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Vancouver, B.C. — E-Comm, Emergency Communications for British Columbia Incorporated, is pleased to announce its 2017-2018 board of directors. The announcement follows today’s Annual General Meeting, held at the emergency communications centre.

“The achievements E-Comm realized in 2016 are a testament to the direction, leadership and oversight provided by our board of directors and the hard work and dedication of our staff,” said David Guscott, E-Comm president and CEO. “Last year saw continued growth in the public safety services and technologies we provide throughout the province, allowing our organization to continue to expand its role in emergency communications to better support our partners, first responders and the public.”

E-Comm’s board is composed of 19 directors and includes elected officials, representatives of emergency services and the provincial government, in addition to municipal staff and local community and business leaders.

2017-2018 board of directors: 
1. Doug Campbell, Independent Director, Board Chair
2. Councillor Bruce Bell, nominated by Cities of Pitt Meadows and Maple Ridge
3. Becky Denlinger, nominated by Provincial Government
4. Barry Forbes, Independent Director
5. Mayor Jack Froese, nominated by Township of Langley, Cities of Surrey and White Rock
6. Lois Karr, nominated by RCMP
7. Anne Kinvig, Independent Director
8. Deputy Chief Constable Warren Lemcke, nominated by Vancouver Police Board
9. Neil Lilley, nominated by BC Emergency Health Services
10. Councillor Raymond Louie, nominated by Metro Vancouver
11. Jack McGee, nominated by Independent Police Boards (Port Moody, West Vancouver, Transit Police, Abbotsford, New Westminster)
12. Councillor Bill McNulty, nominated by City of Richmond
13. Paul Mochrie, nominated by City of Vancouver
14. Denise Nawata, Independent Director
15. Karl Preuss, nominated by The Corporation of Delta / Delta Police Board
16. Mark Sieben, nominated by Provincial Government
17. Councillor Mary Trentadue, nominated by Belcarra, Coquitlam, New Westminster, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody
18. Mayor Richard Walton, nominated by District of North Vancouver, City of North Vancouver, District of West Vancouver, Village of Lions Bay
19. Terry Waterhouse, nominated by Cities of Surrey and White Rock, Township of Langley

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E-Comm is the largest 9-1-1 call centre in Canada, handling approximately 1.36 million emergency calls per year for 26 regional districts and communities spanning from Vancouver Island to Alberta and from the U.S. border, to north of Prince George.
E-Comm also provides call-taking and dispatch services to 35 police agencies and fire departments in southwest B.C. and operates the largest multi-jurisdictional, tri-service emergency radio system in the province. For more information visit www.ecomm911.ca. 

Media contact:

Jody Robertson
E-Comm Corporate Communications
604-215-4956

[email protected]

Vancouver, B.C.—Today three of the Lower Mainland’s RCMP detachments successfully transitioned to a new best-in-class radio network. Among the key features of the “next generation” system and equipment: Greater reliability, water immersion resistance, radio monitoring (enabling dispatchers to remotely activate radio microphones for improved responder safety), noise-cancelling technology to reduce background sounds and allow responders to be heard more clearly in noisy environments, increased coverage, audio clarity and security, GPS tracking, an expanded range of accessories and the ability to add new features through software upgrades in the future.

Richmond, Ridge-Meadows and UBC detachments are the first RCMP agencies to transition to the radio system, part of a planned rollout that will see 32 emergency-service agencies move to the new network in a phased approach that is scheduled through to the end of 2017. Richmond RCMP has been using the existing E-Comm radio system since 2000 and Ridge-Meadows and UBC detachments first joined in 2001. Combined, all three detachments generate more than 7 million radio transmissions per year.

“The safety and security of our officers is of the utmost importance to us,” stated Lois Karr, Acting Deputy Criminal Operations Officer for the BC RCMP. “The police radio is arguably the most important tool in our tool belt, it connects us not only to each other and to our police dispatchers, but also to our policing partners, including fire services and ambulance personnel. This transition to the “next generation” radio system in our detachments, will undoubtedly add to the security of our officers, with the increased interoperability, better clarity and coverage.”

Earlier this morning Richmond RCMP’s Officer in Charge, Superintendent Will Ng, made an inaugural broadcast to officers over the new network. He explained that the features of the radio system will “provide superior coverage and a level of increased security that will directly benefit the RCMP and our community, improving the safety of responders as well as the members of the public that we are assisting.”

