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Fire Dispatch Team and Trainer honoured for exceptional contributions to public safety

The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) Canada has recognized E-Comm employees with two prestigious national awards for exemplary efforts in emergency communications.

Outstanding response and coordination to “firestorm” in Vancouver

The Team Award recognizes members of E-Comm’s Fire Dispatch team for their extraordinary level of professionalism, remarkable coordination and unwavering resilience during one of the most challenging fire response operations in E-Comm’s history.

Fire Charge Dispatcher Corey Kelso and Fire Dispatcher Gurvinder Sandhu with the APCO Team Award

On August 6, 2024 the Fire Dispatch team managed multiple large structure fires across Vancouver, resulting in a flood of 9-1-1 calls to E-Comm. The unprecedented situation included a four-alarm blaze that spread to eight homes, followed by reports of explosions and a crane collapse, creating immense pressure on all involved.

Despite these challenges, the team on shift rose to the occasion, coordinating closely with E-Comm call takers, Vancouver Police Dispatch team, multiple fire departments and partner agencies, ensuring units were deployed safely and effectively. Their teamwork and professionalism enabled a rapid, coordinated response that minimized risk to both the public and first responders, exemplifying the very best of emergency communications.

“The E-Comm Fire Dispatch team is so deserving of this national recognition for their outstanding work coordinating the emergency response during the Dunbar fire, a fire so large that it created its own firestorm,” says Vancouver Fire Rescue Services Fire Chief Karen Fry. “The work dispatchers do behind the scenes to disseminate critical information and provide steadfast support for the community and first responders is profoundly appreciated by the Vancouver Fire Rescue Services.”

“When confronted with an extraordinary night of multiple structure fires and operational firsts, the Fire Dispatch team responded with confidence, clarity, and composure,” says E-Comm’s Vice-President of Operations Stephen Thatcher.  “Their seamless coordination and exemplary dedication embody the spirit of excellence that is justifiably reflected in the team being awarded this year’s APCO Canada’s Team Award.”

Fire Dispatch team members recognized as part of APCO Canada’s Team Award include Afton Brooker, Corey Kelso, Gurvinder Sandhu, Jeff Chin, Jennifer Fitzgibbons, Maya Jokhi, Pavi Thind and Susan Shorting.

Vancouver Island Trainer recognized for compassionate mentorship

In addition to the Team Award, Tanya Silletta has been named APCO Canada’s Trainer of the Year. Tanya has been with E-Comm’s Vancouver Island emergency communications centre for six years, including five years with the Training team. Tanya has directly trained more than 100 police call takers and 50 police dispatchers, shaping over 74 per cent of E-Comm’s current staff at the Vancouver Island centre.

Trainer Tanya Silletta accepting the APCO Trainer of the Year Award at the APCO Canada 2025 Awards Reception

Tanya is widely recognized for her compassion, patience and dedication to mentorship. She ensures that new staff are supported throughout their training and beyond, providing guidance, coaching and resources to help them succeed in high-pressure emergency communications roles.

“It’s wonderful to see Tanya’s passion for helping others grow—both at E-Comm and at the Canadian Police College—recognized in this manner,” says E-Comm’s Vice-President of Operations Stephen Thatcher.  “Her outstanding commitment and contributions to developing public safety communicators throughout her 30-year career in emergency communications are truly deserving of celebration on the national stage.”

Congratulations to Tanya Silletta and the Fire Dispatch team for these remarkable achievements—each a shining example of leadership, teamwork and excellence in public safety communications.

E-Comm accepts the findings and recommendations of the EY review released today by Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General Nina Krieger, and is committed to work with its provincial, local government and agency partners to act on the recommendations as quickly as possible, said Nancy Kotani, Chair of the Board of Directors.

“We accept the findings of the review, and welcome the recommendations provided,” said Kotani. “We are also heartened by the report’s acknowledgement of the operational and service improvements achieved to date. The Board of Directors and executive team recognize the urgency of the improvements required, particularly in our governance and financial management, and the need to rebuild the trust of our local government and agency partners. Our board will be actively involved in setting the direction for E-Comm’s strategy and holding management accountable for progress and results.”

