Mississauga (Feb 22) – Peel police announced that it is has become the first large primary PSAP (Public Safety Answering Point) to launch next generation 9-1-1 services in Canada.
“The transition to NG9-1-1 services is a Haley’s Comet like moment for modernizing our response to emergencies and meeting the needs of our community when they need us the most,” said Deputy Chief Anthony Odoardi, who oversees PSAP operations in Peel Region.
The new 9-1-1 platform will provide a modern and innovative solution and comes with capabilities that will enable members of the community to connect quicker with first responders. It will also support PRPs comprehensive and ongoing work towards significantly decreasing wait times in emergency situations.
“The launch of NG9-1-1 services is a pivotal step that underscores the Peel Police Services Board’s (PSB) unwavering dedication to ensuring the safety and well-being of all residents in Peel Region,” said Chair of PSB and Peel Region, Nando Iannicca. “By embracing cutting-edge technology and fostering collaborative partnerships, we remain steadfast in our mission to uphold the highest standards of public safety and service delivery for our community.”
In June 2017, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission’s (CRTC) made a mandatory decision for all Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) to upgrade their networks and technology to be ready to provide Next Generation 9-1-1 (NG9-1-1) services to the public by March 4, 2025.
In 2020, Peel police acquired Motorola’s Vesta NG9-1-1 solution to support this large-scale multi-year and multi-faceted transformation in the PRP 9-1-1 Communications Centre—which is responsible for answering over 1 million citizen generated calls for service on a yearly basis 24/7/365.
“Peel Regional Police is the largest Public Safety Answering Point to transition to Bell’s Next Generation 9-1-1 Network. This is a significant step forward for the Peel community and for Canadian public safety. We’d like to congratulate the Peel Regional Police on taking a leading role in modernizing Canada’s 9-1-1 system,” said Wes Verma, Vice President, Core Network and Managed Services, Bell.
Peel police say that the public does not have to do anything different when calling 9-1-1 for help. They are also urging the community to please not “test” call the system as it will increase delay times and could compromise public safety.