The replacement of the existing regional radio network is the largest and most complex technology project E-Comm and its emergency-service partners have undertaken since the current radio system was first implemented 1999. The new network is also fully encrypted, meaning communication among first responders will be kept extra secure and the privacy of the public who are being assisted by emergency services will be better protected during the necessary transmittal of personal and private information over the voice network.

“The RCMP have been long-time radio partners with E-Comm and we’re proud to support each detachment’s transition to the new system,” said E-Comm President and CEO David Guscott. “While the previous network has served the region well for close to 18 years, the new system is more advanced, more rugged and more resilient—enhancing the safety of police officers and the citizens they serve and protect.”

The new radio system will be used by police departments and BC Emergency Health Services (BC Ambulance Service) in Metro Vancouver and Abbotsford, in addition to 12 fire departments in Metro Vancouver and the BC Conservation Service. Approximately 8,000 new radios will be deployed generating more than 130 million transmissions each year. Because this is a planned transition, the annual cost of the new radio network will be about the same as the annual cost of the current network, even with its enhanced features. The new radio system is expected to have an operational lifespan of 15 or more years.

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About E-Comm
E-Comm operates the largest multi-jurisdictional, tri-service emergency radio system in the province and is the largest 9-1-1 call centre in Canada, handling approximately 1.36 million emergency calls per year for Metro Vancouver and 25 other regional districts and communities spanning from Vancouver Island to Alberta and from the U.S. border, to north of Prince George. E-Comm also provides call-taking and dispatch services to 35 police agencies and fire departments in southwest B.C. For more information visit www.ecomm911.ca.

For more information, please contact:

Jasmine Bradley
E-Comm 9-1-1
604-603-7245
[email protected]

Cpl Janelle Shoihet
RCMP “E” Division Communication Services
778-290-4134
[email protected]

Cpl Dennis Hwang
Richmond RCMP
604-278-1212
[email protected]

Vancouver, B.C.—Today at 7:21 a.m. E-Comm officially became the first point of contact for 9-1-1 callers in the Peace River Regional District. Canada’s largest 9-1-1 centre is now responsible for answering the frontend portion of 9-1-1 calls for Fort St. John, Dawson Creek, Chetwynd, Hudson’s Hope, Pouce Coupe, Taylor and Tumbler Ridge along with many of the region’s First Nations communities. E-Comm call-takers will then immediately transfer 9-1-1 calls to the appropriate police, fire or ambulance agency.

“The regional district is continually looking for ways to enhance the high level of emergency services our communities receive,” explained Brad Sperling, Chair of the Peace River Regional District. “We believe our new partnership with E-Comm will allow us to provide residents with the same high-quality 9-1-1 service they are accustomed to receiving, but in a more cost effective manner with added operational benefits. This includes having access to a larger workforce to deal with sudden influxes of high 9-1-1 call-volume.”

Approximately 20,000 emergency calls placed each year from the Peace River are now being routed to E-Comm. Highly-trained call-takers will quickly confirm which agency the caller requires and for which location before transferring calls to the requested emergency service agency—police, fire or ambulance.

“9-1-1 is a lifeline, which is why thorough preparation was our top priority for today’s transition,” said E-Comm President and CEO David Guscott. “We’re proud to be able to answer the frontend portion of 9-1-1 calls for citizens in the Peace River. The speed and accuracy of this critical role allows people to connect with local police, fire and ambulance agencies to get the help they need.”

As part of the transition to E-Comm, a specialized service for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community is now available that allows registered users to communicate via text message with 9-1-1 call-takers. The service is called Text with 9-1-1 and was developed by Canada’s telecommunications services providers. In an emergency, registered users must first dial 9-1-1 like any other caller to establish a voice connection – this is the only way a text session can start. When E-Comm receives the call an alert will trigger at the 9-1-1 centre to indicate there is a deaf or hard-of-hearing caller on the line. The 9-1-1 call-taker will then launch the special messaging system, allowing them to communicate with the caller through a special text session. To register and learn more about Text with 9-1-1 visit www.textwith911.ca.

“We’re excited to be able to provide our deaf and hard-of-hearing community with an improved way of communicating with 9-1-1 call-takers during an emergency,” added Sperling. “I hope residents with hearing or speech impairments take time to register for this important service and learn how it works and what to expect if they ever need to use it.”

