The City of Winnipeg is honouring the critical work of 9-1-1 call takers, dispatchers, and supervisors during National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, which runs from April 14-20, 2024. The week is dedicated to all emergency telecommunications personnel for their vital role in maintaining the safety of residents and first responders.
“Citizens call 9-1-1 when in crisis and in need of emergency help. This is often the worst time in people’s lives,” said Winnipeg Police Chief, Danny Smyth. “We are fortunate to have a team of empathetic professionals who are able to connect citizens with the emergency services they require.”
Christian Schmidt, the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service Chief, also praised the 9-1-1 call takers. “Our community counts on our 9-1-1 call takers to be there in their time of need,” he said. “The work they do as FIRST, first responders is so important – from coaching someone through CPR, to helping deliver a baby over the phone, or dispatching the nearest paramedic or firefighter unit to ensure help gets there as quickly as possible. They save lives and keep our residents and first responders safe every day.”
In times of intense personal crises and emergencies within the community, WPS and WFPS 9-1-1 call takers and dispatchers are the public’s first point of contact for reaching all levels of emergency assistance, including police, fire, and ambulance. The City employs approximately 174 WPS and WFPS 9-1-1 call takers and dispatchers. In 2023, the City’s emergency telecommunications team answered over one million calls from residents.
In Winnipeg, all incoming 9-1-1 calls are received by a WPS 9-1-1 call taker who will request the location and the nature of the emergency. If the caller requires help from police, the 9-1-1 Call Taker will take the call. If it’s a medical or fire emergency, the call gets triaged to the WFPS Communications Centre.
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