“We will work with the Province and our partners to develop an action plan to prioritize and implement the recommendations,” said Nancy Blair, interim president and CEO.

“Our staff do extraordinary work partnering with first responder agencies and protecting the public safety of British Columbians. The progress on operational and service level improvements identified in the report is a direct result of their outstanding commitment and contributions. We are committed to protect and build on these service improvements, and to earn back the trust of our partners by implementing the governance and financial management recommendations in the report.”

With Halloween just around the corner, emergency services are preparing for what’s expected to be a busy weekend as British Columbians take part in seasonal events and festivities.

Last Halloween, E-Comm saw a 17% spike in 9-1-1 calls compared to a typical weeknight evening. With October 31^st falling on a Friday this year, even higher call volumes are anticipated.

“Halloween is always one of our busiest nights, so we’re asking everyone to help keep 9-1-1 lines free for real emergencies by using non-emergency numbers or online reporting for less urgent issues that don’t require immediate assistance from police, fire or ambulance,” says Carly Paice, E-Comm Communications Manager. “While first responders are busy on the ground, our call takers and dispatchers will be hard at work behind the scenes, connecting people with the help they need.”

E-Comm is preparing for a busy Halloween weekend by bringing in extra staff to help manage the anticipated spike in 9-1-1 calls.

The public play an essential role in helping us help, by learning when to call 9-1-1, understanding what to expect if you call, and knowing where to best direct less urgent situations through police non-emergency lines, online crime reporting, city services, or other resources.

How to make the right call this Halloween 

• Fireworks: To file a fireworks related complaint, first check the fireworks regulations in your area, and reach out to your area bylaw services or the police non-emergency line. Reports of fires, serious injuries, or an imminent public safety risk due to fireworks would be a 9-1-1 call.
• Halloween decorations: If you notice that your inflatable pumpkin or life-size skeleton have gone missing from your front porch, but there’s no culprit in sight, file a police report online or call the non-emergency line.
• Noisy parties: Direct noise complaints to your local city bylaw services during their business hours, or police non-emergency line after hours.
• Suspicious activity: Help deter break-ins and vandalism by locking your vehicles and keeping valuables out of sight. To report crime or suspicious activity in progress (ie. a stranger trying to open car doors) call 9-1-1. Property crime reports with time delays can be reported through your local police non-emergency line.
• Road safety: Drivers are reminded to practice extra caution on the road this Halloween. To report dangerous driving behaviour such as suspected impaired driving or a collision involving injuries that requires immediate attention from police, fire or ambulance, call 9-1-1. Minor car accidents with no injuries can be reported to ICBC directly.
• Know your location: The fastest way for our call takers to connect you with help in an emergency is to provide your location. While “the haunted house down the road” won’t help – an exact address will! Landmarks and cross streets can also help us find you quicker.
• Prevent pocket dials: Lock and store your devices carefully. E-Comm receives hundreds of accidental calls every day. If you do call 9-1-1 by mistake, stay on the line and let us know you are safe.

Additional resources

• For a full list of online crime reporting tools and non-emergency numbers, visit nonemergency.ca
• Learn more about calling 9-1-1: ecomm911.ca/911-dispatch/tips-and-info/

Want to learn more? Follow @ecomm911_info on Instagram and X for live-updates from our call takers from 7:00pm-11:00pm on Friday, Oct. 31. Stay safe and Happy Halloween!

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• Halloween Safety Tips – Social Media Graphics & Videos

About E-Comm

E-Comm is the first point of contact for 9-1-1 callers in 25 regional districts in British Columbia and provides dispatch services for more than 70 police agencies and fire departments across the province. E‐Comm also owns and operates the largest multi‐jurisdictional, tri‐service, wide‐area radio network in the province used by police, fire and ambulance personnel throughout Metro Vancouver and parts of the Fraser Valley.

Media contact
E-Comm
604-215-6248
[email protected]

After eight years with E-Comm 9-1-1, Oliver Grüter-Andrew has departed as CEO, Nancy Kotani, Chair of the Board of Directors, announced today.

