Updates to 911 in Winnipeg allow location tracking, texting, pictures and video

Updates to Winnipeg's 911 service will make it easier for first responders to locate callers and eventually allow residents to send texts and photos during emergencies, city officials say.

Right now, 911 operators can only get a caller's exact location if they're calling from a landline, and cellphones can only be tracked to an approximate location, said Stacey Kann, director of communications for Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Services.

Once the city moves to so-called “next-generation 911,” they will be able to more accurately identify where calls are coming from, he said.

“If someone is in an apartment building, we can identify them, and right now we don't have that ability,” Kann said Thursday during an interview at the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service's 911 call center.

Starting July 1, the city will add a $1 fee to every monthly phone bill registered to a Winnipeg address, according to the city of Winnipeg's draft budget released Wednesday.

The proposed fee, which is subject to provincial approval, is intended to fund the transition to the next-generation service for emergency calls, which costs more than $10 million.

The shift is in response to a federal mandate from the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission for municipalities across the country to decommission all legacy 911 systems by March 4, 2025.

The new system will allow 911 dispatchers to get more accurate geolocation data from callers, while also allowing people to text and send photos and videos to 911 operators.

The move to next-generation 911 for emergency calls has been talked about for years, but with the CRTC deadline looming, it's become more urgent.

Outdated technology

The biggest improvement will be how quickly first responders can find people in an emergency, city officials say.

While more people now depend on cellphones than landlines, the city's technology hasn't kept up, said Ron Williscroft, director of special projects for the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service.

“The impetus for us to go to the next generation environment is largely due to this – because life is moving to a digital platform and all our existing systems … are outdated, outdated and obsolete,” he said in an interview. in the call center.

SEE | How Next Generation 911 can improve emergency response times:

Kann said the reason 911 dispatchers can't find a caller's exact location is because of old infrastructure, while services like food delivery apps can.

“You know how I can order pizza, you know where I am, but when I call 911, they don't call?” – there is a long-standing joke. he said.

“It goes back to the old infrastructure that we're trying to get rid of and move to the next generation.”

Updates aren't expected until next year. Until then, Williscroft said it's important for callers to give 911 operators their exact location as much as possible.

“That's why we tell people when they call 911, know where you're calling from, your street name, your address. The most important thing is the location.

The city is also asking police and fire paramedic services to consolidate 911 call centers to improve efficiency.