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About E-Comm
E-Comm operates the largest multi-jurisdictional, tri-service emergency radio system in the province and is the largest 9-1-1 call centre in Canada, handling approximately 1.36 million emergency calls per year for Metro Vancouver and 26 other regional districts and communities spanning from Vancouver Island to Alberta and from the U.S. border, to north of Prince George. E-Comm also provides call-taking and dispatch services to 35 police agencies and fire departments in southwest B.C. For more information visit https://ecomm911.ca/

For more information, please contact:

Jasmine Bradley
E-Comm 9-1-1
604-215-5023
[email protected]

Peace River Regional District
Fran Haughian
250-784-4328

Available video:

Interview with E-Comm CEO David Guscott: Peace River Regional District
Peace River 9-1-1 Transition B-roll Footage of Call Takers
Peace River Transition Confirmation of Broadcast

Dawson Creek, B.C.—Commencing May 17th 2017, emergency 9-1-1 calls from the Peace River Regional District will be answered by E-Comm, the Emergency Communications Centre located in Vancouver.

In 2016, in anticipation of the end of the 9-1-1 service delivery contract with the RCMP, the Peace River Regional District (PRRD) issued a request proposals to identify agencies who could deliver 9-1-1 call answer services for the region. E-Comm submitted a proposal that met and exceeded the requirements to deliver the service in a cost effective manner.

“As a Board we are excited to be working with E-Comm to provide 9-1-1 call services for our region. Not only does E-Comm have the technology, expertise and staff resources to effectively handle 9-1-1 calls from our area, but it will result is 64% cost savings for our tax payers. As the overall 9-1-1 system evolves across Canada, E-Comm is well positioned to evolve with changes to service standards and technology,” says Brad Sperling, Chair of the Peace River Regional District.

Following the official cutover to E-Comm in May, the PRRD will join 25 other regional districts and communities who currently partner with E-Comm for 9-1-1 call-answer services.

Media contacts:

Peace River Regional District 
Fran Haughian
250-784-3200
[email protected]

E-Comm 9-1-1
Jasmine Bradley
604-215-5023
[email protected]

Chilliwack, B.C.—Getting emergency services in the Fraser Valley just became a lot easier for those who are Deaf, Hard of

Hearing, or Speech Impaired (DHHSI). The Fraser Valley Regional District (FVRD), in partnership with E-Comm and the BC Chapter of the Canadian Hard of Hearing Association (CHHA-BC) launched a new Text with 9-1-1 service in observance of National Access Awareness Week and Speech and Hearing Awareness Month29

“The BC Provincial Chapter of the Canadian Hard of Hearing Association congratulates the Fraser Valley Regional District on enhancing the 9-1-1 service to include Text with 9-1-1 for people who are hard of hearing, deaf or speech impaired,” said Dr. Marilyn O. Dahl, President of the CHHA-BC. “This will have a powerful and potentially life-saving impact on the safety of the DHHSI community within the FVRD.”Before using text with 9-1-1, or T9-1-1, eligible residents must register with their cellphone service provider. When a 9-1-1 call-taker receives a call from a DHHSI person who has pre-registered for the service, an alert will trigger at the 9-1-1 centre to indicate there is a DHHSI caller on the line. The 9-1-1 call-taker will then launch the special messaging system, allowing them to communicate with the caller via text, enabling them to get the emergency service they need.

“The T9-1-1 service is one way we can improve inclusivity for DHHSI residents and their families,” said FVRD Board Chair Jason Lum. “We are glad that our emergency service agencies and E-Comm are able to provide this service to our communities, bringing the best technology has to offer to ensure equal access.”

Text with 9-1-1 is only available for the DHHSI community. Voice calling remains the only way to communicate with 9-1-1 services for a person who is not Deaf, Hard of Hearing, or Speech Impaired.

Tips for T9-1-1 users:

• You must register for the service. Contact your cellphone service provider to ensure your device meets the T9-1-1 requirements.
• Your cellphone service provider will confirm your T9-1-1 registration. Do not call T9-1-1 to test the service.
• Text messages should be brief and concise and avoid slang and abbreviations.
• Text messages sent directly to the digits “9-1-1” do not reach emergency services. Registered users simply dial 9-1-1 and then E-Comm will initiate a text session with the caller.

E-Comm is the largest 9-1-1- call centre in British Columbia and is currently responsible for 89 percent of the province’s 9-1-1- call volume. The company also provides dispatch services to 35 police and fire departments and operates the largest emergency radio system in the province.

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For more information, please contact:

Jasmine Bradley
E-Comm 9-1-1
604-215-5023
[email protected]

Jennifer Kinneman
Fraser Valley Regional District (FVRD)
604-702-5056 604-991-1227 (cell)
[email protected]

Viviana Chiorean
The Canadian Hard of Hearing Association – BC Chapter
604-795-9238
[email protected]