E-Comm has made enormous progress over the last eight years under Grüter-Andrew’s leadership. Highlights include:

• launch of the new enhanced Lower Mainland radio system in 2017;
• launch of E-Comm Vancouver Island communications centre in 2019;
• successfully navigating E-Comm through the challenging COVID-19 pandemic in 2020-21;
• adoption of a new Transformation Plan to transform staffing, systems and service-delivery in 2022;
• securing $90 million in funding from the Province for Next Generation 9-1-1 in 2023;
• achieving E-Comm’s best service-level results of the past decade in 2024.

As E-Comm is currently awaiting the report and recommendations of the Province’s independent review of the organization, the Board felt that the timing was appropriate for a change of leadership, to meet the challenges and opportunities ahead.

“I sincerely thank Oliver for all of his extraordinary leadership in leading us to where we are today,” said Kotani. “We are grateful for his vision, positivity, advocacy and the many improvements at E-Comm under his leadership.”

The Board is pleased to announce that Nancy Blair, Chief Transformation Officer, has been named interim CEO while a search for a new permanent CEO is underway. “I am grateful to Nancy for agreeing to serve as interim CEO,” said Kotani. “Among our top priorities as a Board are continuing to work towards a successful launch of NG9-1-1, and resuming development of a new financial and pricing model to provide greater predictability and fairness for our partners. At the same time we need to sustain our staffing and service level improvements in a way that’s affordable for our funders. Nancy is ideally positioned to lead this work, having developed and led E-Comm’s Transformation Plan improvements to date.”

The Board is committed to conducting an extensive search for a new CEO, and anticipates the process will take several months.

Tomorrow, two of E-Comm’s very own police dispatcher and fire dispatcher Colton Boreen and Alex Emeny will be participating in Tour de Coast, an annual fundraiser where police agencies and emergency service personnel cycle for eight days, riding over 800 kilometers along the coast of B.C. in support of children and families affected by cancer.

For both Colton and Alex, the event carries deep personal meaning through the challenge.

From survivor to advocate

For Colton, Tour de Coast is far more than an event—it’s personal. At just four years old, Colton was diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma, a rare bone cancer. What followed was a year of chemotherapy at BC Children’s Hospital, multiple misdiagnoses, and groundbreaking surgery to remove most of his left hip bone and sacrum to prevent recurrence.

Now, 25 years later and cancer-free, Colton says he feels a deep sense of gratitude. “I’m one of the only people in the world to have had that surgery. Every day is a reminder of how fortunate I am to still be here.”

Colton’s survivorship has shaped his passion for advocacy. He attended Camp Goodtimes in 2001, received the 2022 Terry Fox Gold Medal Award from SFU, and continues to share his story at events to raise awareness about childhood cancer.

This year, Colton will be part of the support crew, helping riders behind-the-scenes to make sure everything runs smoothly.

“Stepping into this role is outside of my comfort zone, but it’s important to me to connect with survivors, families, and first responders who are all part of this journey,” says Colton. “The support I’ve received has been overwhelming, and I’m so grateful. The funds raised will make a real difference for kids and families facing cancer.”

Building camaraderie on the road

As a fire call taker, Alex works closely with other first responders over the phone, but Tour de Coast offers a unique opportunity to connect in person and share an experience that unites everyone for a bigger cause.

That sense of camaraderie is what drew Alex to the event, but he also sees it as a personal challenge and a way to give back.

“It’s the trifecta for me: raising funds and awareness for childhood cancer research, pushing myself to ride 800 km across the coast, and being able to connect with partner agencies in person. To ride shoulder-to-shoulder with other first responders, all working toward the same goal, is really special. It reminds me that while we may play different roles, we’re all part of the same team.”

Over the past few months, Colton and Alex have been busy supporting the Tour de Coast in every way they can, by attending community events to raise awareness, volunteering at Camp Goodtimes and organizing fundraisers to help their team reach its goals.

Together, they show us that behind every uniform—and every call answered—are people dedicated to making a difference, both at work and far beyond it.

If you’d like to support Colton and Alex in their journey, donations can be made through the fundraising pages below:

Donation links

Colton Boreen’s Personal Page

Alexander Emeny Team