well.

Comments (2)

Up 0 Down 4

JUDITH HARROWER on Feb 19, 2016 at 8:10 am

One cannot understand why a central call centre would not have established decades ago - with staff versed in the various languages. Of course the limited finances would have been spent for the benefit of officers not on prevention or facilitating understanding of the various languages spoken. Always behind never pro-activre.

Up 1 Down 4

Geoff on Feb 17, 2016 at 4:55 pm

So outside Whitehorse and Marsh Lake, only cell phones will be able to dial 911? Landlines won't have it? That seems to be the meaning, unless they're somehow bridging 911 calls from a landline exchange into the cell system. Clarification would be nice to have.

Add your comments or reply via Twitter @whitehorsestar

In order to encourage thoughtful and responsible discussion, website comments will not be visible until a moderator approves them. Please add comments judiciously and refrain from maligning any individual or institution. Read about our user comment and privacy policies.

Your name and email address are required before your comment is posted. Otherwise, your comment will not be posted.